Where does all the water come from?

Hi there! The norwegian Vauxhall (Opel) newsgroup has died, so I thought I'd
try my luck here. (English is not my native language, as you understand, so
I hope you'll bear over with me if my english isn't perfect).

The question: I'm driving a '94 Astra 1.7 TD. There's half an an inch of
water under the mat on the driver's side, both under my own feet and also by
the back seat. The other side of the car is dry. I'll probably manage to
drain it somehow, but where the heck does it come from? Is this a known
problem for this model?

Thanks in advance.
- Harald -

 

try the drain tubes of your sunroof

mike

 

if not check heater matrix and rubber bungs in floor
jet washing blows them out!
mike

 

Do you have an air-conditionig ?
JaC

 

No.

 

i bet your windscreen steams up easily unless the heater is on too.

this is caused by the pollen filter getting clogged - just remove it and the
problem is solved - it doesn't really do much anyway!

 

i bet your windscreen steams up easily unless the heater is on too.

Yes, you're right, but I have a steam problem with all the windows,
especcially the windscreen and rear window. With all that moisture inside
the car that's what I can expect, isn't it?

Anyway, to dry the mat completely I should probably remove it, but that's a
hell of a job. I'd have to remove the seats and all, wouldn't I?

 

just remove the pollen filter and eventually the car will dry out

driving around with the rear windows partially open will dry it out faster -
so long as it isn't raining !

 

I agree with Mike (see his earlier post)

Suspect heater matrix, I had a couple of 1990 Carlton/Omega's with a similar
symptoms.
On some occasions you could faintly taste the antifreeze in the car when the
heater was blowing on the windscreen

Regards Howard

 

Thanks a bundle, guys! You've been very helpful!

 

I doubt about the seats, but probably the front panel/console (I do not know proper English word).
I removed carpets in Omega with similar problem, didn't decide to go on with mat.
I would try to use a lot of newspaper and then electric dehumidifier (like for drying boats or hoses).
JaC

 

I ended up taking all the carpets out - there's a fairly thick foam/sponge
underlay that just wouldn't dry until I took it out in the sun. Carpets
came out (front only) in one piece, but I cut the foam in two to get it
out - beware cables on the floor.
With a regular clean out of the rubber thingie the problem never occurred
again.......
.............hope this helps (and makes sense).

 

Absolutely Jim, best tip so far. I've also been told that there might be
some rubber fittings in the wall between the engine and the cockpit that
might be damaged or missing. I'm checking that out too.

 

I'm also experiencing problems with the windows misting up all the time (I
have a 98 Vectra btw). Somebody in this thread suggested removing the pollen
filter which would cure the problem, were is the pollen filter located and
would this cause any long term effects on the car by removing it? Oh
yeah...I suffer from hay fever ;-)