Flood In Footwell Of New T180

[stuartp]

Hi,

I have had a new T180 now for 6 weeks and yesterday found that the front passenger foot well was wet,once i had taken up the carpet found a puddle of water and everthing under the carpet soaked!

The sound insulation foam is now like a giant sponge.Dealer can fit me in thursday,but i was hoping to have some idea about the location of the leak,i tested the aircon and wiper fluid but nothing .It seems to be coming from the vent at the bottom of the windscreen (for the heater/fan etc) .

any thoughts??

[chatman]

Hi,

I have had a new T180 now for 6 weeks and yesterday found that the front passenger foot well was wet,once i had taken up the carpet found a puddle of water and everthing under the carpet soaked!

The sound insulation foam is now like a giant sponge.Dealer can fit me in thursday,but i was hoping to have some idea about the location of the leak,i tested the aircon and wiper fluid but nothing .It seems to be coming from the vent at the bottom of the windscreen (for the heater/fan etc) .

any thoughts??

Stuart,

Have a look at this thread..

http://www.rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic....ht=wet+footwell

Similar problems as you describe.

[stuartp]

Hi,

I have had a new T180 now for 6 weeks and yesterday found that the front passenger foot well was wet,once i had taken up the carpet found a puddle of water and everthing under the carpet soaked!

The sound insulation foam is now like a giant sponge.Dealer can fit me in thursday,but i was hoping to have some idea about the location of the leak,i tested the aircon and wiper fluid but nothing .It seems to be coming from the vent at the bottom of the windscreen (for the heater/fan etc) .

any thoughts??

Stuart,

Have a look at this thread..

http://www.rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic....ht=wet+footwell

Similar problems as you describe.

Thanks for that ,

I may print that page off and take it along to the dealers as this could turn out to be a long drawn out story!

Not happy that a £27000 car has a leak so soon after picking it up.

Stu.

[anchorman]

Hi,

I have had a new T180 now for 6 weeks and yesterday found that the front passenger foot well was wet,once i had taken up the carpet found a puddle of water and everthing under the carpet soaked!

The sound insulation foam is now like a giant sponge.Dealer can fit me in thursday,but i was hoping to have some idea about the location of the leak,i tested the aircon and wiper fluid but nothing .It seems to be coming from the vent at the bottom of the windscreen (for the heater/fan etc) .

any thoughts??

As Chatman says, there is plenty of dialogue on the US website. Most agree that the problem is worse when parked on a slope. I have come accross several vehicles that do this sort of thing; Skoda, VW and Rover. These vehicles have a similar heater intake design which is located on the bulkhead. Where the heater fixes up under the bulkhead there is a cut-out that is simply an oblong opening pressed from the inside to form a shallow folded lip. When it rains, there is quite a lot of water makes it's way onto the bulkhead and out to the road underneath. You can see the area by lifting the bonnet. It is the space at the bottom of the windscreen where the wiper spindles and heater intake are located. There are drains provided to allow the water to escape but in the case of those vehicles mentioned above, if the drains get blocked or the vehicle is parked on a slope, water can well up and pour in through the heater intake.

It is a stupid idea but manufacturers seem unable to anticipate problems of having a tiny lip to keep back torrents of water.

I would be very interested to know what they find as non of the US forums have been very conclusive. Get them to give you a thorough explanation of what has caused it then make your decision about what you would like to happen. Don't allow water to gather in the footwell. On the VW and Skoda there are several electronic modules located under the seat which get ruined when water surges over them. Put some old towels or something to stop it. If the water becomes quite deep, I would either insist that they replace the whole carpet or even reject the car and let someone else worry about it.

The reason is that the carpet and underlay will become distorted after drying out. The underlay will not be as effective as a carpet softener or sound insulator. It is a huge one piece moulded carpet that could dry out disfigured and start to pop out from around the trim. To replace it all of the seats and interior trim has to come out and inevitably at dealers, things don't quite go back as they should. Also, if you don't get it resolved fairly quickly, the carpet/underlay will start to smell of damp.

Quite frankly, it irritates me that major manufacturers continue to turn out vehicles knowing there is a potential problem. They don't want to spend the money to rectify them at the import centre and use statistics to decide whether they will address it in production or under warranty.

All of us that taken the plunge and gone for the new model are currently test beds for durability that should have been undertaken during development and not by us. If you trawl around the various forums you will hear stories such as yours, tyre pressure sensors, electric steering, gearbox noises, rapid tyre wear etc. etc. We could have bought one of the many new old shape (4.2) models that are utterly tried and tested and are still available to this day.

For anybody that is also thinking of spending in the region of 25k on one of these things (4.3), I am now on my second car after rejecting the first. It was rejected because of ****ty gear selection in 1st and 2nd.

The car I have got now has a noise in 1st to 4th but not 5th and 6th. Toyota GB, a division of the worlds biggest independant motor manufacturer has attempted to cure it by packing sound insulation into the transmission tunnel. It is utterly astonishing that their idea is not to cure the noise but to simply stop the driver from hearing it.

I am still waiting for a satisfactory outcome but if I hear many more stories like yours it will be going back and after many years of loyalty I will demand a refund and go elsewhere.

Sorry for the tale of woe but your experience after spending I guess around 27k in good faith appauls me

Good luck mate and don't let them fob you off

[chatman]

Well put Anchorman...

Spending 27k on a car designed to take the rough stuff and then leaks when a downpour occurs is not on....

If I had spent this much on the car I would be beating the dealers door down and demanding they fix it... :ffs: :ffs: You should not have to proove that the car is at fault..clealy seeing the water in the foot well is enough..

As I posted from RAV4WORLD... the new model (4.3) seems to be effected by some teathing issues more than the 4.1 MKI and 4.2 MKII. But owners still prefer it to other makes (Freelander ) I still want to get one but the misses has other ideas....("whats wrong with the one you've got" :!Removed!: :!Removed!: )

[stuartp]

Well put Anchorman...

Spending 27k on a car designed to take the rough stuff and then leaks when a downpour occurs is not on....

If I had spent this much on the car I would be beating the dealers door down and demanding they fix it... :ffs: :ffs: You should not have to proove that the car is at fault..clealy seeing the water in the foot well is enough..

As I posted from RAV4WORLD... the new model (4.3) seems to be effected by some teathing issues more than the 4.1 MKI and 4.2 MKII. But owners still prefer it to other makes (Freelander ) I still want to get one but the misses has other ideas....("whats wrong with the one you've got" :!Removed!: :!Removed!: )

Thanks a lot for both of your comments ,i will be putting my case forward on thursday and they will know i am not a happy bunny!!!

and as you say the underlay is soaking and does not smell to good so there is no way they are putting that back in the car.but they will proberly say to order a new one will take weeks(the norm with dealerships).

Will let you know the outcome.

[anchorman]

Well put Anchorman...

Spending 27k on a car designed to take the rough stuff and then leaks when a downpour occurs is not on....

If I had spent this much on the car I would be beating the dealers door down and demanding they fix it... :ffs: :ffs: You should not have to proove that the car is at fault..clealy seeing the water in the foot well is enough..

As I posted from RAV4WORLD... the new model (4.3) seems to be effected by some teathing issues more than the 4.1 MKI and 4.2 MKII. But owners still prefer it to other makes (Freelander ) I still want to get one but the misses has other ideas....("whats wrong with the one you've got" :!Removed!: :!Removed!: )

If you take my advice you will wait another 12 months and let them get rid of the gremlins. The forum will give you an idea of whether things are getting better and if not there are several new SUV's due out next year that might be worth a look.

I don't dislike my car - it's astonishing in a lot of respects but I am reading too much grief from disillusioned buyers to feel anything like comfortable. I just feel like I am waiting for something to happen and that is not right with a Toyota.

Your mrs might just be right this time!

Regards

PS any Land Rover is a complete crock of **** - the most badly put together vehicle on this planet

[stuartp]

Well put Anchorman...

Spending 27k on a car designed to take the rough stuff and then leaks when a downpour occurs is not on....

If I had spent this much on the car I would be beating the dealers door down and demanding they fix it... :ffs: :ffs: You should not have to proove that the car is at fault..clealy seeing the water in the foot well is enough..

As I posted from RAV4WORLD... the new model (4.3) seems to be effected by some teathing issues more than the 4.1 MKI and 4.2 MKII. But owners still prefer it to other makes (Freelander ) I still want to get one but the misses has other ideas....("whats wrong with the one you've got" :!Removed!: :!Removed!: )

If you take my advice you will wait another 12 months and let them get rid of the gremlins. The forum will give you an idea of whether things are getting better and if not there are several new SUV's due out next year that might be worth a look.

I don't dislike my car - it's astonishing in a lot of respects but I am reading too much grief from disillusioned buyers to feel anything like comfortable. I just feel like I am waiting for something to happen and that is not right with a Toyota.

Your mrs might just be right this time!

Regards

PS any Land Rover is a complete crock of **** - the most badly put together vehicle on this planet

Anchorman,

You say you rejected your 1st Rav ,how long had you had it before it went back?, as i would love to go to them on Thursday with as much amo as i can,but think that having the car for 6 weeks mean i am out of any rejection window they may give me?

[anchorman]

Anchorman,

You say you rejected your 1st Rav ,how long had you had it before it went back?, as i would love to go to them on Thursday with as much amo as i can,but think that having the car for 6 weeks mean i am out of any rejection window they may give me?

Hi Stuart

It was 4 months old.

You are OK to reject it but may be expected to give them one chance to repair it. For you to reject it, it has to be not of merchantable quality or fit for purpose. The best idea is to not go in with guns blazing but sit with your dealer (and ask for the dealer principle to be present if necessary) and tell him all of the reasons why you would be unhappy with a repair - new car, 27k, wet mats and underlay, dash has to come out, long term effects etc. etc.

Try not to lock horns and fall out as they are human at the end of the day aand you can make it hard work for yourself.

Your other option is, if you feel that the next car may carry the same problem (and listening to others, it might well) is to ask for your money back. I din't really care for that option because it left me without a car but I will if I don't get an answer soon.

Just out of interest, do you park it on a slope or under trees where leaves and seeds falling on it could block the body drains. If you do and you cannot avoid it then this is another defence in that the car is not suitable for the use which you are putting it.

Good luck and regards

anchorman

[stuartp]

Anchorman,

You say you rejected your 1st Rav ,how long had you had it before it went back?, as i would love to go to them on Thursday with as much amo as i can,but think that having the car for 6 weeks mean i am out of any rejection window they may give me?

Hi Stuart

It was 4 months old.

You are OK to reject it but may be expected to give them one chance to repair it. For you to reject it, it has to be not of merchantable quality or fit for purpose. The best idea is to not go in with guns blazing but sit with your dealer (and ask for the dealer principle to be present if necessary) and tell him all of the reasons why you would be unhappy with a repair - new car, 27k, wet mats and underlay, dash has to come out, long term effects etc. etc.

Try not to lock horns and fall out as they are human at the end of the day aand you can make it hard work for yourself.

Your other option is, if you feel that the next car may carry the same problem (and listening to others, it might well) is to ask for your money back. I din't really care for that option because it left me without a car but I will if I don't get an answer soon.

Just out of interest, do you park it on a slope or under trees where leaves and seeds falling on it could block the body drains. If you do and you cannot avoid it then this is another defence in that the car is not suitable for the use which you are putting it.

Good luck and regards

anchorman

Thanks Anchorman ,

No its on pretty flat driveway and only the odd leaf ever falls on it(mad isnt it that a so called offroader cant even put up with a little rain!!)

The strange thing is i have poured loads of water over the vent and only the smallest drops of water drip in to the passenger footwell ,and i cant see how that would cause the major amount of water that i found??

Unless when the car is moving it is forced in to the vent more?

Anyway have to see what they come up wuth Thursday.

Stu.

[anchorman]

Thanks Anchorman ,

No its on pretty flat driveway and only the odd leaf ever falls on it(mad isnt it that a so called offroader cant even put up with a little rain!!)

The strange thing is i have poured loads of water over the vent and only the smallest drops of water drip in to the passenger footwell ,and i cant see how that would cause the major amount of water that i found??

Unless when the car is moving it is forced in to the vent more?

Anyway have to see what they come up wuth Thursday.

Stu.

Hi mate.

Any news?

[stuartp]

Thanks Anchorman ,

No its on pretty flat driveway and only the odd leaf ever falls on it(mad isnt it that a so called offroader cant even put up with a little rain!!)

The strange thing is i have poured loads of water over the vent and only the smallest drops of water drip in to the passenger footwell ,and i cant see how that would cause the major amount of water that i found??

Unless when the car is moving it is forced in to the vent more?

Anyway have to see what they come up wuth Thursday.

Stu.

Hi mate.

Any news?

Hi,

Picked the car up a few hours ago ,all seems fine (but the test will be the next shower!!)

Garage phoned yesterday to say they had found the fresh air vant had a leak round the edge (as i had already said thats the place i thought it was coming from)anyway I said no way were they to remove the dash without calling me first.They sealed it from the front by removing the scuttle trim.The carpet looks ok and all the trim is back in place.

They did say that as i had thrown away all the underlay/foam (because it was soaking) that they would have to order this and it would be in end of Nov!

I pointed out that i needed said trim as of now ,and they could take it out of a showroom model,service girl said they could not do that as it would make the showroom Rav look odd,i pointed out no more odd than mine looks at the moment!!!

So after a few heated words they came round to my way of thinking.

Anyway will have to wait till the next shower or get out there with the old watering can??

Stu.

[Boro Sera]

Good luck with it Stu, and well done for standing your ground on the underlay. Customer service shouldn't really be a 'bone of contention! '

[anchorman]

Thanks Anchorman ,

No its on pretty flat driveway and only the odd leaf ever falls on it(mad isnt it that a so called offroader cant even put up with a little rain!!)

The strange thing is i have poured loads of water over the vent and only the smallest drops of water drip in to the passenger footwell ,and i cant see how that would cause the major amount of water that i found??

Unless when the car is moving it is forced in to the vent more?

Anyway have to see what they come up wuth Thursday.

Stu.

Hi mate.

Any news?

Hi,

Picked the car up a few hours ago ,all seems fine (but the test will be the next shower!!)

Garage phoned yesterday to say they had found the fresh air vant had a leak round the edge (as i had already said thats the place i thought it was coming from)anyway I said no way were they to remove the dash without calling me first.They sealed it from the front by removing the scuttle trim.The carpet looks ok and all the trim is back in place.

They did say that as i had thrown away all the underlay/foam (because it was soaking) that they would have to order this and it would be in end of Nov!

I pointed out that i needed said trim as of now ,and they could take it out of a showroom model,service girl said they could not do that as it would make the showroom Rav look odd,i pointed out no more odd than mine looks at the moment!!!

So after a few heated words they came round to my way of thinking.

Anyway will have to wait till the next shower or get out there with the old watering can??

Stu.

Hi Stu

I would like to know more/completely understand what was leaking. Any chance of a digital photo then I will check mine.

Kind regards

anchorman

[stuartp]

Thanks Anchorman ,

No its on pretty flat driveway and only the odd leaf ever falls on it(mad isnt it that a so called offroader cant even put up with a little rain!!)

The strange thing is i have poured loads of water over the vent and only the smallest drops of water drip in to the passenger footwell ,and i cant see how that would cause the major amount of water that i found??

Unless when the car is moving it is forced in to the vent more?

Anyway have to see what they come up wuth Thursday.

Stu.

Hi mate.

Any news?

Hi,

Picked the car up a few hours ago ,all seems fine (but the test will be the next shower!!)

Garage phoned yesterday to say they had found the fresh air vant had a leak round the edge (as i had already said thats the place i thought it was coming from)anyway I said no way were they to remove the dash without calling me first.They sealed it from the front by removing the scuttle trim.The carpet looks ok and all the trim is back in place.

They did say that as i had thrown away all the underlay/foam (because it was soaking) that they would have to order this and it would be in end of Nov!

I pointed out that i needed said trim as of now ,and they could take it out of a showroom model,service girl said they could not do that as it would make the showroom Rav look odd,i pointed out no more odd than mine looks at the moment!!!

So after a few heated words they came round to my way of thinking.

Anyway will have to wait till the next shower or get out there with the old watering can??

Stu.

Hi Stu

I would like to know more/completely understand what was leaking. Any chance of a digital photo then I will check mine.

Kind regards

anchorman

Hi Anchorman,

Sorry I have not replied sooner, but my mother was rushed to hospital so i have been offline for a while.

Not much point in phots as its leaking again!!!!

Stuart.