Water sloshing - XC60

[Dude]

Does anyone know about an issue of water sloshing under the floor in an XC60 (59 plate)?

The noise is behind the driver's side seat, sounds to be inboard of the door opening, under the floor. Sloshes on braking. Sound is limited to just that area. I think the floor pan on this model is a double skin with a gap between. There seems absolutely no way to see what's going on, either from inside or outside.

In terms of common reasons found on forums for water sloshing:

- the car has no sunroof, so it's not the blocked sunroof drain problem

- the carpet is not wet (anywhere) (except occasionally as next...)

- I don't think it's coming from a windscreen bonding failure. We might well have that problem as the carpet locally just behind the accelerator pedal area has been a bit wet now and again, but I too the A-pillar trim off outside and drenched it and strangely although we initially saw some water coming in (down the lower A-pillar structure), it actually stopped after a while. This was back at the start of Summer so it might have been that the warmer weather affected it. When we had this very minor leak, we had the screen mist up on that side only when the car was unused, but the misting stopped too. It might just be re-starting now the cold weather is back, with some misting up, but no wet carpet, as yet. But the water sloshing has continued all summer and is definitely rain-related.

- I had a suggestion it could be the drain pipe from the AirCon coming adrift and leaking water between the two floor panels and then running back, but if you look under the car when the aircon is on, you can see the condensed water draining nicely.

In extended dry weather, or if we garage the car and not let it get wet at all, the sloshing stops, but will return with the onset of rain.

Ideally, I'd like to know that there's a known fault e.g. the roof rails leaking.

Can't go drilling experimental holes as there's electrical stuff everywhere!

Might have to take it to Volvo, but with the threat of the mortgage interest rate rising....

[volvo for ever]

can be quite common im afraid i would sugest windscreen bonding trying gently pushing screen from inside car at top next to a pillars to interior mirror ..under the carpet there is loads of thick foam its that has absorbed water hence not right through yet ..to be honest one leak found you can easilly do this job yoyrself buy removing front seats and rear bench seat and carpet to dry out save yoursekf a fortune

regards

[Dude]

Thanks. Can't see any movement in the screen. We have a good screen place near here who migh even do the Volvo screens for them. Will take it along and see if they can find anything.

Will also dig under the mats, but the really water sounds as if it's in a hollow compartment and not in sub-carpet foam etc

[andrewpain]

sure you've not just noticed/registered fuel sloshing in the tank? fill it to the brim and see if the noise stops....

[Chief inspector]

My money would be on blocked door drains - you tried sloshing a door?

[Dude]

Originally Posted by andrewpain

sure you've not just noticed/registered fuel sloshing in the tank? fill it to the brim and see if the noise stops....

Well, until we find out what the noise is, then no, we can't be 101% sure

However,

1. we have not noticed any difference in the sloshing if the tank is full (brimmed) vs. part-full

2. the sloshing has gone away occasionally when the weather has been dry for long enough and the fuel tank was part-full

3. the fuel tank is further back than the sloshing noise (it's actually a very weird shape thing). Best way to hear the noise is sit on passenger side of rear seat while someone else is driving, lean over to the drivers side so your head is well down, and then have the driver brake. It's quite clearly in the chassis somewhere.

I wish it was just the fuel in the tank!

[Dude]

Originally Posted by Chief inspector

My money would be on blocked door drains - you tried sloshing a door?

Unfortunately not this. Have thrown the door around and had nothing, also checked the drains and prodded them with Sharp Things. Ditto as above, the noise is down below and not "up" in the door

[volvo for ever]

Are you sure it's not coming from a pillars there was a problem few years ago now sloshing from windscreen area

[Scootersp]

You need to get right up into the footwells and reach up to the bulkhead padding to check for dampness.

Whilst you say the leak seemed to stop when you tested it, it shouldn't have come in at all and I suspect you have water under the carpet. You can do a fairly simple check by unclipped the front door trims and then you can get your hand down the sill under the carpet and check. The carpet and thick foam backing means the top only feels slightly damp even when there is half and inch or so of water in the car!

[Dude]

Will take a good look, thanks