Disasterous water logging issue - please help!

mrbroons · Nov 20th, 2010, 12:39

I have had my XC90 for the past 8 months and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have had a couple of issues which have annoyed me but nothing I have thought was serious.

1) I have xenon headlights and the passenger side one goes off and on when driving, need to flick the light switch to get it back working. Guessed that the igniter is on it's way out.

2) I have fitted a Parrot 9200 kit to the car which is working well but recently it has stopped working and I couldn't figure out why but guessed that it was because of a loose wire.

So on to todays trauma.

The Parrot kit is installed under the amplifier under the drivers seat (two blue boxes plus the wiring, then routed up toward the stereo.

I lifted the amp to see if I could see what the problem was with the Parrot kit and to my surprise I could see the cables had rusted (my first warning sign). I then pulled out all the cables - there are a few! and then saw much to my surprise that there was about 1 to 2 inches of water in the under floor section in the groove (you will know what I mean if you have seen it). The cables have all rotted and have fallen to pieces. So far it looks like it has only killed the Parrot kit but next will be the amplifier and goodness only knows what other essential cables are located under there.

So the problem is I need to know two things.

1) How on earth could water get into this critical cable location?
2) If water is meant to collect here - I'm sure it isn't - then how is it supposed to drain out?

I'm going to have to take the car off the road to get it looked at but unfortunately I don't have a garage or even a driveway so I'm a bit stuck unless I can get the car fixed quickly.

Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated before the cars electrics self destructs.

I have removed as much as I can of the water but I'm sure it will come back and I'm sure that any water and cables do not mix.

Regards,

Jim.

400-ascona · Nov 20th, 2010, 13:03

If I was a betting man I would bet you have a sunroof? The drains from the sunroof block up, causing water to find its way into the cavity under the amplifier. You need to get it sorted because the usual victim is the Yaw sensor which is mounted in the cavity. These are not cheap. If you look on this forum you will find many stories of damage caused by sunroof drains being blocked.

mrbroons · Nov 20th, 2010, 14:40

Sorry should have thought of that and stated. My car doesn't have a sunroof, I would have to the same conclusion if I had.

Anything else to check?

Jim.

Ron_XC90 · Nov 20th, 2010, 17:04

Jim,

Sorry to hear about your troubles. You don't mention what Year the car is from, maybe this thread will help if it's an older model, which seems to suffer from leaks round the windscreen
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=82359

400-ascona · Nov 20th, 2010, 17:04

The only other place it could get in that I can think of is through the bulkhead where the wiring harness passes through. Its under the windscreen wiper spindle on the drivers side. You have to remove the wiper arms, the plastic trim, and you can then see a plastic box where the harness passes through. This is also where the water gets in to the CEM which is another problem.

Picture shows the area I am talking about.
Other than that I can only think its getting in via the roof bars, but suspect you would be able to see staining on teh headlining.

400-ascona · Nov 20th, 2010, 17:10

Another thread suggest leaking replacement windscreen is a possibility if its been poorly bonded in.

mrbroons · Nov 20th, 2010, 18:18

Again apologies. It is a 2003/53 (2004 registration) 2.4dSEGeartronic

Forgive my ignorance if someone can draw me a circle round the bit to check on the photo I'll take a look tonight.

I'm still really confused as to how the water gets into the under floor area? Its under the amp? Should I have wet carpets also? e.g does the under floor area have holes from the upper floor area where the carpet is where water can flow in but not out?

Regards,

Jim.

mrbroons · Nov 21st, 2010, 12:12

I'm just about to have a go today at removing the drivers seat and the carpet. If someone would be kind enough to post up the bit of VADIS that would show me how to do this I would really appreciate it, due to a glacially slow internet connection I'm not able to get this information myself.

I'll post up pictures as I go so that this can help someone else.

regards,

Jim.

Rossi-fan · Nov 21st, 2010, 12:17

Just a thought,,, Do you know if there has been a replacement windscreen fitted at anytime? They dont always get them sealed properly.

mrbroons · Nov 21st, 2010, 12:46

Not in my ownership, but I've only owned the car since April time, I will check that it is a Volvo one.

Nov 20th, 2010, 12:39	#1
mrbroons Junior Member Last Online: Sep 4th, 2021 00:31 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kinross	Disasterous water logging issue - please help! I have had my XC90 for the past 8 months and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have had a couple of issues which have annoyed me but nothing I have thought was serious. 1) I have xenon headlights and the passenger side one goes off and on when driving, need to flick the light switch to get it back working. Guessed that the igniter is on it's way out. 2) I have fitted a Parrot 9200 kit to the car which is working well but recently it has stopped working and I couldn't figure out why but guessed that it was because of a loose wire. So on to todays trauma. The Parrot kit is installed under the amplifier under the drivers seat (two blue boxes plus the wiring, then routed up toward the stereo. I lifted the amp to see if I could see what the problem was with the Parrot kit and to my surprise I could see the cables had rusted (my first warning sign). I then pulled out all the cables - there are a few! and then saw much to my surprise that there was about 1 to 2 inches of water in the under floor section in the groove (you will know what I mean if you have seen it). The cables have all rotted and have fallen to pieces. So far it looks like it has only killed the Parrot kit but next will be the amplifier and goodness only knows what other essential cables are located under there. So the problem is I need to know two things. 1) How on earth could water get into this critical cable location? 2) If water is meant to collect here - I'm sure it isn't - then how is it supposed to drain out? I'm going to have to take the car off the road to get it looked at but unfortunately I don't have a garage or even a driveway so I'm a bit stuck unless I can get the car fixed quickly. Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated before the cars electrics self destructs. I have removed as much as I can of the water but I'm sure it will come back and I'm sure that any water and cables do not mix. Regards, Jim.

Nov 20th, 2010, 13:03	#2
400-ascona Premier Member Last Online: Jun 17th, 2024 14:07 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Derby	If I was a betting man I would bet you have a sunroof? The drains from the sunroof block up, causing water to find its way into the cavity under the amplifier. You need to get it sorted because the usual victim is the Yaw sensor which is mounted in the cavity. These are not cheap. If you look on this forum you will find many stories of damage caused by sunroof drains being blocked. __________________ 1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Mercedes C63 AMG Estate; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

Nov 20th, 2010, 14:40	#3
mrbroons Junior Member Last Online: Sep 4th, 2021 00:31 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kinross	Drainage prob Sorry should have thought of that and stated. My car doesn't have a sunroof, I would have to the same conclusion if I had. Anything else to check? Jim.

Nov 20th, 2010, 17:04	#4
Ron_XC90 Master Member Last Online: May 19th, 2014 11:33 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Redditch View Photos By: Ron_XC90	Jim, Sorry to hear about your troubles. You don't mention what Year the car is from, maybe this thread will help if it's an older model, which seems to suffer from leaks round the windscreen http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=82359 __________________ Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8 CRD Limited 2010 XC90 D5 SE Geartronic, MY2008 (Now sold) Mitsi Pajero 2.8TD Super Exceed '96 (My Toy) Member of the Gloucestershire & Worcestershire 4x4 Response group. www.gw4x4r.co.uk

Nov 20th, 2010, 17:04	#5
400-ascona Premier Member Last Online: Jun 17th, 2024 14:07 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Derby	The only other place it could get in that I can think of is through the bulkhead where the wiring harness passes through. Its under the windscreen wiper spindle on the drivers side. You have to remove the wiper arms, the plastic trim, and you can then see a plastic box where the harness passes through. This is also where the water gets in to the CEM which is another problem. Picture shows the area I am talking about. Other than that I can only think its getting in via the roof bars, but suspect you would be able to see staining on teh headlining. __________________ 1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Mercedes C63 AMG Estate; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

Nov 20th, 2010, 17:10	#6
400-ascona Premier Member Last Online: Jun 17th, 2024 14:07 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Derby	Another thread suggest leaking replacement windscreen is a possibility if its been poorly bonded in. __________________ 1997 V70R AWD, Saffron, Manual; Lotus Carlton; Ascona 400; Mini Cooper S Works; 4.2 Supercharged Range Rover; Mercedes C63 AMG Estate; Suzuki GSF1200N; BMW R80/7; Velocette Venom; Daimler V8 250.

Nov 20th, 2010, 18:18	#7
mrbroons Junior Member Last Online: Sep 4th, 2021 00:31 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kinross	Age Again apologies. It is a 2003/53 (2004 registration) 2.4dSEGeartronic Forgive my ignorance if someone can draw me a circle round the bit to check on the photo I'll take a look tonight. I'm still really confused as to how the water gets into the under floor area? Its under the amp? Should I have wet carpets also? e.g does the under floor area have holes from the upper floor area where the carpet is where water can flow in but not out? Regards, Jim.

Nov 21st, 2010, 12:12	#8
mrbroons Junior Member Last Online: Sep 4th, 2021 00:31 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kinross	I'm just about to have a go today at removing the drivers seat and the carpet. If someone would be kind enough to post up the bit of VADIS that would show me how to do this I would really appreciate it, due to a glacially slow internet connection I'm not able to get this information myself. I'll post up pictures as I go so that this can help someone else. regards, Jim.

Nov 21st, 2010, 12:17	#9
Rossi-fan Premier Member Last Online: Feb 12th, 2023 10:07 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Durham	Just a thought,,, Do you know if there has been a replacement windscreen fitted at anytime? They dont always get them sealed properly.

Nov 21st, 2010, 12:46	#10
mrbroons Junior Member Last Online: Sep 4th, 2021 00:31 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kinross	Not in my ownership, but I've only owned the car since April time, I will check that it is a Volvo one.

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