Scenic heater - water in footwell!

[moggie 939]

Hello
On my 53 plate Renault Scenic after last night's heavy rain, when I switched on the heater blower there was a loud wooshing sound of water coming from the heater and after a few minutes water was dripping badly into the passenger footwell from somewhere below the glove box?

Got louder when I increased blower speed, but after I ran the heater for 10 mins the water noise stopped and so did the dripping!

It only happened once before when I went thru a car wash = same exactly!

Any ideas? Could it be coming in from where the air comes in to the heater?

The engine compartment seemed dry.

Thanks

[TWR]

As you look under the bonnet look at the TOP REAR of the engine below the windscreen, to the Left / Right there will be a recess check that there is no debris within these area's, the lower part of these has drain pipes/holes. If this does continue be aware as water into the heater motor area can cause a short circuit.

[gingejbee]

The problem area is called the "plenum chamber" and will cause a similar problem on most cars if not kept clear of debris. Cleaning it out is actually part of my car's service schedule.

[Hopkirk]

Have you had a new windscreen recently?

In my experience they don't always refit the trims properly, which can let water in.

[Toureman]

If you want a good answer with instructions of how to look after your Renault click the link............

http://www.renaultfor...ex.php?referrerid=599

[moggie 939]

Thank you so much TWR and the others.

You were completely corect TWR - the drivers side was ok, but the passenger side drain was blocked!

Thanks again

[moggie 939]

TWR - sorry to bother you again about the water ingress. I did what you said, but wonder if I cleared out the wrong hole as there does not seem to be one on the passenger side only drivers side!

On drivers side there is a hole that goes down behind the wscreen washer filler and you can see the ground thru it. In front of this on the gulley that goes right across the car beneath the wscreen there is a 6" slot on the drivers side which seems to go nowhere. Is THIS the drain? If so, why is there not one the same on the passenger side - there is only a blanking plate for the wwasher filler on a l/h drive car.
Does the water only drain one way towards the drivers side and if so why is the leak into the cat only into the passenger well!
Sorry to ask this but I may have been trying to clear the wrong hole.
Thanks again

[gingejbee]

moggie: can't speak for your Renault specifically- but the plenum chamber is *one* space that runs the width of the car an, as such, should only need *one* drain-hole. If this gets blocked, water rises in the chamber and can spill over into the heater air-inlet and then into the interior of the car. Where it ends up depends on several factors- water has a habit of going where you least expect it!
So , there may be only *one* hole to clear.

[TWR]

As stated Moggie, keep your eyes on these drains it does not take much to block them

[moggie 939]

Thanks both of you. I think I was trying to 'rod out' the wrong hole. I will try again in the 'gulley' I mentioned and see if I can get a wire down it.