I have a 1996 VW Sharan 2.8 Carat. I am getting water in the storage compartment under the drivers seat. It seems to be coming from the front left of the compartment next to the transmission tunnel through a welded beam where the wire loom is fixed. The top of all the footwell carpet feels dry and the passenger side seems unaffected.

After several tests it seems to occur when the Air Con (Climate control) is in Auto mode and running at low temperature (18 or lo).
I have had the garage run the engine and air con up to an hour without driving and no water has appeared.
I am NOT loosing any engine coolant.

There is air and a small amount of water coming out of what I believe is the air con expansion tube in the engine compartment but not as much as used to drop to the road surface on a hot day.
I am wondering if there is more than one expansion pipe from the condenser and the route it takes.

ANY advice is welcomed!.
Many thanks.

Colin, April 2009

had water under the driver seat, apparently the glue used for fitting of the front window had a problem in the lower left corner. Is repaired and everything is fine now, exept the price of the repair. (500EUR)

In my opinion same as Prio4443

Filip, July 2009

Thank you pric4443 and Andy for your replies.
I have had the blocked drain pipes before and I cleaned them and then poured some red food dye coloured water over the screen and into the side wells. This red water came out by the front wheels with no problem. I have had the pollen filter changed during a service. (I was getting the water under the drivers seat with the old and the new filter!)

I have not tried the windscreen solution yet because I get the water on hot dry days only with the air conditioner working. I have also noticed the lack of water dripping from the underside of the car in hot weather as it used to do. (I would be grateful if any Sharan owner with A/C could have a look and let me know where the bulk of the A/C water comes from).
I am still working on the theory that there is a rubber valve behind the exhaust heat shield which may have stuck closed. I had a quick look under the car and there was a lot of oil / grease on the aluminium shield. I tried to wash the area but with no luck as the water under the seat returned today. I am unable at the moment to remove the heat shield. Perhaps someone could also tell me the location of this rubber valve and flap.
Thank you for your interest.

Colin, May 2009

i know of 1 popular place the sharans used to leak rain water into drivers and passengers compartments,outside at the both bottom corners of the screen are plastic trims, the clips on the body holding these trims on if missing,loose, or broken allow water into a box section when raining and then leaks into the cabin,remidy but silicon sealer in box section and around clipsand allow to dry before testing.

pric4443, May 2009

Are you sure it isn't rainwater?. I had a problem with my Sharan which turned out to be the air intake where the pollen filter is. The drain tubes at each end had blocked so in heavy rain the compartment tended to fill up. The level only had to rise a little before it started to pour in through the heater behind the dash. The well under the seat then filled up which also caused the dongle for the audio system to fail.

Andy, May 2009