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MK7 "Random / "Stupid" Questions Thread"

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein
Common leak spots are 3rd brake light, accordian boot wire covers, sharkfin antenna and the roof rails or sunroof if you have them.

There are others for the rear but those are the only ones that would leak into the upper hatch trim.

Ensure the accordian boots are tight against the bodywork or they'll leak, and at an incline you put the hatch boot face right in the path of draining water.
This REALLY helps......

I was washing the car last summer and pushed down around the sharkfin antenna and bubbles came out around the seal........wonder if that could be one part of the issue

I'll check the accordian covers.....I checked the ones to the body, but not to the hatch.....I'll do that on my next break.
 

StorableComa

Autocross Champion
Location
SoCal, USA
Car(s)
17 GSW S FWD
This REALLY helps......

I was washing the car last summer and pushed down around the sharkfin antenna and bubbles came out around the seal........wonder if that could be one part of the issue

I'll check the accordian covers.....I checked the ones to the body, but not to the hatch.....I'll do that on my next break.
If it's the sharkfin look and see if you have water stains or dampness on the headliner in the rear. If water was just in the hatch, that would probably rule out roof based leaks as they tend to soak headliner first.

Also double check the hatch water seal itself and make sure it's not dry/torn/folded.
 

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein
If it's the sharkfin look and see if you have water stains or dampness on the headliner in the rear. If water was just in the hatch, that would probably rule out roof based leaks as they tend to soak headliner first.

Also double check the hatch water seal itself and make sure it's not dry/torn/folded.
this is gonna sound uber stupid......"hatch water seal".....uhh......what is that specifically?
 

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein

StorableComa

Autocross Champion
Location
SoCal, USA
Car(s)
17 GSW S FWD
yeah I'm an idiot......I went back out and looked....yeah....hatch seal looks good.

Accordian seals are pretty tight to the body and don't budge.

No water stains.

Hmm. Possible the water made its way to the upper hatch when you opened it. Inner Tail light seals and wiper arm would be the only hatch leak spots. Outer tail seals and the vents tend to put water in the spare tire area and not the hatch.

Also make sure the rubber face is firm against the body on the accordian seals. It's just a plastic clip holding them to the paint that seals out water.
 

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein
Hmm. Possible the water made its way to the upper hatch when you opened it. Inner Tail light seals and wiper arm would be the only hatch leak spots. Outer tail seals and the vents tend to put water in the spare tire area and not the hatch.

Also make sure the rubber face is firm against the body on the accordian seals. It's just a plastic clip holding them to the paint that seals out water.
Excellent ideas. Really appreciate it. I’ll remove lower portion and check all those areas out. Super frustrating
 

Nineeightyone

Autocross Champion
Location
Pennsylvania
Car(s)
Scooty Puff Jr
My car doesn't misfire with the traction control turned off. Is this weird or a thing? or am I just getting lucky?
Are you certain it's a misfire, and not traction control intervention? (Probably a dumb question but just to rule it out)
 

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein
Hmm. Possible the water made its way to the upper hatch when you opened it. Inner Tail light seals and wiper arm would be the only hatch leak spots. Outer tail seals and the vents tend to put water in the spare tire area and not the hatch.

Also make sure the rubber face is firm against the body on the accordian seals. It's just a plastic clip holding them to the paint that seals out water.
I was able to replicate the problem!

I parked my car in the driveway, removed all the trim, closed the hatch, and poured a bunch of pitchers of water right over the seam, all across the hatch seam where it meets the roof.

The angle of the driveway, combined with the all day, pouring rain, allowed the water to go up and over the hatch seal, so it literally went over the rubber of the seal.

So I’m not sure if it’s the seal that’s my problem, parking on my inclined driveway, or if a healthy seal would’ve had the same issue.
 

Anthony3o55

Autocross Champion
Location
South FL
I’m having the same problem in the hatch area for a while now. I’m taking it very serious now. My headliner has water stains for a while now and been getting worse over time & Ive done nothing. No idea what it is. I thought it was the rear camera drain since my went bad but I replaced it n headliner kept getting stained Just yesterday I bought a new antenna at the dealer ship bc you can wiggle mine from the outside. Not a tight fit at all. Its that rainy season where I stay and I want to fix this problem immediately. What I’ma do this weekend is remove all the plastic trims in the rear hatch and pillars and see where its coming from. I have no sunroof 17” GTI. I’m starting to think its either rubber gromets in the hatch but they fit tight. I dont see any water residue under the rear grommets with the center trim removed. I did open the hatch yesterday and pull the headliner down abit and had water come out from the top of the headliner right in the middle. Water was even dripping down the pillars. Maybe its the rear grommets, antenna, inner tail lights, or maybe the spoiler since I installed the aerofabb spoiler 2 years ago. Will update once I find the issue. Here’s how my headliner looks. Full of stains and already sagging. I won’t b surprised if it has mold. Since its black you cant even tell. I’m running a damprid hanger to help absord any humidty and prevent any more mold/mildew. Shop quoted me 500$ + tax to install a new headliner. I hope I get it resolved cuz if I do a new headliner n the leak still there it would suck ass.
IMG_1838.jpeg
IMG_2059.jpeg
 

swcrow

Autocross Champion
Location
Virginia
Car(s)
7.5 frankenstein
I’m having the same problem in the hatch area for a while now. I’m taking it very serious now. My headliner has water stains for a while now and been getting worse over time & Ive done nothing. No idea what it is. I thought it was the rear camera drain since my went bad but I replaced it n headliner kept getting stained Just yesterday I bought a new antenna at the dealer ship bc you can wiggle mine from the outside. Not a tight fit at all. Its that rainy season where I stay and I want to fix this problem immediately. What I’ma do this weekend is remove all the plastic trims in the rear hatch and pillars and see where its coming from. I have no sunroof 17” GTI. I’m starting to think its either rubber gromets in the hatch but they fit tight. I dont see any water residue under the rear grommets with the center trim removed. I did open the hatch yesterday and pull the headliner down abit and had water come out from the top of the headliner right in the middle. Water was even dripping down the pillars. Maybe its the rear grommets, antenna, inner tail lights, or maybe the spoiler since I installed the aerofabb spoiler 2 years ago. Will update once I find the issue. Here’s how my headliner looks. Full of stains and already sagging. I won’t b surprised if it has mold. Since its black you cant even tell. I’m running a damprid hanger to help absord any humidty and prevent any more mold/mildew. Shop quoted me 500$ + tax to install a new headliner. I hope I get it resolved cuz if I do a new headliner n the leak still there it would suck ass. View attachment 289457View attachment 289458
That water stain def looks like antenna leakage…. Crazy
 
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