Condensation in all windows & wet trunk

[Nounours]

Hello,

After a couple of days of big rain and my 2002 NB in the parking, I try to drive it today but can't see anything as there's full condensation in all windows. Seats and floors are dry, no stains on the pillars cloth, maybe just a few drops on the front passenger rubber carpet.

Later, I discover the trunk carpets are wet. Difficult to tell if water fell on it (leak in the trunk rubber seal?) or if it came from the moonroof and fell between the trunk metal and the floors (jammed moonroof evacuation tubing?).

What do you think or what should I do? What kind of tool can I use to unjam the tubings, if it's the problem? Air? Coathanger? I guess not.

Also, if there's only water in the trunk, how come there's huge condensation in all windows, including the whole windshield? Could water have also fell up front between the dash on all the electrical components there? I really don't like this.

Poor Nounoursmobile.

Thanks in advance to all who want to help.

[warren]

nounours,

i'd check the sunroof drain holes (pipe cleaners probably your best bet), but think the hatch might be letting in water...

saw the same thing with my nb a few months back...adjusted the threaded rubber stops in almost a turn and the little bolted stops on the hatch in a little bit.

several significant rainfalls lately, and no more wet in the trunk (or spare tire well).

good luck! wanna see the polar bear back on the road

[Nounours]

Thank you Warren.

About those moonroof drains, I can only see two holes, each side on the front. Since the water fell to the rear, are there also holes on each rear side of the moonroof? I can't see them. Or maybe there are only those two holes on front?

Thanks in advance again.

[Oyveychris]

There are rear holes to afaik. Open the trunk and take a look at the top where the hinges are, I think they are in that area <goes to look>

[Nounours]

Hmmm... There are indeed two rubbered holes there, covered with rubber caps.

Is that normal? Should those caps remain on top of the rubbered holes or be removed? That's a strange design...

[spdbump2001]

Check the seal around the third brake light. Water gets in and runs down the inside of the hatch and drips through the latch into the spare tire well. I bet your trunk insulation below the catch is wet. If you take off the plastic cover on the inside of the hatch, you might see water or stains on the back of it.

[fohveh]

I'd check the third brake light as well, I have a 2002 1.8t NB and found that one third brake nut was loose and the water seeped in ever so much at first, but over time the amount of water increased until the seal failed as well; this is a likely culprit. Just look for water spots behind the plastic hatch cover, its very easy to remove just two screws and pop it out you will notice the water spots on the inside metal surface of the hatch then you will know 100% its the third brake light, if no water spots anywhere follow the other ideas. And YES all the glass surfaces in the car will have condensation on them. The Beetle does not vent condensation very well. Just leave a damp towel in your trunk and the whole car will get foggy I found that out after throwing damp towels in the trunk from swimming or from washing the car.

[Lugnutx5]

You might want to check out this how to link. It dtails how to check your sunroof drains and detailed (w/ pics) on how to clear them. Good luck.

BTW, water in the front floorboards usually means the front drains are clogged or partially clogged.

http://www.newbeetle.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13581

[Nounours]

Thanks everybody for your help.

Also, with Lugnutx5's excellent how to page, I should be able to succeed (I'm not very good at mechanics, but if someone guides me I usually can do fine).

Fohveh, thanks to confirm about the condensation getting over all windows. I guess our cars act as aquariums in that matter.

The water fell on the front right passenger carpet and also fell through the right rear arch (explaining the water in the trunk and also partly on the rear seat). Strangely, it appears it's the front left drain that's clogged. I guess it's because my parking is leveled that way... All the overflow caused on the front left was transferred to the rear right.

I conclude that as soon as a single drain is clogged, it can do a big mess if it rains heavily.

Oh well, Nounoursmobile is drying up gradually now. I guess it's better than an engine problem.

Thank you everyone once again!