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Wet brake pedal (Honest!)

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 7:53 am
by simonc
While waiting to get through immigration at the Singapore border last Saturday (in the middle of a massive downpour) I noticed my right foot was becoming damp. It was taking ages to get through because there was some kind of technical malfunction with the immigration department's computers therefore, it was a long, stop-start crawl to get to the gates.
I've felt this damp foot thing before but to be honest I've ignored it but as I was stuck in the jam I twisted my hand down onto the back of the pedal and it felt very wet.
I stuck my hand further up and it also felt wet amongst the wires and what felt like a fairly thick pipe running horizontally above the pedals.
It can't be coming from the sunroof because right now the entire roof the car is covered with a sheet of faux-carbon plastic (yes, it looks disgusting but it's only for a couple of weeks) in lieu of the forthcoming arrival of my new sunroof from Blighty. (Having it sent air-freight so should be here next week :) )
I say I've felt it before because now it's all making sense, this problem is only after heavy rain and is now worrying me, especially after I felt it myself.
Can I ask you gents as to where this water is coming from and perhaps a way to stop it? Any help is most appreciated. Thanks, Si.

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:11 am
by gb-lude
O thats not good...
Well I understand you think its water and not brake fluid or coolant.
It can be a leaving windshield or even sunroof.
Also its worth removing the plastic plate under your windshield (don't know what its called)
Dirt might have clogged the drain holes and caused corrosion.

Look at these options first.
If its not raining and you cant find the source, get the garden hose out because when its dry you might not find it.

Also get a few of those moisteaters absorbers or what ever they are called so your carpet and isolation doesn't start to smell!

Goodluck

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:15 am
by wurlycorner
That will have been the wiring loom that you felt.

Things to check are the sunroof drains in the A pillars (check the bladders are not full of crud) and that the sunroof mechanism at the top is also clear.
Then you're into checking the scuttle panel for blocked up drains (leaves etc) or a splitting seam.
Details of checking the sunroof drains and how to get into the scuttle panel are all in the service manual.
Also there are pics of what it looks like inside the scuttle panel, in my green ukdm 4g profile thread (and Pushki's profile thread as well)

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:21 am
by simonc
Hi @gb-lude. Morning mate. I think I was just editing my post when you were doing yours.
Brake fluid or coolant. That's a worry but it didn't feel greasy or smell of anything so I hope it's not that.
Sunroof - now edited.
Windscreen. Well, there's no water inside along the dash so that's a puzzler.
Plastic plate thing. That's as good a starting point as any. I'll speak to Jason today and see if he can help me.
Moisture thingys - brought two back from the UK after Christmas mate! Both in the car, one in the cabin and one in the boot. ;)

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:23 am
by simonc
Thanks Iain. I'm going to look at your profile right now. ;)

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:32 am
by simonc
@wurlycorner. Got it matey. Page 2 of the profile. Good stuff and very helpful. ( I noticed that bit of McDonald's carton in that intake. I've got a noise driving me nuts as well).
Righto then, it's off to Jason's tomorrow for a look-see and a clean out. Thanks Iain, most grateful to you. :)

Re: Wet brake pedal (Honest!)

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:10 am
by Doggo
I had a problem like this with an old Volvo, which turned out to be blocked drains in front of the windscreen (as suggested).

Have you been stimulating the car more than usual lately?

Good luck with it, anyway.

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:50 am
by simonc
Hi Doggo - not been doing many miles as of late. Just backwards and forwards on local jaunts for work. However, last weekend I did drive down to Singapore (not at my usual hyper-speed) as her indoors was in the passenger seat, hanging on for grim death and loudly tut-tutting every time the speedo needle approached 140kph.
Bloody women eh? :roll:
I was hoping Jason would be looking at it yesterday but he go tied up on something else so we're meeting this morning so he can take it to his workshop to sort it out. Actually, it is raining exceptionally heavily this morning so it's a great day to look for leaks.
I'll update this thread with some photos and any remedial action we'll be taking to cure this problem. ;)

Re: Wet brake pedal (Honest!)

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:23 am
by Doggo
:lol: It's a shame when you have an unenthusiastic passenger, and I'm always very grateful to have one of the rare ones who enjoys a bit of speed.

Keep us posted :)

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:15 am
by simonc
Hi @Doggo. Unenthusiastic is an understatement my friend. ;)
Love her to bits but she's a real pain in the backside as a passenger. "Too fast, watch that car, watch out for the police, slow down, too fast, slow down it's raining, too fast, slow down, nag, nag, bloody nag..." :evil:
The car's with Jason right now so it might be too late this evening to put up the photos and share the news but I'll make time tomorrow morning to post the (hopefully) good news.