Bonnet Seal

[lankyjames]

Hi all,
Got a bit of a problem with water getting under the bonnet and sitting under the washer bottle (passenger side).
Now this leads to some stagnant sitting water, and also as the bonnet release cable is fed through here, some water leaking into my footwell....

Short of silicone on the release cable, what could I use as water sealant for the bonnet? Ie an adhesive rubber strip for around the edge such that the water cannot get there in the first place?

Thanks in advance

[DavidL]

I'd use silicon sealant around the cable, and just accept that you have a small pool of stagnant water sitting there (emergency coolant supply? )

Trying to seal the entire bonnet perimeter might be more trouble than it's worth, I reckon. I think I remember having the same problem when I had my Mk 2, and thinking then that it seemed an odd thing to design in water traps, especially when you then drill a hole in the middle of one and end up with a drain INTO the car...

[lankyjames]

Exactly...it's not as though anything has to rest on it, so why not have them angled and not water traps!
Well time to get siliconing(sp?)!

[Stuart]

More than likely that the water is dripping in from the bonnet stay fixings, if you can drain the water from that box section I doubt you'll have the problem.

[lankyjames]

More than likely that the water is dripping in from the bonnet stay fixings, if you can drain the water from that box section I doubt you'll have the problem.

Which fixings do you mean stu?

[DavidL]

More than likely that the water is dripping in from the bonnet stay fixings, if you can drain the water from that box section I doubt you'll have the problem.

Which fixings do you mean stu?

Possibly the box section formed under the bonnet itself, which the upper end of the stay bolts to? Find the lowest point, drill a hole through to form a tight fit on a piece of windscreen washer tubing, and lead it away somewhere it'll fall out onto the ground...

(the above is only a guess)

[Stuart]

That's a good guess, something very much along those lines should do the trick.

[DavidL]

That's a good guess, something very much along those lines should do the trick.

I think it might have been a distant memory of having the same problem about 25 years ago!

[kelvink]

I've recently got myself a Mk2 and also noticed this rather silly design fault too. It's the same on the other side of the bonnet where the battery would sit too.
Going to see what I can do to address this as I don't want a permanent pool of water sitting in the engine bay other than in the washer bottle and the radiator reservoir.

[lankyjames]

Battery side isnt so bad and I am 90% sure now that its the holes in the 2nd skin of the bonnet for which the bonnet stay is bolted through, not great.

Just really glad the car is plastic and won't rust haha!