Volkswagen: flooded drivers side, sunroof drain, vw jetta

Question
I have a 1999 VW Jetta with a sunroof. After a rain that lasted about 3 days in
which we didn't drive the Jetta at all, the driver's side floorboard was flooded
with about 4 inches of water. Once we bailed it out and vacumed the carpet, I
sat in the car and ran a hose over the windshield, sunroof, and driver's side
window to check for leaks and couldn't find any. THen a couple of days later,
the floor got a little wet again without there even being rain. I've read about a
Toyota that the sunroof drain was probably either blocked or disconnected.
Could this be the same and if so, what do I do?

Answer
Hi Josh

You may be right about the sunroof drains.  I'm not entirely sure on a Jetta, but there should be 4 drains.  Look for a black rubber nipple in the front jamb of the front doors.  There are two more behind the rear wheel inside the bumper.  You'll have to remove the wheel liner and/or bumper skin to get to them.  Sometimes they get clogged or disconnected.  Give them a squeeze and see if they are filled up with pine needles, leaves, spiderwebs, old roaches or whatever.  Get any loose stuff out.  

To flush or test the lines, open the sunroof and carefully pour a few quarts of water in the channel around the sunroof.  Water should pour from the nipple in the door jamb and from the rear bumper.  If it doesn't it's either really clogged or disconnected.  Test both sides.

The lines are plastic hoses that are feebly pressed into the nipples.  The nipples are meant to be installed from the inside of the car out, but if you yank them from the outside, you can put them back with a bit of cursing.  Pull them out carefully and fish around the hole for the hose.  It should be green.  Once you find it, pull it towards the hole.  Don't pull too hard or it may disconnect from the other end.  Smear bathtub caulk around the outside and push the nipple on.  Don't mount the nipple until it dries.

Don't let this go too long.  The comfort control module is on the floor and if it gets wet, it could fry.  You will lose your windows, locks, alarm and the car may not start.  It ain't cheap either.

Rob