Mystery Leak - water in vehicle

First you need to convince them there is a leak. (I assume you've convinced yourself.)

I had a vehicle which had a plugged drain in the blower motor housing. Water would blow into the exterior air intake and settle into the housing. It was supposed to drain out, but would just overflow into the passenger compartment. Heck, 2-3 inches sometimes! (It was a truck, so who cared?)

Haven't had the dash off the MDX yet but you might take a hose and direct it at the windshield/cowl area for 30 min to see if that duplicates your leak.

If so, there is the heater core and blower assembly in that area.

Perhaps something else is the condensate drain from the AC. Do you get puddles under the car when running the AC? If not, where is the condensate going? Don't know where you are, but this seems remote since you indicated exterior rain correlates with the puddling.

If it leaks, make sure the dealer does a TOTAL refurbish on the interior: carpet/padding/insulation CAN be damaged. (Remember, just because they have an Acura sign doesn't make them an expert...)

Good Luck

Ard

Mikel;

If I were you, I'd be very skeptical. Do you get the idea these guys are shooting in the dark?

How are they "sealing" the leaks? Is it factory mastic applied to properly prepared substrates with full access, or are they squirting silicone seal up under whereever they can reach?

Tell them you want a meeting with the Acura District Manager to inspect the leak and review their proposed repairs.

Remember, just because there is an Acura sign out front doesn't mean they know what they are doing...

I'm probably wrong, but you DID spend $40k!

Ard

Water in car twice

THe first time was after heavy rain.
They tested my car and found nothing.


Less water the 2nd time after moderate rainfall
Dealer has had car for 5 days. They say it is a pillar
leak and was hard to find. Today the service guy stated that there may be another leak and did not make me seem confident.

I want a NEW car-seems like I have a lemon!
Any insight from anybody?
Hey they are ripping the dashboard apart.

Will my car be the same even if they replace carpeting?

Acura CS is notoriously poor (for a 'luxury' car marque)

I don't think you'll get far.

What are you seeking to be compensated for? Sounds like they gave you an MDX to drive, so the usual hassle of having to use a TL for SUV work wasn't an issue.

Of course, there was likely many hours (10-12) of back and forth driving, calls, hassle. The dealer is trying to make good with a free major tune-up (I'd pick the priciest one from the manual) not just the 'next'. (What is a 'tune-up' these days??? Nobody every tunes anything, just replace parts.)

BTW, the problems with these kinds of issues (leaks/problems on new vehicles) is because there are 3 separate companies you are dealing with: Dealership, Acura Sales (CustService) and Manufacturer. They hardly speak, and when they do it is a constrained and tortous path communications must take. The manufacturer gets alot of info, but must filter it down (making risk/legal/financial calculations) before they can advise their network. That's why it took so long for the 'thud' to get addressed by coporate...

my 2cents,

Ard