Ok, having very nearly won the battle of the leaky boot, still have to seal behind the rear lights to combat a small water leak, I have now discovered that the underlay beneath the drivers footwell is very wet.  
I had noticed it previously but chalked it up to water moving from the rear, maybe it still is.  Maybe the previous owners couldn’t find the issue ? 
Anyway, I was sticking my hand through the small chassis number opening to get a towel under the carpet to dry it but it was always wet a day later.  So today I got out the screw drivers and took off the side panels and lifted as much of the carpet as I could to find a load of sitting water underneath the rubber soundproofing under the pedals.  I have no idea if it’s now a leak from the front causing that issue or a historic leak from the rear and the water is just sitting there.  Going to be very hard to dry under there either way as it’s hard to get to and lift the rubber.  
I did see on YouTube that a front leak might be door seals or leaves choking the grill and drain holes under the windscreen, and boy is mine clogged.  It’s like a small compost heap in there in each corner.  I can lift the grill to clean it out but will it make a difference and how will I mop up the water under the mat ????  😩😩😩.  It never ends. 
I forgot to say the car smelled when I got it but I just thought that was the smell from valeting but it must have been damp.  Smells a little better now it’s drier.  Also, the passenger side is grand.  No damp or water at at front or rear, even under the passenger rubber soundproofing.  So it’s a driver side issue only.  I think I gave the back sussed, just the front to sort out now 🙄. 

I would clear out the scuttle, and see how it goes.

To dry out underneath carpets, (when not driving!) each day stick a fresh dry towel under the rubber, leave it until evening, and repeat.  

The best way to dry any car is to park it in the full sun, with windows/doors open as appropriate, jam something under the carpet to lift it and allow air to circulate as best you can..... but you may be waiting a few months or years for the sun.

Thanks @orangecurry.  I lifted the carpet again and stuffed the biggest towel I had under there.  I also finished sealing the rear and behind both lights as there is still water getting in.  The only holes left is under the rear bumper and that’s way beyond me. 
I also took off the scuttle, thanks for the official title, and found a mini garden.  I removed a huge amount of leaf matter but couldn’t see any drain holes that were blocked, especially on the drivers side as it was occupied by the wiper motor.  Still, the leaf matter shouldn’t be there.  When I put the scuttle back on I did my best to get it under the windscreen but there is still a small gap in the middle.  Is this an issue given that any water will probably go into the scuttle space and drain off ???

1 hour ago, Charlotte Darcy said:

When I put the scuttle back on I did my best to get it under the windscreen but there is still a small gap in the middle.  Is this an issue given that any water will probably go into the scuttle space and drain off ???

 

 

...sorry but that photo is mangling my brain - can you pull out a bit?  My scuttle had some crap in when I bought the car, but yours should get an award from Alan Titchmarsh.

2 hours ago, Charlotte Darcy said:

 

 

As far as I can tell, the water into the scuttle area should be channeled away to each side and drop down over a flap of plastic you can nearly see in your photo above - therefore make sure the water drains away from this point - I imagine there is a drain tube or channel that is out of sight.  Pour some water from say a cup into your clean channel, and see if it emerges under the car somewhere.  If it doesn't, you still have a block that will back-up the water which will end up in the car.

Hi Charlotte 

how have you got on with this issue. I have the exact same problem . Did have an earlier issue with quite a pool of water behind drivers seat and boot area. However have since cured this following OC advice previously about cracks under the roof gutter strips. Just the dampness now under the drivers moulded foam section. Have wondered if it is related to the AC. 
 

regards

Kev

Ok. Apologies for possible duplication. 
The wet is back, at least under the drivers carpet.  It rained very hard for the last 24hours so I thought I would check the car for leaks.  The boot and rear floors were grand, all bone dry, but under the drivers carpet was sodden wet.  The car was parked and had not been driven in days and not in the rain so the moisture got in over the last day or so.  
I just checked for seal leaks by pouring water down the door and all looks solid.  The water goes through out out the bottom of the door as normal. 
The only thing I can think of is the windscreen panel which doesn’t seem to fit snug and would definitely let water under the windscreen.  I might try and remove it again and seal it up before putting it back on.  It’s all I can think of. 
Any brainwaves ???

Sorry but I can't quite grasp exactly what areas the photos are showing - is the 2nd one a gap between screen and bodywork?  Has the screen been fitted so poorly that it's letting water in?

Or is that just a gap caused by the trim scuttle-cover not fitting perfectly?

On 7/10/2024 at 6:35 PM, Charlotte Darcy said:

The only thing I can think of is the windscreen panel which doesn’t seem to fit snug and would definitely let water under the windscreen.

The trim is not intended to be water proof. The windscreen is bonded to the body of the car and forms a complete seal on the back of the glass.

That trim leak can allow water in through the cabin air intake if the scuttle is full of leaves etc.  But that's on the passenger side, so probably not the cause of a drivers side leak.

You’re right, it’s the scuttle fitting below the windscreen.  It fits, badly, under the windscreen.  I wondered if water was leaking through and under it and getting under the windscreen under and inside the scuttle channel and into the car.  I took it off earlier to run some sealant under it and I spotted water in the area under the windscreen motor so I wonder if heavy rain could leak under and behind the dash onto the floor.  
I checked the passenger side and it was bone dry but the drivers floor was wet right under the sound proofing.  

Hi Charlotte were you able to find the cause or source of the water on the drivers side? I have the same issue. No obvious root cause that can see . Thanks

Edited April 25Apr 25 by rogerrogers