26 replies to this topic

[ish034]

Hi, i have a ford focus tddi. Everytime it rains, the rear left footwell ends up with a big puddle (everywhere else though is completely dry). Sat inside with someone else doing a hospipe over it and couldn't figure out where it was coming from, the door seals seem fine. Have read that the main cause of water leaks is the pollen filter, but my front passenger footwell is completely dry, plus my car is parked on a flat, so dont see how it could be this. Does abyone know what the cause is????? Dont wanna take it back to Ford to get ripped off, just spent over £1000 on new fuel pump Any help is much appreciated!!

[mintalkin]

it is most likely going to be the Inner door panel splash shield.This you will find behind the interior door panel.The water leaks past the shield and builds at the bottom inside of the door going on to the inside floor.When the door panel is removed it is a good idea to look at the speaker housing gasket as this could also be leaking into the same area

[ish034]

Hi, it’s been a while now and the water leak problem has been getting worse. My rear passenger footwell floods every time it rains. After lifting up the carpets, I have now found the leak is definitely coming from the front of the car as the carpets are wet (getting wetter) the further/closer I go towards the cabin (note: passenger footwell appears to be dry when carpet is down as there is a waterproof lining on the bottom of that area of the carpet - water runs towards lowest part of car (rear passenger footwell)). I suspected that the water leak was due to the pollen filter cover, which I have read is a common fault, and so, using some silicone, sealed up the gap between the windscreen and the cover. I thought this would solve my problem but have found that the rear passenger footwell still floods when it rains. This then led to me believe that I perhaps did not seal it up properly and that’s why water is still entering the car. To check this, after it would rain and the footwell would flood, I would go out and lift up the bonnet, lift up the pollen filter cover slightly, and squeeze my hand into the actual pollen filter to see whether this was wet. I found that every time it was completely dry.

As you can probably guess, this has left me very confused as to where the water is coming from. Could it be that it is still due to the pollen filter cover and that the water is somehow getting through, past the cover and into car without touching the actual pollen filter? Or, seeing as though the pollen filter cover looks as though it is sealed properly to the windscreen, could the water be running down towards the bottom left hand corner of the windscreen (car is usually parked with passenger side to (slanting towards) the pavement), and under the metal panel (the metal panel in between/that joins, the bonnet, bumper and door), then somehow into the car. (Note: i did create and have a picture to show this very clearly, however found that i cant upload/view it).

Could someone please help me with this problem as to any ideas of where the water is entering the car and how I could test for it etc.

[SierraYankee99]

The water doesnt come through by wetting the pollen filter buddy. It comes under the housing. Under the scuttle panel there should also be little rubber dams stuck on the car to stop water getting past them and draining down drain holes. On mine once one had come adrift and this was allowing water that would normally drain away to run under the filter housing.

[ish034]

If what you saying is correct, could i get the problem fixed by having ford fitting a new suttle panel (note: if the dams under the scuttle panel are the problem, but i had a new scuttle panel fitted, would my water leak problem still remain?)

[stef123]

i had the leaking scuttle panel before and came up with a fix for it. If you look at the picture ive attached, it shows the under side of the scuttle and where to seal it with silicone. You will need to go to ford and ask them for the pollen filter and the seal for the panel,cost me £15 at my local dealer. the seal kit is just double sided foam that goes along a groove in the underside of the scuttle, where it touches the windscreen. My fix seems to be very effective. its not the fact that the water gets down under the scuttle, its where it goes once its under. the little tray on the bottom of the panel should disperse it to the sides but instead it leaks through where the 2 bits of plastic have been stuck together:)

Attached Thumbnails

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[SierraYankee99]

Ford did release a modified scuttle panel when this problem came to light. Buy a new one from Ford now and you get the revised version.

[brunomedina]

This is a serious problem from ford focus

I think only the brazilian ford focus have this problem

I have a tutoral to fix this problem do-yourself

but it is in portuguese and my english is terrible to traslate this , but have some picitures

[brunomedina]

Bom galera, a quem possa interessar e para auqme ainda tem esse tipo de problema de infiltração do lado do passageiro do focus, no pé do passageiro. Vou colocra aqui os códigos das peças que é necessa´rio comprar para acabara de vez com isso já que as chuvas fortes se aproximam noste fim de ano com a chegada do verão.

Defletor - cod : 98fw/ 18b500/ab
Vedador - cod: 2m51/ a02286/ aa
Presilhas para a churrasqueira: cod : w / 703475/s3/00

Esse defletor pertence ao fiesta antigo e deve ser colocado embaixo da churrasqueira, logo acima do filtro de polen poie é ele quem faz a água desviar e não deixa ir para dentro do carro.

As presilhas são da churrasqueira já que quando se tira elas podem quebrar e nunca ficam boas.

O vedador é uma fita dupla face que vai na churrasqueira e é colada ao para brida tb evitando entrar sujeira e água.

Valores: as tres coisas eu paguei R$ 41,00

Espero ter ajudado alguem, caso queiram informações sobre como foi feito e como ficou é só me avisar, só sei q agua no meu focus nunca mais entrou depois disso.
Abraços

:ford:
Caros amigos, não tem essa que "os mais antigos tem esse problema", infelizmente o que existe são alguns com mais sorte ou não, pois os engenheiros da Ford, pelo menos os que projetaram essa parte do carro, foram para a faculdade somente para comer merenda.

Nessa grelha existe uma canaleta que serve para justamente escoar a água que cai ali (que não deve ser muita por causa da vedação), o que acontece é que em alguns casos, para aqueles menos sortudos, as presilhas que prendem essa calha da grelha se solta e consequentemente a vedação, deixando um vão para essa água escoar para dentro do filtro e consequentemente entrar para dentro do carro. No meu caso foi essas presilhas que soltaram, abri a grelha e a fixei novamente, resolvido o problema, mas é claro, assim como tinha uma vedação, também a coloquei. Já peguei chuva torrencial e nada, nenhuma gota dentro do carro.

Dessa forma adeus infiltração...

Agradecimentos ao Ice..

[ish034]

i had the leaking scuttle panel before and came up with a fix for it. If you look at the picture ive attached, it shows the under side of the scuttle and where to seal it with silicone. You will need to go to ford and ask them for the pollen filter and the seal for the panel,cost me £15 at my local dealer. the seal kit is just double sided foam that goes along a groove in the underside of the scuttle, where it touches the windscreen. My fix seems to be very effective. its not the fact that the water gets down under the scuttle, its where it goes once its under. the little tray on the bottom of the panel should disperse it to the sides but instead it leaks through where the 2 bits of plastic have been stuck together:)

Hi, i am really interested in your fix, as it could save me a lot of money, however dont fully understand the picture. Could you please explain to me how sealing the underside of the scuttle panel, around the drip tray, would help, as i thought this bit didn't touch the windscreen (it goes underneath). It would really help me if you could draw on the picture i have uploaded and i would appreciate it alot.



Also could you clarify what two bits of plastic you are refering to in your reply, when explaining where the water leaks/runs to.

Many, many thanks

[mikedoble]

Hi, i am really interested in your fix, as it could save me a lot of money, however dont fully understand the picture. Could you please explain to me how sealing the underside of the scuttle panel, around the drip tray, would help, as i thought this bit didn't touch the windscreen (it goes underneath). It would really help me if you could draw on the picture i have uploaded and i would appreciate it alot.



Also could you clarify what two bits of plastic you are refering to in your reply, when explaining where the water leaks/runs to.

Many, many thanks

The following from Ford's Technical Information System (TIS) (available as a CD from e-bay) might also be useful:

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN No.71/1999
Car and Light/Medium Commercial 22.07.1999

Section: 43 (501-08)

Model: Focus built from 08.98 to 18.04.99 (build codes WP to XE)

Markets: All

Subject: Water ingress through cowl grille/pollen filter into passenger compartment

Summary

Should a customer express concern over water entering the passenger compartment, it could be possible that the sealing between the cowl grille and the windshield, in the area of the pollen filter, needs to be resealed. This should be rectified by modifying the cowl grille and installing additional sealant.


Production Action

A revised cowl grille has been installed in production since 19.04.1999 (build code XE)


Service Instructions

See Summary


Vehicles built from 08.98 to 01.99

1. Remove the cowl top outer grille assembly according to Operation Number 43 230 0 (Workshop Manual/TIS-CD).

2. Thoroughly clean the screen in the cowl grill fixing area to remove any dirt or tape.

3. Remove and inspect the pollen filter.

• Open the service flap and remove the pollen filter.
• If the filter is wet, install a new filter (see Parts Required).

Note:
Note the direction of flow of the pollen filter.

• Install the pollen filter.
• Clean rubber edged grille situated between the wiper motor and the filter housing

.


Note:
The new cowl grille will have different fixings to the existing cowl grille.

4. Select the correct cowl grille (see Parts Required) for vehicle.

• For RHD vehicles, select LHS cowl grille.
• For LHD vehicles, select RHS cowl grille.

5. Trim foam block.

6. Drill an 8 mm diameter hole.

7. Apply butyl cord (see Parts Required).
Install a piece of butyl cord (L = 750 mm) on to the cowl grille.


Note:
When installing the cowl grille make sure that no contact is made with the drip tray.

8. Install the RHS cowl grille.

• Position the end moulding in correct relationship with hinge and fender.
• Push the sliding fixings into the holes in the body, making sure that they are fully home.
• Clip the front edge of the cowl grille into the plenum chamber front wall.

9. Install the LHS cowl grille.
Repeat procedure in step 8.

10. Install the central scrivet.

• Tighten scrivet.
• Install plastic cap.

11. Roll the lip seal with a suitable roller to make sure that the butyl cord adheres to the windshield.

12. Reinstall all components in reverse order.


Vehicles built from 02.99 to 04.99


Note:
This cowl grille has been modified so that there is only a single central scrivet and cap. All other scrivet caps are part of the moulding and are not removeable.

13. Remove the cowl top outer grille assembly according to Operation Number 43 230 0 (Workshop Manual/TIS-CD).

14. Thoroughly clean the screen in the cowl grill fixing area to remove any dirt or tape.

15. Remove and inspect the pollen filter.

• Open the service flap and remove the pollen filter.
• If the filter is wet, install a new filter (see Parts Required).

Note:
Note the direction of flow of the pollen filter.

• Install the pollen filter.
• Clean rubber edged grille situated between the wiper motor and the filter housing.

Note:
To aid installation, the white part of the sliding fixing should be removed from the body and attached to the black plastic pins on the cowl grille.

16. To the existing passenger side cowl grille carry out the operations detailed in steps 5 - 12 in this bulletin.

[Dave Bell]

I'd be intereted to know what year your Focus Model is as I seem to be getting the same scuttle problem with a 2008 Focus.

[ish034]

hi, i've got a 2000 ford focus tddi

[ish034]

Hi everyone,

I just had a new pollen filter cover fitted by Ford themselves, hoping this would solve the problem as everyone put it down to this, and the problem has been getting worse (now water is coming into the passenger footwell as well - the waterproof material/lining underneath has cracked). Unfortunately I went to the car today (after it had been raining) to find the same puddle in my back footwell.

Does anyone know were this could be coming from?? I have to add, that I reached up as far as I could under the passenger carpet and found that the higher (towards the windscreen) I went, the dryer the carpet was. The carpet in fact seemed to be getting wetter (i.e. the source) from towards the centre of the car (were the passengers right foot would roughly lie).

I really need help with this problem and appreciate any comments, answers or suggestions.

[mintalkin]

check for any sign of leakage at the rear light cluster seal its another common cause of water ingress, the wetness could be travelling towards the front through capillary action.