I've noticed water build-up in the cup around the driver-side suspension arm adjuster and am keen to stop rainwater collecting there. There is no such build-up at the passenger side suspension.

Looking at the passenger side of the car, I noted that the windscreen scuttle panel incorporates a plastic mesh screen moulded into the end of it, to keep the leaves out, but that allows rainwater from the bonnet panel gap to seep through it and down onto a small, black plastic rain gutter clipped into a rectangular slot hole cut put of the interior metal wing. The gutter then seems to take the rainwater out into the front wing panel (where I imagine it then jettisons down where the wheel arch is and onto the road).

Looking back at the driver side for comparison, below the plastic grille at that end of the scuttle there is no plastic gutter piece, but I can see there is a similar rectangular slot in the metal internal wing panel.

Can anyone advise whether there should be a gutter piece on both sides, or just on the passenger side? I haven't seen one in any under-bonnet pics of other Fusions showing that side of the car (admittedly these are very few and far between). I wouldn't be surprised to discover that Ford had elected not to fit one as there is a lot already going on in that area (wiper motor; steering fluid reservoir, etc.) but it does appear as though the car was originally designed to have a gutter in that space and otherwise it leaves the opportunity open for rainwater to just seep into the engine bay area and corrode the suspension mount (which isn't good). I'm struggling to confirm either way for myself, as my search online for any part details relating to the engine bay gutter has drawn a blank.

(If anyone can advise where I can find a comprehensive Ford parts catalogue for the Fusion online, maybe I can find the answer to my query there?)

Finally, if you have any suggestions on how to stop the water getting in there, I'm all ears!

7 hours ago, NuclearFusion said:

it leaves the opportunity open for rainwater to just seep into the engine bay area and corrode the suspension mount (which isn't good).

Has the suspension mount corroded ?

If it hasn't corroded in nearly 17 years I wouldn't start worrying about it now. After all I'm quite sure there will be plenty of other things that will fail in the next year or two.

common problem.

There is a grommet you can buy which seals the top and covers the top strut nut.

To be honest i never bothered in prevention, i blew it out with compressed air and filled the hole on top with oil.

If you want to find out where it's actually coming from, lift the bonnet and pour water on the roof/ windscreen, and dont forget to try the windscreen washers

Our Fusion only has the single gutter part, on the nearside.

Both Fiesta and Fusion collect water around the strut top nuts, and on our cars, are plastered full of Waxoyl.  There is a tiny drain hole on the cross brace, just behind the lowest of the three top mount bolts on the offside, and I regularly clean ours out.

Being a cheapskate, I have not used rubber blind grommets, but duct tape to effectively seal the hole above the strut top nut.

Parts Catalogues:

https://www.catcar.info/ford/?

https://ford.7zap.com/en/car/

4 hours ago, unofix said:

After all I'm quite sure there will be plenty of other things that will fail in the next year or two.

Ooooh, you optimist !