Fred Smith Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Can anyone help. I have a leak in the boot of my Mk3 Focus. I have traced where the water enters the boot compartment to an access hole to the left of the near side wheel arch (small hole above the cables in the photo) but I'm not sure how it is getting into the compartment between the inner and outer skins. Can anyone tell me where the water is entering the bodywork from the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamweb Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Usually the light cluster or air vent.I've a mk1 so I expect someone with a mk3 will have a better idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JW1982 Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 The problem will most likely be caused by the air vents behind the rear bumper. This is a known problem of the Focus MK3. Rain water leaks between the vents and the bodywork. When this happens the water collects in double sided compartments below the boot. When driving/steering/braking the water is pushed from side to side inside the compartments and also upwards. When the water is pushed upwards it enters the boot through several small holes. To determine if this is the problem you can remove the rubber plugs of the compartments. These are located at the bottom of the car near the rear bumper. The compartments can contain up to 10 Liters of water each so be prepared to get wet. To completely solve this problem the rear bumper needs to be removed. Next the air vents can be removed. When the air vents are removed you have access to the compartments and the sound insulation material inside. Both the compartments and the sound insulation material must be dried before the vents are installed and sealed. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Smith Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Thanks JW1982 for a comprehensive answer. What you have described sounds like it could well be the problem on our car. Can I ask, how do you seal the vents? And don't the vents need to be able to ventilate the compartment? Surely the vents are there for a reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JW1982 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 The vents have rubber flaps which open to release excessive air pressure inside the car. For example when closing the doors or when the interior ventialtion fan is on. The vents have a rubber/plastic lip at the outside which in theory should form a seal between the vents and the bodywork. However in practise the rubber/plastic lip does not seal properly. This allows rain water to leak between the vents and the bodywork. To solve this problem the vents need to be removed. This is mainly needed to clean the contact surfaces of both the bodywork and the vents. After cleaning the vents can be reinstalled using a proper sealant. You only have to apply sealant between the rubber/plasic lip of the vents and the bodywork. The rubber flaps remain untouched. You can basically use any type of sealant as long as it is waterproof. I personally use an automotive PU sealant that is used to seal bodywork but any generic silicone (neutral cure) will be fine. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Smith Posted August 13, 2017 Author Share Posted August 13, 2017 Many thanks JW1982 for your help. Will try this fix and hope it sorts the problem. Will let you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil21185 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 There is a most excellent thread byhttp://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/70704-possible-mk3-boot-leak//URL] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanna1 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 On 12/08/2017 at 4:32 PM, JW1982 said: The problem will most likely be caused by the air vents behind the rear bumper. This is a known problem of the Focus MK3. Rain water leaks between the vents and the bodywork. When this happens the water collects in double sided compartments below the boot. When driving/steering/braking the water is pushed from side to side inside the compartments and also upwards. When the water is pushed upwards it enters the boot through several small holes. To determine if this is the problem you can remove the rubber plugs of the compartments. These are located at the bottom of the car near the rear bumper. The compartments can contain up to 10 Liters of water each so be prepared to get wet. To completely solve this problem the rear bumper needs to be removed. Next the air vents can be removed. When the air vents are removed you have access to the compartments and the sound insulation material inside. Both the compartments and the sound insulation material must be dried before the vents are installed and sealed. Hi, Is there any chance you could repost the pictures from this post last August. I am having the same problem with the leak in the boot and I think it would be helpful in solving my leak. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanna1 Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Would it be these vents? Are they only accessible by taking the bumper off? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamweb Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Yes there could be potentially water ingress at those air vents.If so pop them out and silicon around👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yanna1 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I can see the photos now. Its a big help. Was looking in my boot yesterday and its only on the near side which I guess is good. Think I will remove the bumper and do as you suggested on both sides. I don't quite understand the 3rd picture with the 4 bits circled. Do these need to be sealed to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamweb Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Again possible places to look for water ingress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan333 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 On 8/12/2017 at 4:32 PM, JW1982 said: The problem will most likely be caused by the air vents behind the rear bumper. This is a known problem of the Focus MK3. Rain water leaks between the vents and the bodywork. When this happens the water collects in double sided compartments below the boot. When driving/steering/braking the water is pushed from side to side inside the compartments and also upwards. When the water is pushed upwards it enters the boot through several small holes. To determine if this is the problem you can remove the rubber plugs of the compartments. These are located at the bottom of the car near the rear bumper. The compartments can contain up to 10 Liters of water each so be prepared to get wet. To completely solve this problem the rear bumper needs to be removed. Next the air vents can be removed. When the air vents are removed you have access to the compartments and the sound insulation material inside. Both the compartments and the sound insulation material must be dried before the vents are installed and sealed. Hi, I believe I have the same problem with the vents leaking and thus allowing water into the boot - I know this might be a silly question but I shall ask it anyway, if by taking out the rubber plugs below the rear bumper it lets all the water of the internal compartment out thus stopping it splashing around into the boot - why not leave the rubber plugs out and stop the internal compartment filling up with water ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyToad Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 On 3/28/2018 at 5:46 PM, Alan333 said: Hi, I believe I have the same problem with the vents leaking and thus allowing water into the boot - I know this might be a silly question but I shall ask it anyway, if by taking out the rubber plugs below the rear bumper it lets all the water of the internal compartment out thus stopping it splashing around into the boot - why not leave the rubber plugs out and stop the internal compartment filling up with water ? Alan, leaving those bungs out would allow water in as they are right behind the rear wheel. It's essential to try and stop water getting in at all, not simply to allow it to drain away once it does get in. Incidentally I had exactly this problem with my 2012 Focus, and I've made a short video showing the process of identifying and fixing it. Although JW1982's pictures show exactly where the problem is, this might help with the more detailed explanation of how to fix it. Hope it's useful for some. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sknab Posted May 18, 2018 Share Posted May 18, 2018 Mine was only leaking into the boot at the near side but when I took it apart it was very wet in both sides. I've just sealed the vents but also sealed around the two lozenge shaped bungs which are forward and above the side vent as neither of those felt like a good seal. The side vents seam to the the main problem ones as water runs down the roof gutter then down the channel under the tailgate and behind the rear light cluster and then straight over that vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooney Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Hi, would this also cause the rest off the car to get flooded. The boot and all the passenger footwells are soaking in my 2011 focus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 It can if enough water gets in. The spare wheel well fills up and then the water sloshes forward under the back seats and into the footwells. Is the spare wheel under water? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa3004 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Having the same issue on our 2014 focus. Spare wheel well is completely full. Ruled out the light cluster so I'm assuming its the vents. Can we release the bung from the vents to drain the water away and to confirm if this is the issue without taking off the rear bumper? Worried about breaking the clips when taking the bumper off so would be ideal if we could reach the vent bungs without having to actually remove the bumper just in case this isnt the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajeeves Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Yes, you can see the bungs if you stick your head under the rear bumper on either side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa3004 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Just now, kajeeves said: Yes, you can see the bungs if you stick your head under the rear bumper on either side. Fab, thank you. If upon removing the bung no water comes out am I safe to say I can rule out the vents being the issue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajeeves Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 Pretty much. If the vent is leaking then you’d get water in there, or at least find that the insulation is damp. Bear in mind that the vents are not the only things that could leak into that cavity. Be on the look out for bungs or taped up holes that may not have sealed properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa3004 Posted October 28, 2019 Share Posted October 28, 2019 1 minute ago, kajeeves said: Pretty much. If the vent is leaking then you’d get water in there, or at least find that the insulation is damp. Bear in mind that the vents are not the only things that could leak into that cavity. Be on the look out for bungs or taped up holes that may not have sealed properly. Will do. I'm praying it is something as simple as the vents which we can sort asap as the carpets are absolutely saturated in both the front and back footwells 😫 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa3004 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Update on the vents, took out the plugs this morning and whilst a bit of water came out there wasnt half as much as I was expecting given that the entire spare wheel well was full. The back footwells are slowly drying out however the front passenger footwell is now wetter than ever. I'm wondering if theres another underlying issue or whether the vents were the problem and it's just a case of waiting for it all to dry out? I've left the plugs out for now just to eliminate the vents filling back up until I can get it to someone who can seal them. Would you expect more water to have drained from the vents than what's shown in the pics attached if they were to be the cause of the leak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcaouolte Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Above the plugs that you have taken out is a layer of sound absorbent material which will be completely saturated with water. This sound absorbent material slows the escape of water through the holes. You may find that if you push your finger through the hole more water will escape (and run down your arm). You really need to get the sound absorbent material out and dry it but you can't do that without removing the bumper and the vents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kajeeves Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 I’d say that would be enough water, there shouldn’t really be any water. Would also be worth checking the metal heater pipes in the driver’s footwell. It’s very common for these to leak coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Ford UK Shop
Sponsored Ad
Name: eBay
Ford Model: FordUK Shop
Ford Year: 2024
Latest Deals
Ford UK Shop for genuine Ford parts & accessoriesDisclaimer: As the club is an eBay Partner, The club may be compensated if you make a purchase via the club
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.