Finding Leaks

[Guest nsterry]

I seem to have the well known "water under the passenger seat" problem on my P reg Tdi. Dont know how long I have been suffering from it but having discovered the problem on this site I can now explain some of the bizarre door locking and window opening problems I have seen in the last few years! I looked yesterday to find the electronics sitting in an inch of water - joy.

 

I would like to try and track down how the water is getting in. There are some posts on the site but not in enough detail for my limited brain. Where are the windscreen drains? How do I get to them? Is there a service manual for the Galaxy - I bought the Haynes manaual to help track this problem down but it contains nothing useful.

 

Any help much appreciated.

Nick

[Guest Andyjflet]

You may find some info on the Ford TIS disc which is available on ebay for around

[Paul Marsland]

I've just had exactly the same problem (ie water under the passenger seat) on my 1997 R-reg 2.3 Ghia... unfortunately didn't spot the problem in time to prevent the EMU getting trashed.

 

After checking out the numerous posts to this forum on the water leaking problem, I've just spent this lunchtime checking out the area around the pollen filter and found that the drains were indeed blocked. Managed to get most of the debris out from there, but would appreciate guidance on the best way to totally clear it. I've got my fingers crossed (but with towels still ready at hand) that I've fixed the water leak now. Otherwise it's time to get the groundsheet out again to cover the car in the rain !

 

3 questions:

1: What's the best option to replace the pollen filter - I've heard that Ford supplied ones are

[Tigger]

I had this problem with a 1.9 mark 1. The best way I found was to take the inner plastic wing off on the passenger side. This will allow you to get to the outlet hole in the wing. I found that there was a plastic sleeve with a rubber flap the got clogged up with leaves and anything else that got washed down. I just took the plastic and rubber away and left the hole in the wing. I had no more problems. I did keep checking when washing the car to see that it drained out, that side of the wing. The problem seems to be that the water is sent from one side of the car to the other near the pollen filter this it seems is how it got in when it backs up.

 

Hope that helps!

[Paul Marsland]

How did you take the inner plastic wing off ? I had an interesting time trying to squeeze my hand into the space where I believed the drain was by the pollen filter... I'm 6'7" and my hands aren't the smallest ever... Any extra space would be very useful !

[Guest Paul Collins]

3 questions:

1: What's the best option to replace the pollen filter - I've heard that Ford supplied ones are

[Tigger]

You will need one of the star shaped sockets to undo the screws then just take the plastic wing protection out under the wheel arch, did not take long a lttle fiddly.

I found that on my model there was only one outlet on the passenger side. To see if its draining put a hose pipe on the window and watch to see it the water runs out under the wing! If its blocked you then have to de flood the footwell :P :angry: :o sorry!

[Paul Marsland]

I would use a hose and risk flooding the footwell, but I'm right out of dry towels :o

I'm hoping I've fixed it as when I was clearing out the muck earlier today, I did manage to drain the water that was there... hopefully through the wheel arch as there did look to be some additional water around there afterwards. Could have been into the footwell, but I don't think I could have told if it was as there was enough water in there to start with anyway. Want I want to make sure is that I can stop this happening again.

 

Couldn't track down a TIS.... :angry:

[Paul Marsland]

I like it. So to cure the blocked drain problem I NEED TO BUY MYSELF A JET WASH. :angry: Wondered when I'd get a good excuse. Good answer.... at least it works out cheaper than buying another new ECU.

 

Checked eBay... nothing.

[Paul Marsland]

Didn't check eBay properly... too many to choose from now :angry:

[Ivor_E_Tower]

If you don't want to buy a jetwash, or have any carbonfibre rods handy, try using a length of the springy stuff usually used to hang net curtains. It has many uses, including unblocking drain pipes and for threading additional wiring eg for aftermarket additional loudspeakers.

[Tigger]

2 drain holes that

[Guest tombell]

I've got the same problem as other people. Except that it started on passenger side and is now on driver side as well. Have cleaned drains on wheel arches which looks to have reduced the flow but not stopped it. Have not cleaned the drain behind the pollen filter yet but recently had a new one put in.

There is also water in the gap between the front fascia and the windscreen. Is it a windscreen problem??. Has anyone come across this as well.

Any advice gratefully accepted.

 

Tom