Central Locking & Interior Light ?

[Guest Angusbbb]

Hi New Boy on the block here with a Ghia X 2.3 (1998).

 

I have had the car 2 years - no problems until yesterday when my central locking/windows courtesy lights (no alarm fitted though) went wrong!!!!

 

Found loads of water in the floorpan below the front passenger seat as mentioned in these threads (and the module was soaked). Dried and cleaned the module which looks ok suggesting a recent problem and everthing now is near ok - except nearside passenger door won't lock (but will unlock using central locking).

 

However my query relates to the water problem which had saturated the whole of the front passenger footwell -which has spaces linking it to the area below the seat (where the module is fitted). Yesterday I stripped out the carpet and sound proofing, which was sodden - completely dried out the floor area, and ran the car engine for a good half hour to see if the water was perhaps coming from the heater piping behind the dash. Nothing here and the floor looks absolutely sound. Today I drove about 6 dry miles, and on return to the car after some 8 hours I had a half cup of water on the stripped front passenger floor pan!!!

 

Can anyone help with some advice please as I am off to France with my family next week and need to solve this problem quickly. No point in a new module etc until I stop the water!

 

Jim

[Guest nimrod]

Clean'ish water or screen wash? the rear washer pipe runs along that side tucked up in the sill cable run, its known for the joint there to burst and flood the footwell or the other major ingress of water is when the scuttle drains get blocked and the trapped water is sucked throught the heater air intake! check the condition of the pollen filter, if its damp/wet then that may be the point of entry? as you say the topic of water ingress is a well covered topic so hit the search button and read away :rolleyes:

also you could raise the hieght of the locking ecu by sticking a few washers under it before you refix it, giving it a bit of breathing space before its next bath :D

[Guest Angusbbb]

Hi Thanks for the last tip. It is defintely coming via the scuttle drain as I have run water in and this is when the problem shows inside. However the scuttle drain appears clear as I have taken off the panel below the wiper and it looks fine. What about after the water runs out of the hole at the corner - is there a potential for it to get it then. I can see the water coming out under the wheel arch outside, but would nee to take off the plastic wheel arch protectors to really see what is going on there.

 

Any more advice would be appreciated.

Jim

[Guest nimrod]

If the scuttle drains are blocked the water usually builds up and gets drawn/sucked into the cars interior through the heaters air intake! when you poured water into the scuttle area to check the drains did any more water find its way into the car and how much water did you pour in there?

the drains exits are as you say up behind the arch liner which would need to be removed to gain better access to them

would it be possible to get someone else to pour in the water while you look to see if you can spot the point of entry? lift the carpet and sound proofing and dust the area with a light covering of talcum powder! it allows you trace the source of any drips or runs better!

[Guest Angusbbb]

Hi,

I really appreciate your help and advice (and the advice from others of course)!

 

I am using a hose to run a steady stream (not a jet of water) into the top of the scuttle drain it appears to be disappearing down without any build up. The water looks as if it is running away freely and is certainly appearing from through the wheel arch protectors outside- but a very small amount runs down the inside of the nearside front arch inside the cab. I already have the insulation and carpet out, but it seems to be coming in well up the arch, and as yet I cannot see where it is coming in. Come Saturday, I intend to take off the plastic wheel arch protectors to have a look, and at the same time I will recruit some help to feed the water in.

[Guest Paul Collins]

I found that the only way to clear the drain holes properly is to remove the inner wheel arch. Then you can get your fingers into the flap valve and clear any obstructions.

 

If you then run a piece of wire through the valve up into the scuttle, you can then see where the drainage channel is, so you don't have to remove the inner arch every time.

 

I run a rod down my channels once a month and will probably remove the inner arch for a more thorough clean whenever I work on a fron corner.

 

Paul

[Guest Angusbbb]

Hi Paul,

 

Thanks for that - I will be doing that Saturday!

 

Jim