More Tales Of Flooding

[Guest Mr.David]

After acquiring a 59K 96P Ghia a few weeks ago, I got in today to find the passenger footwell soaking - the drains under the wheelrches were blocked and the sunroof drain had become disconnected in the headling!

 

Thanks to this board I could solve both problems myself and avoid further damage to both car and wallet!

 

Is there a similar drain hole in the drivers footwell? - I ought to clear both sides to prevent further disasters.

[Guest nimrod]

If your on about the scuttle drains? then yes there is one on the drivers side as well, the main restriction on this drain is the carbon canistor that sits right across the drains exit up in the wheel arch! the technique with this is to elongate its mounting hole so that you can reposition it further away from the drain slightly

if you remove or disturb the canistor, make sure that the hose's are securely located into the canister when you have finished or you may suffer as other members have from petrol fumes when the drivers window is opened :)

[Guest coldcall]

Note that the water in the footwell problem has two possible causes. Leaking rear washer fluid (well covered on this site) and a blocked scuttle drain covered here and elsewhere. Diagnosis is simple. If the footwell floods after heavy rain then you have the scuttle drain problem. If it floods in dry weather then you have the washer fluid problem.

 

This scuttle drain problem was relatively easier to solve on my 1996 Galaxy so read this before trying the other posts, which are less complete. The bulkhead (under the windscreen wiper mechanism at the base of the windsreeen) fills up with leaves and other crap. There is a drain hole at the back corner of it about 1.5 inches by 2 inches underneath the pollen filter but you cannot get your hand into that part of the bulkhead. The trick is to take the inner plastic wheel arch cover (on the inside of the front passenger side wheelarch (or nearside front)). This is held on by six or seven star shaped screws and is very easy to get off. Start undoing the screws from the back - forwards because this plastic inner wing arch is flexible and you'll probably only need to undo 4 screws to get access. Note that some screws are not easy to see so feel inside the wheelarch for them. Pull the inner plastic wheel arch cover wing away (should come away easily unless you've missed a screw) until you have enough space to get your hand up inside the wheel arch.

 

On the inner wing of the car (the structural part of the car that would still be there if you took the visible wing off), you'll find there is a plastic drain cover with a rubber flap (which it supposed to act as a one way valve). If this drain cover feels blocked then pull it off. Now it is off you'll be able to clear the hole properly because you'll be able to insert two fingers into the bulkhead and remove any crap that has blocked the drain hole from the outside in.

 

After you've cleaned the joints with your mother in law's toothbrush, use some epoxy resin like "Araldite" to glue the plastic drain hole cover back on. Then screw the wheel arch cover back on and Bob's your father's brother.

 

Replace your mother in law's toothbrush after a quick rinse.