Roof Leak, Water Pouring In, Panoramic Roof

[B@rnstormer]

Hello all,

 

Our MKIII Galaxy has quite a major water leak through the roof under certain conditions. It's usually if it's raining and we're parked/stopped on a downhill slope. It seems to come in somewhere above the rear-view mirror, and drips down onto the centre console. I can't see exactly where it's coming in but we have the panoramic roof so presumably there are more places where it could be leaking. Is this something that's common to the MKIII's or those with the glass roofs?

 

Thanks!

[B@rnstormer]

https://youtu.be/KMPuNkpnxhA is a video of the leak

[gregers]

has your car missed a recal??

 

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/apps/recalls/searches/search.asp?cboStartMonth=1&cboStartYear=1992&cboEndMonth=1&cboEndYear=2020&cboMake=FORD&cboModel=S-MAX&cboSortOrder=rec_launch_date&cboAscDesc=ASC&PageSize=10&tx=0.6639063&newsearch=newsearch

[B@rnstormer]

Hi Gregers,

 

I'm not sure as we've only had it a year and a bit. Is there some way for me to check whether or not it was ever recalled? Can Ford tell me? And if it had missed something, would I still be able to get it sorted by Ford?

 

Cheers

[gregers]

well ring up or pop into fords and ask.

 

when i bought my 1st n reg galaxy it must have been at least 6 years old if not more when i bought it,and i went in and asked them turned out it needed a new brake master cylinder/servo etc,all free.

so i assume its still the case if it has missed anything.

as the saying goes 'dont ask''dont get'.

 

just a thought are your blanking plates in situ in the roof(where the roof rack goes?)or is it a different setup compared to the smax?.

[B@rnstormer]

I sent an email about the recalls to the local Ford dealership and I got the following response:

 

"Hello Mr Xxxx,

 

I have just checked any outstanding recalls on your Ford Galaxy an there is not any recalls currently open on the vehicle, if a recall becomes active on your vehicle Ford Motor Company will send you a letter informing you.

 

Any Other Questions Just Ask.

 

Kind Regards

 

Dan Xxxx

Service Advisor

Xxxx Ford"

 

It's still leaking and is worse than ever, at the moment.

[B@rnstormer]

well ring up or pop into fords and ask.

 

when i bought my 1st n reg galaxy it must have been at least 6 years old if not more when i bought it,and i went in and asked them turned out it needed a new brake master cylinder/servo etc,all free.

so i assume its still the case if it has missed anything.

as the saying goes 'dont ask''dont get'.

 

just a thought are your blanking plates in situ in the roof(where the roof rack goes?)or is it a different setup compared to the smax?.

There are aluminium rails down both sides of the car which are presumably what roof bars will lock into. They are open from end to end.

[gregers]

wonder if the gutters are full of crud?

 

reason why i asked about recalls is in that link they did have a problem with the glass roof coming away from the body of the car.

so maybe go down to your local dealer and ask for some info,maybe just maybe you get someone who is happy to help?.

[B@rnstormer]

Hi all,

 

Well I've still got the problem with the water leaking. I can see it's leaking at the top of the windscreen above the mirror, if I take out the panel with the interior lights etc I can see daylight coming through a hole. I slid a long cable tie up through the hole and it poked out the top of the car between the windscreen glass and the bodywork. So this is quite obviously where it's coming in. I suspect that the previous owner had the windscreen replaced at some point and whoever did the work didn't seal it properly. In heavy rain, if I'm on the slightest slope, water is now literally gushing in (filling a large McDonalds soft drink cup in a few minutes). The car absolutely stinks inside and the footwells on both sides are sodden. I've been running a dehumidifier in the car overnight to try to dry it out a bit. The seats are getting wet and water's getting into the centre console/radio etc. I tried to fill the hole with silicone sealant but I can't get it far down enough into the gap from outside the car to seal it.

 

Anybody had a windscreen refitted/replaced in a Galaxy? How much money would I be looking at paying? If it gets broken by a stone or something it'll be £80 as it's covered by our insurance but I think a new screen would be several hundred if I just bought it outright?

 

Any suggestions much appreciated please, as it's getting a bit desperate.

 

Thanks,

 

B@rnstormer

[gregers]

iirc if you have windscreen cover then yes it will be the excess your insurance company charge.

to buy yourself,i would imagine will be over what you think,by a few hundred.

im sure i read somewhere the mk2 screen was in excess of 400 odd quid?.

 

in the mean time have you thought about trying to seal it up yourself?

using some silicone sealant.

as a dehumidifier i think your trying to fight a losing battle until the leak is sealed up.

once sealed up you will need to lift the carpets and underlay and with copious amounts of newspaper try and soak up as much as possible.

[BrianH]

iirc if you have windscreen cover then yes it will be the excess your insurance company charge.

to buy yourself,i would imagine will be over what you think,by a few hundred.

im sure i read somewhere the mk2 screen was in excess of 400 odd quid?.

 

in the mean time have you thought about trying to seal it up yourself?

using some silicone sealant.

as a dehumidifier i think your trying to fight a losing battle until the leak is sealed up.

once sealed up you will need to lift the carpets and underlay and with copious amounts of newspaper try and soak up as much as possible.

 

I'd give that a shot - you've got a good chance of managing to fill the hole with the silicone, and your not going to make it any worse. Even if you can only get it in from underneath it will stand a good chance of plugging the hole.

 

Its probably quite an expensive screen as its quite large, given that you have a panoramic roof I'd guess its a higher end spec, so probably a heated front screen as well, which will add to the cost if you have to have to pay for it, Though you might get lucky with a skilled fitter they may be able to remove and refit it, though its very likely to break during an attempt.

[xavier]

I had a new heated screen fitted in a ford focus, autoglass quoted £650, as I was fully comp paid the £80 excess. Autoglass are expensive I have a colleague who was 3rd party and needed a new screen and managed to get one a lot cheaper by shopping around. However, as the screen is fine, I'd be wheeling it into an autoglass or somewhere and ask them if they could help, they may have stuff that will fill the gap better than silicone - or they may just say use silicone, but at least you'll know that's your best option! If you could post a pic we may be able to suggest alternatives, I'm surprised a small hole is allowing more than a few drips in, it sounds as if the water may be also getting directed to the hole causing the torrents.

 

In the mean time could you run a line of gaffa tape covering the windscreen join right across the top of the windscreen? I.e. 1/2 on body, 1/2 on windscreen, across the full width? This should cut down the amount of water getting near the hole in the first place.

 

My experience of drying out cars (own an MGF) is you need to get the carpets out and the thick sound deadening underlay (sponge) underneath to dry it properly. Dry sunny day on the washing line, don't put it back in the car until it's dry and you've fixed the leak. Might need some rubber mats for the driver's side rather than having your feet on bare metal.