Open Windows Problem - Central Locking / Water

[Guest PaulW7]

I've just found/joined this forum to find out what relay 72 under Passenger seat was for, as neither the Ford hand book or Haynes manual seem to mention it. I search the archives for 20 minutes and found the answer, a "tail gate locking power relay". Great the power of the Internet.

 

I also see a common problem with the frankly stupid location of this relay and control unit under the Passenger side seat, though my story adds another twist to the saga that has left me confused.

 

This morning I woke to the words "The Galaxy's windows are both open and it's been raining in the night", a slight pause then "YOU were the last to use the car weren't YOU?". True I was the last to use the car, but am sure that the windows were up.

 

When I went to check the damage the electric windows were fully open, central locking not working, and tailgate only half shut, so rear interior lights on and therefore the battery nearly flat.

 

As yesterday was the first wet day for a week the car was soaking wet. I've spent most of the day stripping out the interior. Passenger side was a swimming pool, so have had to remove front carpet and cut out the sound deadening.

 

The central locking control unit was very wet, so I feared the worst, but I managed to dry it out and it worked, however the replacement fuse blew and there was a nasty sound of shorting which I think came from Relay 72. It too was very wet inside. Having removed this relay from the system the rest of the central locking seems to work OK, but do I trust it? If I replace the relay will it just highlight the problem in the control unit? How are they connected ?

 

Has anyone else had Galaxy windows and/or tailgate open on their own? While I was drying the car I tested the windows individually, the one closed and the second stopped half way up (battery had gone flat) I went to get the charger and when I returned both windows were fully open (sounds like something for Most haunted), so did low battery trigger the windows to open?

 

Next, Although there is evidence of a small amount of corrosion on the relay bracket, I do not think there has been much water ingress before last night. So another chicken and egg, why fail last night?

 

Any thoughts on the subject welcome.

 

Cheers Paul.

[Masked Marauder]

It failed last night because your scuttle drains are most likely blocked. The rain then collects in the tray area under the wiper motor and gets in through the pollen filter flooding the passenger footwell.

 

It was the volume of the rain last night.

[Guest PaulW7]

I was just reading elsewhere on the forum about water leeks and this does seem a common issue.

I hadn't given the drain holes a thought today as the windows being open was a more obvious source of water, but thinking about it have had a flooded cavalier due to the drain pipe blocking and scuttle emptying into the footwell.

 

Also with the Galaxy I have previously had (some years ago) water pooling on drivers door step, resulting in new door seals and had a garage fit the pollen filter incorrectly causing water from the engine bay to leak in onto passengers feet. I will checkout drain holes tomorrrow thanks.

[Guest anaso_nic]

I've had the same problem twice. First time at a shopping mall when it persisted-down - almost exactly the same conversation about the windows :D , second time at the out-laws in the middle of nowhere. Looks like the water entered via the pollen filter, pooled in the passenger footwell then gets under the raised, strengthening rib and straight into the under-seat compartment - result is central locking unlocks and windows open ... just to add to the water ingress!

 

As MM said, blocked drains are the most probably the cause, I found a modern kite strut (glass-fibre?) does the trick ... poke it into both corners of the tray under the wiper blades until it disappears down the hole ... usually accompanied by the sound of water dripping under the front wheel arches.

 

I must say that the electronics seem very resilient (so far!) provided they've been thoroughly dried out.

 

If the underfloor compartment is really full, there may be a drainage bung that can be pushed down and out, to speed the clear-up process. I used this method on the second occasion, probably spurred on by the fact we were due to be leaving the out-laws that day :D

 

Sorry, can't help you on relay 72, unless it's something to do with the emergency fuel shut-off if the Gal is rolled.