jasperctr

As you can see, I'm not a regular on this forum but I was hoping some of you Ford experts out there could help.

I've bought a stupidly cheap 97 Mk4 Fiesta 1.25LX which needs some tidying up and my intention is to do this and sell it on.

It was advertised as having 'a slight electrical fault with the wipers'. All was ok on the drive home. It then sat on the drive for a few days until I started to look at it. I then found that the passenger footwell was like a puddle. When I started the car all was ok until I turned the lights and wipers on, then a few things went crazy: the wipers went very slowly, the rev counter stopped working, all the indicators came on but didn't flash, the temp & fuel guages went off the scale to the right, the airbag light came on the dash and the rear wiper started up all by itself. When I turned off the ignition and the lights by the switch the indicators and lights stayed on so I had to disconnect the battery to turn these off. Once I started investigating I found that the ECU is tucked behind the trim in the passener footwell. I removed the ECU from behind the trim to find that all of the cabelling to it was damp. I left the ECU sat on a plastic box in the footwell for a few days and now when I start the car everything seems to work ok. Would dampness in the ECU cause these problems and if it's kept dry (which is obviously preferable!) would these go away?

I need to find where the water is getting in. I can't see anything obvious loooking under the bonnet, has anyone any ideas? Is there a common fault on Mk4's for leaking water into the passenger footwell? If so, what's the cure?

Just one more thing - the engine sounds fine and runs ok until you press the accelerator and then the revs drop and it splutters slightly before the revs then pick up and it's ok again. Any ideas as to what could be causing this?

Thanks in advance!

diesel

i hope somone answers you coz i have the same problem,
my both foot wells have puddles in them and this morning i turned the ignition off and the ignition lights stayed on flickering and a relay going mad under the bonnetso i had to take a wire off the battery when i was in work

iv only just started driving this car 3 days ago so i havent realy had a look were the water is coming in, iv looked in the obvious places sun roof etc but nothing, im going to rip the interior out and have a look when iv got time

jasperctr

I hope someone answers as well!

Sounds like you've got it worse than me if it's in both footwells. Luckly for me as well I don't have to rely on mine as daily transport.

I plan on investigating mine tomorrow so if I find anything I'll let you know.

tabetha

I know from experience that the heater motor surround and pollen filter housing are faves to look at.
Failing that out with an assistant and a hose pipe is the best way.
tabetha

SamFace

I had the same problem with mine! had a leak in the boot too!

The answer to your prayers are the door seals. I know it may seem simple but it's always one that you never think of!

cabriolet

sorry people u r not going to like this there is a strengthener on the bulkhead behind the dashboard that they never sealed properly it runs right across the car the manufacturer did recalls they even set up a special department in wales to cure the problem dont know if they succeeded tho

diesel

you are right i found my leak about a week ago, mine was leaking right in each corner!!! i cleaned mine up with a rag and stuck some blobs of clear mastic in them and now she's dry as fcuk (under the bonnet RIGHT IN THE CORNERS)

cabriolet

glad i helped fellas