LittleMissFordie

I had my car valleted two days ago, and I noticed when he was doing the inside door hinges a lot of water sprayed into the car, and there was a bit of a puddle on the rubber mats.

It didnt look that much to be honest, but the other day my hand happened to touch a bit of carpet beside the rubber and I couldnt believe my eyes it was absolutely saturated! All I was thinking was rotting floor!

Then my dad pointed out that it couldnt be the vallet that did it, and was most likely a leak (it has rained heavily the past few days up here) and another thing that may be linked is the heaters above the Stereo were blocked with dead leaves and plants until the vallet aswell, so now there unblocked maybe thats why the waters getting in? If it is a leak, what do I need to do to sort it? Anyone had similar problems before? I mean last night I dreamt my car was rotting away it was so horrible, need to do something ASAP!

Thanks

glenis

mine had a leak, on the passenger side mostly...

water would be in the foot well, that was not caused by a valet, if i remember correctly it was caused by water getting from the engine bay... dripping down onto the battery tray then into the inside of the bulkhead and into the interior of the car...

this is no guarantee that the exact same thing is happening to your car, but you must consider all options... and this is one of the worst scenarios unfortunately...

RSKieron

It's usually the battery tray. You can get new trays for Ł12.99 but the old one will have to be cut out and the new tray welded in it's place.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

It's probably the number 1 weak spot in MK3 and MK4 Escorts....

Westy

iTrader: (1)

heater matrix

Stoo

Thats what i was thinking too!

RSKieron

Yeah could be - is the heater working properly Julia? Are you low on water all the time?

More likely to be the infamous battery tray on a car of that age though....

Pull the carpet back on the passenger side and have somebody sit in the car. Pour a jug of water behind and to the sides of the battery and see if it is trickling through from behind the dash down onto the floor......

Westy

iTrader: (1)

could well be hey!! do the heaters work.. ie, do they blow hot air out

Rippers

Three things I can think off is
1. leaking heater matrix
2. Water leaking through a small rust hole on the bulk head most likely under the battery tray
3. Check around and under the fuse box

Sort it asap though!

Smiggy

I think with the weather we've been having up here the last few weeks she would know if the heaters weren't working cos it's been bloody freezing!!!

I think most probable cause on the passenger side of the car will be the battery tray. But you could also check the drains at the front of your sunroof as these could be blocked causing the rainwater to get into the cabin from there.

Also may be worthwhile checking rubber door seals as these could have perished over time.

Don't panic too much if it does turn out to be your battery tray though as most of us have been there at one stage, fairly straight forward job.

Mibbe see you at Aberdeen

SMG

MikeyXR2i

Yeah the ERST's suffer with the Battery tray's leaking. Wipp the battery out and check the tray for rust if there is any. As said check the door seals, another one, is the front windscreen rubber can leak like a gitt and run down the corners down to the floor.

Scott R

as has been said already, passenger side i would say its the battery tray, drivers side would be the fuse box. On my mates S1 the water was leaking in through the panel seam, along the bulk head, the seam sealer can go a bit manky there.

Also worth a look would be to see if its coming through the screen rubber, especially if the valet used a high pressure water jet, it could be that under the rubber was a load of built up gunk that has now been cleared away its got nothing to seal it.

Another place would be where the motor for the heaters is, the black surround might not be sealing properly, causing water to leak under.

Was it wet at all before the valet?? could just be that its creeped in from that.

The only 100% way to see where its coming in from, is to take out the carpet, and soundproofing. And take out the dash. Then get a mate to use a hose pipe or watering can, pour water over the car/area you think its coming in from, whilst you sit in the car and look for the water.

Hope its not anything too major, from the sound of the car as you have described it and from the pics on the other thread i would say it probably isnt a bodywork problem. As yours looks

And thats the cars body work not yours


lol

adamS2RST

Mine has a suspected hea matrix,. although heaters still work and aint seen a leak lately so maybe not, mines in thew middle tho. I'd say battery tray, as said whip it out, have a look and likely find a nice hole

AJC

iTrader: (6)

possibley heater matrix

DazC

iTrader: (1)

Scott is correct!

db

2 other possibilities:

1-rust hole at the bottom of the A pilar;
2-you'd be surprised how much water gets carried in by getting in and out the car in rainy weather. It goes through the carpet and soaks the sound deadening underneath, this will not dry automatically! Take the sound deadening out an leave it to dry, this will take some time. At the same time you will have the opportunity to check out the floor situation.

Cheers.

LittleMissFordie

Thanks for advice guys, the heaters do work though?

MikeyXR2i

If the heater matrix was leaking, the water in the footwell would be coloured, (the colour of ya antifreeze). Check the water level too see if it has dropped this would tell you if the cars losing water.

PETEDUDE007

lol thought id resurrect this haha! i own this car now and 5 yrs later it still had the same problem until about 4 months ago cant believe the amount of silicone and other shit like cataloy etc that was used to seal up the battery and fusebox tray!

anyway this had lead to a bit of rust on the floor as you can imagine however i must say i have seen a lot worse!

iam glad to say tho that it is now all sorted and has a lovely new battery tray fusebox tray and relevant floor sections