Water In Passenger Footwell

God! Are they still making cars with that defect? Take it back to your dealer and tell him that you have a leak around the pollen filter. He'll know what you are talking about, believe me. This has been discussed on here many times. Suggest you do a Google on this newsgroup for leak + pollen filter - you'll find lots of references. HTH

It is rather sad isn't it! You could almost forgive it if the car had been serviced and the pollen filter had been disturbed but for it to be leaking on a new car is rather poor especially as every man and his dog knows about this problem.

That is unbelieveable - just how long is this problem going to go on before Ford sort it out??? Even worse, how long before they even recognise it as a problem??? Honestly!!

I ended up selling my Focus (2 years old when it went) as after it got very very wet (**) it then stank thereafter. Did Ford want to know? Pah - they said they had hoovered it out and therefore it would be OK. I'd owned Fords for >10 years - I'm now a customer lost forever.

** Do I hold the record for the worst pollen filter leak? After one night of rain I had 3 inches of standing water *above* the carpet in the passenger footwell - I measured it. I drove to the local Ford dealer, showed him my swimming pool (in my then 18 month old Focus 2.0 Ghia with leather, cruise etc..) and they were completely dismissive, saying that they could only even look into the problem a few days later. By this time it was ruinied. Goodbye Ford.

It is sad that Ford hasn't fixed this problem, but don't sell your Focus yet: there is a simple solution. Both my 2001 and 2002 had bad water leaks. My local dealer actually put a tent over the air intake. He cut a piece of sign material - heavy waterproof paper - and shoved it under the cowl cover over the air intake (where the pollen filter fits). He cut it a little long so it bowed in the middle to let air in on the sides. Of course, when I picked the car up they didn't tell me how they fixed the leak, just mumble something and left me with the impression that they had made extensive repairs. I discovered this later when I took the cowl cover off for another purpose. I was a little put off when I first saw this crude fix, but its been in place for three and a half years now with zero leaks and over a year on the other car.

I think there are two problems related to the water leak. I have read reports of the cabin filter housing being installed poorly and leaking through the cowl. A similar problem is the design of the cowl cover itself. Later models have an extra "scoop" designed to divert water away from the filter opening itself.

On a the hatchback model, the cowl panel may be removed quite easily and then reinstalled with some butyl rubber to create a water-tight seal around the cabin filter opening. That will help with the second problem I mentioned above.

If the cowl itself has the housing installed poorly, then no amount of fussing with the cowl cover (panel) will be

100% successful.

HTH.

Gene

First try removing cowl panel cover (rubber) and reinstall with butyl rubber strip against windshield. In other words, seal the cowl panel to the windshield. If you are brave, then remove the cowl panel cover and see if it has a scoop on the underside that diverts water from the cabin filter.

In any event, after examining the cowl panel cover you can go to Ford and see the latest & greatest design. If if differs from yours, then maybe replace the one on your Focus. If sealing the rubber cowl panel cover to the windshield does not help, then there is almost certainly a problem that occurred during the build related to sealing the cabin filter housing into the cowl.

HTH.

Update

Back to garage today - say that the seal was not right and have replaced and restuck the cover to the windscreen. Will see how it goes.

Plenty of rainfall at the moment to test it hey!!

Regards

Just curious so I know where to watch for water. Is the filter always on the same side of the car, despite LHD or RHD? Are we talking about the passenger side in the UK, or in North America?

In message , Stephen F. writes

Its the passenger side in the UK.

Passenger side on the North American Focus also.

Its pretty sad, that Ford still has the SAME problems with the later model North American model Focus as they had with the earlier ones.

Its the passenger side in the UK.

Hi All

24hrs post fix of problem by Ford Garage - Guess what!!!

Leak +++++ - back to the garage - what a pain in the arse this is turning out to be. What else can one do if the garage cannot fix the problem. Funny thing was whilst I was in the garage another focus driver came in with the same problem - mmmm

All help / guidance is very welcome.

Regards

Nick

The cover for the pollen filter has not been replaced properly. When they replace it, they should also fit a new sealing strip to keep it fltting flush & watertight.

Many garages do not seem to bother with the sealing strip, resulting in many vehicles developing soggy passenger footwells.

Regards

Sell it, get something else and do not touch Ford again. See earlier post. They don't give a t**s.

If this was a new problem it would be a different issue - but just how long is this going to drag on for? It ruined my Focus.

How do you spell TROLL? The only problem I had with Ford on my Focus SE wagon was with the front facia paint, corrected to my satisfaction. They had to order a new facia, they could not sand, primer, and repaint. They made sure I was treated right.

Tires, another problem, but not warranted by Ford. The Goodyear Eagles that were original equipment developed bumps, replaced with Bridgestones with directional tread. Again, no problems.

The Focus is my wife's car. It is one of the most trouble-free cars we have ever owned. I also own a 1992 Ford Explorer XLT with 156,000 miles, oil and transmission fluid changes on schedule keep it running well. My first big expense was rebuilding the A/C system and adding a battery. Sounds like a big investment, but the truck is sound mechanically, the interior is in perfect shape, and I have only one dent. Sure beats making those big truck payments.

A satisfied Ford Focus and Ford Explorer owner

Richard

When this happened to me the garage said it was a fault with the pollen filter.It is either failing or on service its not been replaced properly.They fixed it and it hasn't happened again.

Usually this problem happens after a fall of rain.

In message , Brenda Mcgrath wrote

No, the problem usually happens after you have paid for an expensive service from a Ford dealer. If they cannot fit a filter correctly do you think that it may be wise to go elsewhere to make sure that they have serviced the brakes correctly?

Hi Nick I have also a Focus '51 which was found with 1.5" rainwater in the pasenger footwell two mornings running it comes fromfailure of the plastic finishing strip to the passenger side of the windscreen. I was lucky enough to have a lease car and requested RAC assistance, he advised on the quiet that a mod was required. replacing the finishing strip -cost £185.00! He thought the pollen filter had been recently serviced, it had not the black sealant just failed.

In message , Peter Adamson wrote

Is this two foot of rubber strip made of pure gold ?

Pure SPUN gold, silly...