I have an H reg Escort van (ex Royal Mail) that is fine in most respects and runs very well for its age, apart from it leaking.
The footwells fill up so much that I keep an old jug in there to use as a bailer! Any ideas where this might be coming from? Some people I've spoken to say Escorts are prone to leaks around the battery compartment (and it's equivalent on the offside) but I cannot see this is the most likely culprit.
The seals around the windscreen seem fine.
Thanks for any help. Rob
just get the hose or watering can on it.
If it is rainwater then it is likely the battery tray. If it is coolant then the heater matrix.
mrcheerful
Hmm battery tray usually last 2 or 3 years fom factory before needing whole inner wing section replacedwith it, repair panel comes like that.
Inner wing behind strut tops, sills inner and outer, floorpan where it meets sills ,scuttle panel below windcreen, all prone spots on a car that is prone to being a rotter anyway.
Adam
Have the windsreen removed and resealed although it may look OK. I spent days on my Escort trying to find to source of a leak on the driver's side, using a hose, but I couldn't reproduce the leak which happened every time it rained. Eventually I spotted it after much discomfort lying in the footwell. One of the well-known vehicle glass fitters will do this for you in 15 minutes and it's not too expensive.
Terry D.
It is definitely rainwater, not coolant.
Seems that the grill under the windscreen is desgined to allow the water in. God knows where it is supposed to drain to, but in my case it is to the footwells.
There seems to be no obvious way to cure it apart from drilling some holes in the floor to allow the water out.
What a shit design. No wonder some yanks have a saying that 'on a quiet night you can here a Ford rusting'.
Thanks for your help. Rob
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The grille under the windscreen is there as an air inlet for air to go through the heater. The water will obviously also get in as well, but should drain away, either through a hose running down the back of the engine, or you may find little rubber flaps which should let the water drain away, but are probably blocked with leaves, pine needles etc, which means the water can get through the heater matrix and into the car.
HTH
Steve
the grill lets air into the heater inlet, there are drain tubes to prevent water getting in. perhaps the servicing has not included clearing the drain holes?
alternately IIRC there is a lip around the heater fan to stop water getting in, if that has rusted away then water will come in.
mrcheerful
Yup, that's what I did with my old Orion. Another job sorted without breaking the bank.
I will check for this although I don't think the water is coming through the heater matrix, since it deposits primarily (evenly) across the passenger footwell, with less going into the drivers footwell.
Thanks. Rob
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