I got a lift to college today and I came home to find water in the passenger footwell. The water is coming from underneath the dash. When I started the car there was a sound off running water from behind the dash. When I revved it there sounded like the water was moving around alot but stopped after awhile. That sounds like the heater matrix doesn't it? It's been raining all day though and the heater still works..getting hot and cold air. Could it be anything other than the heater matrix?

As you say everything points to the heater matrix

First check. Has the coolant level dropped?

Also, if the running water sound is only as the engine runs with the car stationary then we can eliminate rain water as it will be the engine pumping it

if coolant level hasnt dropped then its the sunroof (as usual)

coolant level hasn't dropped and I don't have a sunroof! I checked to see if any drainage holes had been blocked by the bonnet hinge. There was nothing blocked but there was a hole next to the bonnet hinge that looked like it should have had a gromit or something in it. I didn't have anything big enough to fit it so I put sealer around a gromit and put it in the hole until I can check it out properly at the weekend.

New problem though, I was on my way home from Limerick and was about half way. Pulled into make a phone and as I went to pull out again I had no power, backfiring, engine management light was on and there were tiny bursts of power. The engine is running very rough, I had to drive on for about 50miles to get home as the recovery service would have taken too long to get to me as I needed to be somewhere. When I was driving the engine management light was continuously flashing, but when stationary it just stayed on. I could only get up to 50mph and managed to limp home.

I'm guessing it's not running on all cylinders, I am going to bring it for a diagostic tomorrow. Along with that my clutch is going to go..very heavy and there is a clutch judder as I take off when I start the car first time each day!I am not at all happy!!

flashing light means serious misfire. the flashing light is telling you to stop driving to prevent damage to the cat, it only flashed when damage is occuring (when you accelerate).

which engine do you have again? (i forgot sorry)

definately check the HT leads before you go spending money.

right..one of the spark plugs looks very bad..started the car with it's lead unattached and there was no change..when I disconnected the other leads the engined sounded worse. Do you think that would be the leads so?

It's a 1.2

I had this problem. Turned out to be a blocked drain hole in front of the windscreen. Water was coming in the car via the internal fan for the airvents. Lift the bonnet just infront of the windscreen there is some black plastic covering a gully. Have a look in there see if there is any water build up.

klemster said:

right..one of the spark plugs looks very bad..started the car with it's lead unattached and there was no change..when I disconnected the other leads the engined sounded worse. Do you think that would be the leads so?

It's a 1.2

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Is at fault then. By disconnecting the plug you are crippling that cylinder thus instead of four cylinders the car will run on 3 cylinders. If the cylinder wasn't firing to begin with then it wont alter it by pulling off its connection. By pulling off another lead you are crippling another cylinder hence the car will drop to two cylinders firing and run even worse.

Change all your plugs and possibly the HT leads if they also look poor.

How did the plug you took out look??

i am going to change the spark plugs first and see. There didn't seem to be any damage or anything to the leads..but I couldn't be sure as I don't know what I am looking for! They are all definately live and holding a current! The only thing noticeable was one spark plug being quite bad! Thanks!!

stick a different plug on the suspect lead, if it doesnt spark you need leads. then stick the dodgy plug on a different lead, if it sparks you dont need plugs.

personally i would replace plugs and leads.

swapped the plugs and it's the same so i'm going to get new leads! The plugs look like they are getting worse so i'm going change them aswell! Thanks lads!

changed the plugs and HT leads and it's still the same!!!:bang::bang:!!what do you think I should try next? the new spark plugs are wet

klemster said:

changed the plugs and HT leads and it's still the same!!!:bang::bang:!!what do you think I should try next? the new spark plugs are wet

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isnt that somthing to do with head gasket???

is it not just over fuelling?

wheres jug when you need him

klemster said:

is it not just over fuelling?

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http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080110030835AAmIihI

klemster said:

changed the plugs and HT leads and it's still the same!!!:bang::bang:!!what do you think I should try next? the new spark plugs are wet

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All of them?

Or just the one?

If it is just the one you replaced the bad plug with. Then this will be unburnt fuel remaining in the chamber. It will be flooding the plug.

Take the HT lead off the new plug that is now in place of the dodgy looking one. and place in the HT lead one of your old plugs. One that looks ok. lay the plug over the engine earthing the plug on the metal.

Does it spark when you turn over the engine?

didn't get a chance to do anything more..just had the car towed to my dealership friday morning. I called in on my way back from college and they hadn't had time to have a look at the car friday though..there was a queue of cars, a saleman my dad has dealt with rang the foreman and said he would try and get it in but didn't hear anything back. It will definately been checked out Monday morning!

But we bumped into the owner on our way out and he gave us the keys to his new 500 and told us to rag it. And we sure did!! they are pretty nice..it was pearl white..had white dash and red leather. it was the 1.4, not bad accelleration and a nice sound from the engine..not the sportiest seating position though!! really nice car but i don't know if i'd actually buy one!!

did you check if all the plugs were sparking?

drunknspike said:

wheres jug when you need him

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i was moving house.

call that an excuse Jug??????????

Got it sorted anyway..it was a coil!!thats for all the help....Jug!!:tosser:..i mean !!