Can anyone help?
Fiat Panda 1.2, 2005.
Wife complaining of burning smell.
Opened bonnet, smelled like water-touching-hot-metal smell.
Saw drip on bulkhead behind engine.
Protruding through one of the holes in the bulkhead is a plastic thing, black, sort of flyin-saucer shaped, about 2cm thick, when I squeezed it lots of water poured out and it also seems to have muddy dirt in it.
Not attached to anything but couldn't pull it through the hole in the bulkhead.
I've attached a picture (sorry for quality). Arrow shows water dripping out.
Anyone any ideas?
Thanks.

Bit hard to see in your photo, but if its what I think you are showing, there are in fact two rubber tubes like that, the ends of which are flattened out. They are there to control where the water that sits in the 'scuttle' drains away to. (The scuttle is the bit between the back of the bonnet and the bottom of the windscreen, where the wiper motor is and where air gets drawn into the ventilation system) These should be clear and allow water to drain away easily. But, especially during the autumn, leaves tend to fall in and block them... if you squeeze the tube (a bit like milking a goat, if ever you've tried that!) you can usually squeeze out the mush and they will then work as drains again. Best to check them now and again and pull out any leaves that get in there when they are still leaf-like and before they rot

Pete

To go with previous answer, see photos I've just taken, even with (genuinely there!) leaf... one on each side. The driver's side one is quite easy to see, the passenger side is behind the heating pipes...

Thanks for the great replies folks, I reckon that must be what it is.
But are these connected to anything behind the bulkhead? Are they supposed to protrude throught the bulkhead into the engine bay? While I was fiddling I pushed it back up behind the bulkhead, can't get it back again, it might move next time the car is driven, but does it matter if it's stuck behind there? If I get it out again I'll clear the debris out of it.

Herts Hillhopper said:

...if you squeeze the tube (a bit like milking a goat, if ever you've tried that!)...

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The best advice I've ever read on here!

hmm said:

Thanks for the great replies folks, I reckon that must be what it is.
But are these connected to anything behind the bulkhead? Are they supposed to protrude throught the bulkhead into the engine bay? While I was fiddling I pushed it back up behind the bulkhead, can't get it back again, it might move next time the car is driven, but does it matter if it's stuck behind there? If I get it out again I'll clear the debris out of it.

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Yes they do protrude through the bulkhead and it is a weird design. I managed to accidentally push mine back up into the scuttle area too, so now they just sit danghling in their holes, somewhat more mobile than they should be. Still work fine though.

As has been said before though, just make sure there's no water pooling in that area and you'll be fine.

Phil G

hi ,ive had just the same problem today my wife complained of a swooshing water sound when she went around corners ive just found these drains were blocked with mush (leaves and crud)
the mats on the drivers side were also soaking wet ,ive dried them as best i could
hope they will dry out now the drain holes are cleared
is this a common problem? nothing worse than the smell of damp carpets in a new car !

jimbofz said:

nothing worse than the smell of damp carpets in a new car !

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I'd return it to dealer. That's no new car if it's been about long enough to block those drains!

if you squeeze the tube (a bit like milking a goat, if ever you've tried that!)

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I have to agree with LeanMeanRacing - I laughed my socks off at that bit of advice especially whilst I was 'milking' the drainage tubes on my scuttle-blockage-suffering Panda!!

Bloomin' good advice. It does the trick perfectly. I now have a clear scuttle area and soon the wet foot well on the drivers side will dry I hope. I'll keep a close eye on it in the future to make sure leaves and other autumnal shizzle doesn't build up.

They block at the first sign of a leaf, twig, blade of grass or anything else that may fall into the area behind the bulkhead. I got so fed up of cleaning mine that I removed them and hacked a larger hole in the bottom of each one. that solved the problem for me anyway.

To remove just squeeze/twist and pull (!)

Over time they become less supple and mine just sat loosely in the holes in the bulkhead.

Cheers!

All becoming to gynaecological for me.

As the original poster of the goat-milking comment, seeing this all come back up the threads has made me chuckle too!

Now, once you've all finished clearing the drain tubes, maybe you can explore the little 'smiley face' icon beneath the posts... Pressing that adds to my 'thanks' ratings

Pete

Just did this for the first time on our panda.. Filthy job - doesn't look like its been done since new... The only word that can describe the stuff I found in the goat teat things is compost. :yuck:

Also had to top up the radiator... Haven't done this before - anything I should be looking out for in regards to the missing coolant?

Matthen said:

Also had to top up the radiator... Haven't done this before - anything I should be looking out for in regards to the missing coolant?

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Yes, need to track down where its leaking.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Yes, need to track down where its leaking.

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I don't believe it is leaking... haven't noticed any puddles under the car. If it was leaking into the oil, what would the oil look like?

I might try getting the driveway next week, and positioning some news paper under the engine bay to double check however.

Would look like mayo in the oil filler cap if was going into the oil

Thought that, nah, the oils oil coloured, I checked yesterday... When its got a bit darker ill go check the coolant level again - doesn't help that the expansion tank is in such a stupid place.

Its not impossible that they only half filled it after the service, and I just haven't noticed.

timely BUMP of these posts..,

to get a good view of the coolant level shine a torch down the outside of the "level -tube" ,
you should then be able to see a dark , water-filled section
and a yellowy lighter part - that's just air..,
Charlie

BUMP - all useful info,
Charlie

timely reminder - also see this thread for a better overall view of the drain location https://www.fiatforum.com/bravo-brava/311285-water-drainage-holes-where.html