Technical Wet Footwell problem, where are the drain points?

Currently reading:
Technical Wet Footwell problem, where are the drain points?

xtinkerbellx

New member
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Messages
2
Points
1
Location
Wales
I have got a problem with my punto, its soaking wet in both the footwells (started in just passenger side, now both sides) I dont think its any of the seals, its just the floor thats wet, nothing else. Just wondering weather any of the drains could be clogged under the bonnet, heard this can happen with puntos? where are the draining points (or drip tray?) Or if its not that what could it be? Thanks! :)
 
My Punto is a '51 and it leaked on the drivers side only. The source of the leak was a gap between 2 panels near the drivers side bonnet hinge allowing water to capillary in and find its way into the top of the footwell.
There was a round 6mm hole just inboard of where the bonnet hinge attatches to the inner wing. The hole went through 2 panels and the water I think went in the gap between the panels. I put a stainless 6mm bolt in the hole with a nut on the bottom, then sealed all around it.
I also removed the drivers side wing and sealed every seam / joint / gap I could find using a combination of Sikaflex and brushable seam sealant from Halfords. I also used brushable seam sealant on some spot welds in the scuttle panel below the windscreen. These can be seen if you remove the wipers and grill below the windscreen. I then allowed all the sealant to dry, water tested with a hose and painted the areas sealed with a rover racing green aerosol (all they had in halfords and close enough to the colour of my car - 'tis an old fiat after all!!)

Put the wing back on and the jobs a guddun!

Let me know if you want any more info or pics (pics of the car obv - not me!!)

It seems daunting to go ripping your car to bits but it is just nuts and bolts. Take your time, use some common sense and you will be fine.

Oh yeah, after I was sure the car was water tight, I removed the sound proofing under the carpet and dried it out before refitting it. If you don't do this, there is a good chance the car will resemble Fred Flintstones as the floor rots out. It doesn't need much encouragement!!

Rich
 
Last edited:
The drainage holes on a punto can be seen if you remove the plastic scuttle panel covering the window wipers, sometimes they can be blocked up with leaves and need to be emptied. Wear gloves as it stinks.

Also sometimes they can be cleaned without removing the panel, just squeeze the two short pipes at the back of the bonnet, they will open and releses the blockage unless it is too severe.
 
That's the heater are intake area where the wipr motor and linkage sits. If the two rubber drains get blocked the intake area can fill with water. On my car, the drains were clogged with mud thankfully water was not filling up.

Another option is a leaking heater matrix. If you have always used proper coolant the smeel should show what's going on. But if you have plain water in there it wont and you'll soon belooking at a new engine. Plian water rots all coolant systems.
 
Last edited:
That's the heater are intake area where the wipr motor and linkage sits. If the two rubber drains get blocked the intake area can fill with water. On my car, the drains were clogged with mud thankfully water was not filling up....

Yeah but mine was that clogged that it filled up with water, so when I had the blowers on it steamed up the windows and blew heavy ammounts of condensated water into the footwells. The OP said both footwells were wet, surely a heater matrix problem would be only the passenger footwell?

Another option is too jack the car up and look for holes in the floor, you may only have started noticing it since its been raining heavily but they may have been there a while.
 
Maybe but never count on it.
Its easy enough to rule out if there is a coolant leak.

BTW That should have read "PLAIN" water. D'oh.
 
Back
Top