PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: ParkerPinto on April 26, 2014, 09:00:21 PM

Title: Leak into the footwells
Post by: ParkerPinto on April 26, 2014, 09:00:21 PM
Got a '72 wagon that sat unmoved for quite some time. It's leaking when it rains I believe from the cowl underneath the dash. I'm trying to find the drains for the cowl...anyone know where they are? Thanks
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: Pinto5.0 on April 26, 2014, 09:46:50 PM
They're under the fenders. It's a bit of work but pulling the fenders & flushing all the crud outta the cowl is worth the effort. As long as you didn't end up with rot from the build up a good cleaning, drying & then copious amounts of Rust-Oleum paint will fix it permanently.
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: Wittsend on April 26, 2014, 09:56:24 PM
Something that has worked for me is to cut a piece of window screen about an inch oversize of the cowl vent.  I then use flat strip magnets around the edge to hold it into place.  It sure helps to keep the garbage out of the cowl. And in about two seconds it can be removed.  Never had it blow off yet while driving (under 70 MPH).  I'm going to try masking the screen off and using a rubberized spray (like Quick Seal) to permanently fix the magnets to the screen.

But, yea pulling the fenders is about the only way to clean that area out.
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: rramjet on April 26, 2014, 10:48:11 PM
I was able to clean mine out by pulling the inner fender liners out and working from the end of the drain. You need to pull the air vents under the dash out and clean the area behind them as well. If you are lucky the junk hasn't been there long enough to rust the area around the vents out.
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: jeremysdad on April 26, 2014, 11:03:19 PM
It's probably the windshield gasket.

Mine leaks like a sieve.
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: Pinto5.0 on April 26, 2014, 11:09:15 PM
If the vents are plugged the water will flow over the top of the vents & run into the car during a downpour. If it sits outside a good car cover will keep the crud out year round.
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: 82expghost on April 29, 2014, 12:04:12 AM
i was getting allot in my footwells, after the windshield gasket, still had leaks, cleaned the cowl, still had leaks, sat in my car in a torrential downpour and found it was my door gasket right at the dash area
Title: Re: Leak into the footwells
Post by: jeremysdad on April 30, 2014, 07:31:44 PM
i was getting allot in my footwells, after the windshield gasket, still had leaks, cleaned the cowl, still had leaks, sat in my car in a torrential downpour and found it was my door gasket right at the dash area

Good tip. If it happens to one, it could happen to any of them. :)