Damp passenger footwell---- 93 Ford Fiesta 1.1 LX?

Question

Hi i have a 93 Ford Fiesta 1.1 LX 5 door.In the front passenger foot well there was quite a damp mat. Lifted up the matts to see the insulation(???not sure what its called) was sodden with water.So pulled all of this out.Cannot see no holes no nothing that would suggest water was getting in from.Took off some of the trim to look/feel for damp but this was dry.The door seals feel fine.So i left it came back the next day and there was a little bit of water there again!!!it doesnot smell of chemicals some presuming its just water.I do have a leaking screen wash reservoir but as the water inside the car does not smell of this I can rule this out??im in need of much help.anything&I would be extremely grateful

Answer 1

are the sunroof drain holes blocked??

Answer 2

If you are regularly adding water (and cooolant) to the radiator / expansion tank under the bonnet, you could have a leak.

Is the car very warm when the heat is turned up or is there no heat at all?

Unless you are very handy and confident, ask your local mechanic to give you a quote for the labour. The parts should be inexpensive - maybe a tube or two but the labour may be several hours long.

You might also want to check the air intakes to the fan as leaves can get trapped here and can block the drain hole allowing water to gather in the fan unit until it reaches the passenger cabin.

Since your car is almost 14 years old, rusty holes may be another problem.

And you're right, it IS insulation. It insulates the floor of the car to keep the heat in and the road noise out.

Answer 3

There might be a hole somewhere you can't see. perhaps up under the front of the dash, or under the seat. Maybe it's just an accumulation of condensation. It is a cold, wet, time of the year.

It could be worse. Our first car was an old Metro. It was "damp" for ages, then on the way home in a storm, we drove through a big puddle and the front of the car turned into a swimming pool. That was fun.

Answer 4

Look under your bonnet at the bulkhead, there could be a grommet where the electrics go into the car has come out. Or there could be rot where rain water has been trapped. Check to make sure all the water channels are not blocked. Also check to see if the heater is not leaking.

Answer 5

The heater is leaking.

It's situated behind the dash on the passenger side in that particular model. If you are losing water in your cooling system, this could be the culprit. With everything you have checked, it is the most likely.

Answer 6

1st place to look is the seal around the windshield...
2nd See if it make a difference where the air selector is. ie: vent, defrost ect. Sometime it will hang between selections and allow water to enter.
Good Luck

Answer 7

check your coolant level.If its low or you been adding to it it maybe a heater core thats under the dash.Cheap part but its a hellish job

Answer 8

heater core is leaking