Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car

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Thu 6 Jan 2022 22:44
Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car - Rosieee123
Hi,
I purchased a 2009 Ford Fiesta for a run around to get to and from work. The car drove well and had low mileage so was really happy with it.

Couple of days after getting the car I smelt something that I believed to be cigarette smoke as it was so potent. After 6 weeks I realised it was damp. Checked the boot and the floor was wet. Didn’t think much of it and dried out the floor and it was ok, but didn’t put it back in just in case. I’ve only literally used the car for myself to get to and from work so hadn’t needed to use the boot or anything up until this point.

Weeks on and it’s 2 months after I purchased the used car from the used dealer and the entire car is dripping on the windows and the fabric is going mouldy.

I’ve contacted the dealer and he’s advised that there isn’t much he can do as the car works and is fit for purpose. I can’t use my daughters car seat in there in fear this will get mouldy, and I’m 20 weeks pregnant and don’t feel safe driving in there. To be able to drive it you have to clean everything you’re going to touch and also wipe the water that’s collected in drops on the windows inside…

When I viewed the car the man told me that they did a valet as the interior was dirty. It’s now ringing alarm bells in hindsight that it had the interior cleaned to hide the issue :(. I know this probably sounds so stupid and naive I didn’t realise any of this, but where do I stand now? He’s told me to speak to a mechanic, but I personally don’t think I should be paying to fix this issue?

Any help would be really appreciated, thanks!

Edited by Rosie Way on 06/01/2022 at 22:48

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Thu 6 Jan 2022 23:16
Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car - Andrew-T

You've checked the boot - have you checked anywhere else ? You should try to feel under the carpet edges wherever you can. The lowest point inside a car is the 4 footwells, so if one of those is wet that may suggest a point of entry.

Common places are below the windscreen through the scuttle, where ventilation air is drawn in. That can become choked with leaves etc.; or from the lower door edges if a membrane has failed; or round external fittings like lamp clusters. My car let in rainwater through the wiring grommet above the tailgate which had been tampered with. So you need to get to know your car's interior.

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Fri 7 Jan 2022 08:34
Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car - bathtub tom

Have you got the heater set to re-circulate, or fresh air?

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Sat 8 Jan 2022 18:23
Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car - Dorset123

Make sure the drains are clear for the scuttle if nobody has kept these clean they will have dirt and leafs in them.

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Sat 8 Jan 2022 18:49
Ford Fiesta - Leak in Used car - Xileno

Have a read of this, it seems quite a common problem:

www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/8762-fiesta-mk.../

Page 5 onwards seems to be relevant, the poster Lewie226 seems to have sorted it.

I had exactly the same problem on my old Focus. The current weather is not ideal, you really want a nice dry day then get a wide-bladed strong screwdriver and prise up the roof trim (it will be well glued down), clean up the area exposed which will be filthy and pump in some roof/gutter mastic, which will also be sticky enough to keep the trim in place.

It seems Ford never learn how to make a car waterproof. My brother had a 1981 Escort back in the day that leaked. My Focus leaked, neighbour's MK3 leaks in the boot although that's a different fix that needs the bumper removed.

Edited by Xileno on 08/01/2022 at 18:50

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