Ducato Windscreen Scuttle Leaks

[PaulandChrissy]

Hi Everyone
Thought I would do a little thread on the Fiat Ducato X250 and its windscreen scuttle leak problem, as I have been asked about it a few times. The problem is in fact THREE problems. I will go through them in turn.

1) Blocked drains in the scuttle which really is a maintenance issue. Keeping the drains clear is imperative and I know it’s a pain especially in the autumn. There are three in all. Two small ones at either end of the scuttle around the wiper spindles. They are very small and block very easily. Make sure the pipe on the back is not knocked off when you clean them as water will drip onto the back of the headlights. (Bad). If left unattended the drivers side wiper spindle will seize up. (Bad). The third hole is much larger and is easier to clean out. Located just in front of the driver next to the off side wiper. Once again make sure the drain pipe on the back does not become detached or broken.

2) Leaking at the joint of the two halves of the scuttle in the centre. This was intended to be joined with some stupid tape that always perishes. I have designed a drip catcher to overcome this problem by diverting the inevitable flow of water to a more non destructive position in front of the engine, rather than into the engine injectors. (Bad and expensive).

3) Water dripping onto the air filter casing and into the heating intake duct. This comes from the vent in the bonnet on the passenger side. The water seeps from the grilles in the bonnet down into the vent and accumulates around the rubber seal on the leading edge of the duct. This is pretty easy to deal with. Drill a hole behind where the rubber seal is, to allow the water to escape and drip onto the air filter casing. It will not harm the casing and just looks worrying, but its OK. When drilling the hole, make sure you drill it over to the right so the water doesn’t drip onto the wiring loom below. (Bad).

Hope this has been of help, as I am sure most people are unaware that there are three leaks as apposed to one. Some pictures are below hopefully giving you a visual feel to my ramblings.

Paul and Chrissy

 

[Madcaravanner]

Were you not aware this is NORMAL they all bloody leak until you fix them yourself

At least our main drain problem was easy to unblock some Walter had let a standard wine cork get stuck down the thing a piece of flexible fibreglass rod soon popped it out, the secondary drain on the nearside was a little more difficult as it's a lot smaller but a large drain syringe blasted the rubbish out

 

[wiljoy]

I had this problem in 1998. The manufacturers denied it was an issue then. Hey-ho and 22 years later its still with us.

 

[TheBig1]

You missed out another issue caused by the scuttle drain hose dripping onto the gearbox and seeping into the oil ruining the gearbox. Easily rectified if caught in time by fitting a longer hose to drain on the floor.

The central scuttle draining onto the top of the engine has a couple of approved fixes. An engine cover and a water diverter that fits to the 2 bolts already there

 

[JustifiedAncient]

Thanks for this. You mentioned X250. How much is still applicable to the X290?

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[Phill D]

the other thing to watch is even the diverted water onto the front of the engine runs down into the starter motor electrics.

i have placed a simple small butyl rubber sheet from the scuttle center point across to the slam panel takes all the water completely off the top of the engine.

 

[TheBig1]

Oh also flooded fuse and relay box on the nearside wing, which can be protected with a rubber floor mat

 

[Mikeco]

The earlier X250 did not have 3 holes as you suggest, in fact there was only one and there are quite a few posts on how to put in the extra ones at each end. The solution to the leak on the centre of the two piece scuttle is to reseal it using Sika 512 or similar.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Were you not aware this is NORMAL they all bloody leak until you fix them yourself

At least our main drain problem was easy to unblock some Walter had let a standard wine cork get stuck down the thing a piece of flexible fibreglass rod soon popped it out, the secondary drain on the nearside was a little more difficult as it's a lot smaller but a large drain syringe blasted the rubbish out

We know it’s normal, that’s why I was trying to help people that are not in the no. It may be normal, but it doesn’t make it acceptable.

 

[Madcaravanner]

We know it’s normal, that’s why I was trying to help people that are not in the no. It may be normal, but it doesn’t make it acceptable.

The problem is the scuttle is a multipart item and the twisting of the chassis causes the part to separate over time but also it's poorly designed with parts sticking up on the drain side can be fixed but takes a lot of doing

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[Brains]

And here is the solution

A Polar thermal windscreen cover by Minster.
Available for Ducatto's, Sprinters, etc.
If you get the 'long' version it covers the scuttle and the vents.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Thanks for this. You mentioned X250. How much is still applicable to the X290?

Not sure about X290. The problem vans were the ones with 2 minute drains on the left and right. The newer versions have 3 healthy sized drains that work much better.

 

[MitchandJenny]

Ref the small drain holes each side, I drilled the holes big enough to accept a nozzle from the sort of tubes of silicon or decorators filler.
I pushed them down each hole and sealed the tops. Then pushed some garden hose up from underneath onto the 2 nozzles and led the hoses down into the wheel arch area.
Job done.
Mitch.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

That’s what you need. Just a bit of imagination,

 

[PaulandChrissy]

And here is the solution
View attachment 441561
A Polar thermal windscreen cover by Minster.
Available for Ducatto's, Sprinters, etc.
If you get the 'long' version it covers the scuttle and the vents.

I’ve got one of those. It works a treat.

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[2657]

And here is the solution
View attachment 441561
A Polar thermal windscreen cover by Minster.
Available for Ducatto's, Sprinters, etc.
If you get the 'long' version it covers the scuttle and the vents.

Makes driving somewhat problematic though

 

[Brains]

I’ve got one of those. It works a treat.

So have I.

For those looking to clear out the drain holes manually, the solution I found was XL Pipe Cleaners.
Available in any craft or hobby shop, they are like conventional pipe cleaners (bits of coated wire for cleaning tobacco pipes), but a lot bigger

 

[Brains]

Makes driving somewhat problematic though

Just drive backwards, that is what your rear view camera is for

 

[PaulandChrissy]

It does get cold with your head hanging out the window to see where your going.

 

[RustyRuss]

Take a tip from the MX5 owners club crew, all MX5’s get blocked drain holes for the soft top. Long ago in a galaxy far from here someone discovered the ideal fix for this..... wait for it...... wait for it...... A trombone cleaning brush! It’s absolutely perfect for the job!

Here’s one from Amazon.....

Cheers! Russ

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[Brains]

Or for half the price, XL pipe cleaners
Available in any craft shop
https://www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/...ORRwm2qvHXrLjuShVDOsHUlC7SB8a7UUaAo0jEALw_wcB

 

[Gellyneck]

Or for half the price, XL pipe cleaners
Available in any craft shop
https://www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/...ORRwm2qvHXrLjuShVDOsHUlC7SB8a7UUaAo0jEALw_wcB

But it's only half the length!

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Are you two discussing the length of your pipe cleaners.

 

[2657]

Or for half the price, XL pipe cleaners
Available in any craft shop
https://www.littlecraftybugs.co.uk/...ORRwm2qvHXrLjuShVDOsHUlC7SB8a7UUaAo0jEALw_wcB

But it's only half the length!

I've always just retrieved the end of the pipe and given it a good blow, efficacious in every case

 

[Brains]

But it's only half the length!

Never mind the length, feel the width!

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[Stealaway]

Water dripping onto the air filter casing and into the heating intake duct. This comes from the vent in the bonnet on the passenger side. The water seeps from the grilles in the bonnet down into the vent and accumulates around the rubber seal on the leading edge of the duct.

Its not a problem. It might look bad but that water will run into the bottom of the plastic box and drain away under the van.

A Polar thermal windscreen cover by Minster.
Available for Ducatto's, Sprinters, etc.
If you get the 'long' version it covers the scuttle and the vents.

I'm not happy with the long windscreen covers that covers that vent - its needed to allow fresh air into the van to keep it aired

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Its not a problem. It might look bad but that water will run into the bottom of the plastic box and drain away under the van.



I'm not happy with the long windscreen covers that covers that vent - its needed to allow fresh air into the van to keep it aired

Hi
im trying to develop a grill cover that will stop, or at least greatly reduce the water coming in through the vent while still allowing ventilation. Working on it at the moment. It will be 3D printed in either ABS or ASA plastic.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Get an A class then no scuttle!

 

[laurieash]

To clean mine I have a piece of curtain wire the type that has the plastic coating on.
Just keep it rolled up in door pocket to use when needed.

 

[the1andonly]

Take a tip from the MX5 owners club crew, all MX5’s get blocked drain holes for the soft top. Long ago in a galaxy far from here someone discovered the ideal fix for this..... wait for it...... wait for it...... A trombone cleaning brush! It’s absolutely perfect for the job!

Here’s one from Amazon.....

Cheers! Russ

View attachment 452851

As a bongo owner i got a trombone brush. Used for leaf detritus in scuttle and wing gaps. Then used wide cable ties to jiggle up and down the drainipe whist travelling.

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