Water in engine compartment (1 Viewer)

[Janiemou]

We have a problem with our Elddis motorhome that is 1 month out of warranty with the Peugeot base vehicle. The gutter under the windshield (or maybe even the windshield edging strip) has distorted for about 15cm, allowing rain water to run behind it. Also the gutter appears to have a join at the mid-point with a connecting strip, and that is leaking as well. We had some torrential rain here in Greece, where we are for the winter, and couldn't start the engine. It fired and then died. We ruled out water in the fuel as we had been driving around for four day post refuelling. The engine was very wet and we could see water dripping from the gutter onto the cover plate. The gutter itself was full, but with no obvious blockage. We waited for a dry spell the next day and gaffer taped the leaking areas, by which time the gutter was dry. We've checked the fusebox inside the cab and that is dry. What could the problem be?.

 

[AMK]

Maybe the water is in the electrics. I would leave the bonnet open to let things dry out.

That's if your on a campsite.

 

[MC 55 FUN]

The scuttle, or gutter as you describe it, is a well known weak point for water ingress into the engine bay on all X250 type Sevel clone vehicles.

Modifications have been made by some Funsters & are well documented on this forum.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/x250-scuttle-drain-improvisation.101566/

or type scuttle in the search box, 10 pages of related threads.

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[Blue Knight]

It sounds as if there is water or moisture penetration within one of the primary electrical systems; the ignition system or the power control module/ecu harness may be the likely candidates.

Do you have a picture of your engine bay and a point where the main water flow is passing through the lower screen.

What happens when you turn the key ready to start - any dash lights. If there are then can you detect a short whirring noise down below ( the fuel pump priming).

All the best,

Andrew

 

[sonny]

A warning to everyone give your vehicle a thorough check before end of warranty.

 

[mushy]

If you have any WD40 give it a blast where he water has got to. It might disperse the moisture in hard to access areas.

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[Lenny HB]

There is a fuse and relay box on the RHS looking into the bonnet from the front (drivers nearside), it is right below the scuttle and water getting in there was a known issue on early vans.
Yours must be a one off the scuttle problems were on early X250's I assume yours is an X290.

 

[Doug Reme]

Fiat should have a drain hole in each corner they will become block.they should have a thin drain tube under the bonnet this can pinch and blocked. Clean out with thin screwdriver.
Best of luck
Doug

 

[Musicboy]

I had similar. Water dripping onto the plastic manifold cover ...
It was the trim against the bottom of windscreen not quite sealing ...,
I moved the top trim away to get a nozzle in of sealant & applied a narrow line along the full width . Job done .
Also ...maybe not applicable to yre scenario but water could be due to the pipes/ connections feeding water to the washer nozzles .near & tear... cheers

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[138go]

They are not the easiest of drain holes to get at. I remember trying to find the one that is buried under the wiper blade arm. Easier to just take the arms off and you can get to the holes. Not the best design in the world you just have to keep an eye on them and make sure you clean them out on a regular basis.

Have a word with your Peugeot Dealer they maybe able to get it done under warranty even though it's just outside the time.

 

[robnchris]

The drain holes and pipes are too small we drilled ours out and fitted a 3/4" fitting and tube which we routed to drain below the engine.
Just a flush with the hose pipe keeps them clear.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

My old transit base would leak water onto the flat topped head immersing the electric injectors in water. I made an alloy shield and deflector to allow the water flooding in to run down the other side. Those injectors would be rusted in an defective very quickly if I hadn’t done it.

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[Stretto Boy]

They are not the easiest of drain holes to get at. I remember trying to find the one that is buried under the wiper blade arm. Easier to just take the arms off and you can get to the holes. Not the best design in the world you just have to keep an eye on them and make sure you clean them out on a regular basis.

Have a word with your Peugeot Dealer they maybe able to get it done under warranty even though it's just outside the time.

And mention the Consumer Rights Act which may give you rights over and above the warranty!

 

[Janiemou]

It sounds as if there is water or moisture penetration within one of the primary electrical systems; the ignition system or the power control module/ecu harness may be the likely candidates.

Do you have a picture of your engine bay and a point where the main water flow is passing through the lower screen.

What happens when you turn the key ready to start - any dash lights. If there are then can you detect a short whirring noise down below ( the fuel pump priming).

All the best,

Andrew

Hi Andrew, we have sealed the shuttle where it meets the windscreen, and the middle join as best we can. The drain is clear and it appears to be drying despite the persistent heavy rain we are having. It is making more of an effort to start, but no more than a few seconds. We will go to the nearest motor electrician on Monday and see if he can come and do something. Here are a couple of photos of the engine bay, with the yellow tape over the leaking areas. It is annoying because we were in the garage at the end of September for warranty work to be done. Someone suggested an OBD11

might help, we have no experience with it. We have no warning lights showing, any thoughts

 

[Blue Knight]

Hi J,

If it's turning over but not firing then I'm assuming at this stage that the problem is with the final fuel delivery i.e. an injector(s) or the injector harness but either way it sounds electrical.

There are a few alternatives like air in the fuel line; low fuel pressure irregularities and water in the fuel line as a consequence of severe condensation in the tank but I doubt that these will be applicable. I still think it's an electrical problem.

I'm really sorry to say but I can only suggest the faults at this stage so I hope that your mechanic gets a chance to see it soon.

That said, your battery may soon be running out of steam soon so one option would be to attempt a jump start from a second vehicle to ensure that the maximum cold cranking amps possible is available on start-up. It's worth a try.

Tell me how you get on.

Best wishes,

Andrew

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[Blue Knight]

How did it go guys. Are you back on the road again.

 

[Chris51]

Only just noticed the thread so excuse me if has already been mentioned but I had same problem with mine did extra drains and "glued "scuttle to w/screen .Also be sure to keep d/side drain by w/screen wiper free as it will fill and seize the wiper spindle (I know !).I spray spindle regularly with lubricant.Also another mod I did was to stick a piece of DPC inside air vent to extend it further inside (when bonnet closes) to drain instead of leaking where it joins when bonnet closes.

 

[Chris51]

Hi J,

If it's turning over but not firing then I'm assuming at this stage that the problem is with the final fuel delivery i.e. an injector(s) or the injector harness but either way it sounds electrical.

There are a few alternatives like air in the fuel line; low fuel pressure irregularities and water in the fuel line as a consequence of severe condensation in the tank but I doubt that these will be applicable. I still think it's an electrical problem.

I'm really sorry to say but I can only suggest the faults at this stage so I hope that your mechanic gets a chance to see it soon.

That said, your battery may soon be running out of steam soon so one option would be to attempt a jump start from a second vehicle to ensure that the maximum cold cranking amps possible is available on start-up. It's worth a try.

Tell me how you get on.

Best wishes,

Andrew

Fixed my bad starting with a new starter motor-whizzes over much quicker now.

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[laurieash]

Hi Andrew, we have sealed the shuttle where it meets the windscreen, and the middle join as best we can. The drain is clear and it appears to be drying despite the persistent heavy rain we are having. It is making more of an effort to start, but no more than a few seconds. We will go to the nearest motor electrician on Monday and see if he can come and do something. Here are a couple of photos of the engine bay, with the yellow tape over the leaking areas. It is annoying because we were in the garage at the end of September for warranty work to be done. Someone suggested an OBD11View attachment 196780 View attachment 196781 View attachment 196780 might help, we have no experience with it. We have no warning lights showing, any thoughts

I keep a piece of curtain wire in my door pocket the wire type thats coated white plastic, to clear the drains. Also stop your wipers at the top to make it easy to see the drains and to clear.

 

[Stretto Boy]

My old transit base would leak water onto the flat topped head immersing the electric injectors in water. I made an alloy shield and deflector to allow the water flooding in to run down the other side. Those injectors would be rusted in an defective very quickly if I hadn’t done it.

That might have stopped the thieves in their tracks!

 

[Janiemou]

OK, thanks for all the suggestions, they have been very helpful. The engine is now working and we have booked it into Peugeot in Corfu to give it a check over. I know this will sound stupid, but is it normal to expect a lot of rain water to get into the engine compartment, and should we maybe think about getting the skuttle replaced?

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[Lofty1]

I used sealant on the scuttle, fitted an extra drain to it and also bought a plastic drain from peugeot to protect the cam belt, all stays dry now for about £20 in very cold weather in is not unknown for water to freeze on the cam gear and snap the belt, well worth getting the scoop to prevent this.