I'm a 50+ yo lady & this video was super accurate in diagnosing my flooding problem. I've been to the car wash 2 days in a row vacuuming an inch of water out of the back passenger seat of my 2003 Lincoln Town Car...Next 2 days rain in the forecast so I figured I should at least give it the old college try. I lifted that little flap & immediately saw the messy clog of leaves...went to my kitchen-got my spatula because it looked like the right size and handle length...got everything cleared out in a few second...I'm super confident its a done deal. My son is so proud of me...Thank You for helping me save money & avoid rust & damage to my beloved Lincoln.
I think it's awesome that you took the time to comment on how this video helped you fixed your leaking problem with your Lincoln. Another SMA satisfied customer.
All I gotta say is " THIS GUY IS A FREAKING ROCKSTAR" in my book. Dealer wanted $125.00 for evaluation, plus cost of part & labor. GRACIAS SEÑOR, GOD BLESS YOU
Hey Eric! Have an 03 Town Car. My friends both have 04 Town Cars. All of us had passenger side of the car water leaks. We all had clean cowls - no leaves. Friend and I found there's a foam gasket between the inlet duct and the body of the car that causes water leaks. Watched it running into the car. With my 03 the gasket had rolled over whenever it was installed at factory. Finally started letting water in. Their cars had the foam deteriorated. So we got a rubber gasket cut to size and installed in place of foam. Also my hood release cable grommet in firewall was not seated or installed right - so water was coming in there too.
Nick, I did similar thing. I saw another video that pointed to that gasket also, so when I removed the cowling that foam gasket was all screwed up so I removed it and then put a sealer in place. So far, so good👍👍
South Main. I have a 08 Town Car and pulled off the fresh air intake box and discovered a bad OEM foam seal on the bottom of the box. Did the prep work required and used a tube of permatex ultra black RTV. That was my main issue along with the drain filled with leaves. Thanks for all your help.
Hi I’m having the same problem. We just had a hurricane here in Florida and it left massive water on my floor. I looked under the hood and flap and saw the leaves. I’m going to go ahead and fix it, but what is the other stuff you got to fix yours? I’m thinking of doing it all at once so I won’t have to worry about it.. where was it purchased and such... thanks in advance.
Oh, thank you! March, 2023. I'm here in the mountains of Central California in the worst flooding and snow melting time in years and my Lincoln has so much water in it. . . "You the man!"
I know this was made five years ago but I just bought one and it's nice to hear the voice of reason. I'm going outside to check this right now. Thank you so much.
Well thank you for showing the detail of the flap that drains the compartment. It saved me the time of removing the complete air intake. My drain was clogged and that looks to be the main problem. Thanks for the video.
Just an FYI I had this problem with my town car. I was able to stick my finger in that flap and pull out the leaves and debris without removing the plate. This worked for a year or two and then at one point it didn’t and kept leaking on to the floor of rear passenger side. At this point I had to remove the plate and I found that the foam seal attached to the bottom of the plate dried up and deteriorated. I had to replace the foam seal because It continued to leak slowly because the old foam had deteriorated. Once I replace the foam seal and put it back together the problem was fixed.
@@Ace-44 once you take off the plate you will see the old dried out seal on the plate and on the frame Scrape off and add silicone a good amount screw it back together
It can also be the foam seal under the cow air intake. I had to replace the foam seal underneath the cow. Mine had rotted away. I used 2 layers of the one sided stick foam you use on doors as weather stripping. Sealed mine, no more leaks
Thank you sir! I bought one not too long ago, had it checked out and that 4.6 is in great shape, but always had a soaked passenger floor, glad to see it’s a simple fix
I watch your channel all the time. I recently bought a 2001 town car and it was leaking into the passenger floor board. I googled the problem and boom South Main Auto pops up with a quick vid. Nice!!
That's too funny that you popped up when I googled water in the floor board. The problem is on both sides of the Lincoln I'm working on and the passenger's side was exactly what you had there but the driver's side wound up being the grommet on the hood release cable has deteriorated and the water was traveling from the cowl hitting the cable and traveling through the grommet filling the front floor board and then running in the rear floor board filling it up. Crazy to find water leaks that travel that far. Thanks partner and you look a lot less stressed back then! LOL!!!
Might have been one of your first videos but it sure was great one. It hit the mark! A serious distressed customer concern that you showed us how to approach the problem and conquer with very simple easy no to low cost fixes. That insight helped out many, many people many, many times. As Always, A Great Video. It's always good to go back to your roots and see the path you walked.
I know the video is old but thanks for the advice I've got a 94 Lincoln town car and it's taking in water on the passenger floor also ,I wonder if it's the same situation???
It’s also the foam seal under the cowl intake . Remove old seal clean with alcohol to remove old material . Buy 1/2 thick or 3/4 weatherstripping foam. Stick it where old seal was. Then put some black rtv sealant on the foams other side with no adhesive. That way it sticks down and seals watertight
Replace the foam seal/gasket as well, make sure to get the old one completely off and cleaned up. Using black make a gasket works perfect but use latex gloves. Messy if it gets on your hands.
I haven't gone out and looked yet to see if this is accualy my problem but I have the wet floor issue in my 99 that I bought yesterday. And I had the hood up and noticed leaves all in that area . First I watched a video on how to remove a heater core then I watched your video . As I'm not smelling antifreeze I'm thinking your video is more likely my problem . With that thought I did a righteous touchdown dance. God I hope this is all that's going on . The heater core looks like it might put me in the loony bin.
Already did all that. Thought that solved it, but no. It was deeper. I believe it's the spongy, porous seal (obviously breaking down) that the channel seats against. You could even see the water trail going down, from the seal, into the mesh air intake. Any thoughts on that?
Common issue on the town car. The seal/foam under the cowl breaks down and water passes into the air intake for the HVAC. Ours leaked even with drains cleaned. Contrary to his opinion that you shouldn’t seal it, Lincoln forums and techs disagree. Removed foam and did Black rtv and it never leaked again.
Could be both, more common as these cars age its the seal deteriorating. Im doing the seal and clearing out the passage in the next few days. With how often i wash the car and how much it rains with my 2010 town car im surprised i have zero water inside.
I think he was talking about sealing the actual top of the windshield which would make sense not to but def wanna reseal under the cowl.@@sideburns2009
My Father in laws 2002 Buick LaSabre has water in the passenger compartment after a big rain. Never thought about a water back-up from a blocked drainage system. Definitely going to check that out next time I see him and the vehicle.
Sandbag1300 Easy to find, just bust out the garden hose, start down by the cowl and work your way up the glass and don't forget the sun roof drains too.
If that gasket is dry rotted, then yes you must not only clear all the debris out but replace the gasket as well, otherwise your still gonna have a leak.
you're absolutely right this is where the leak is coming from your absolutely wrong how to fix it. You have to take that next when peace off and silicone around the vent opening because that gasket there is a piece of crap and leaks like a sieve
I have the same problem in my 2001 town car but not the drain there is a bad gap where the two seams meet on the plastic on the windshield I silicone the gap problem finally fixed
Great video fix thanks! Any chance you know what part number or where I can find the nylon inserts for the retaining screws? Apparently one is missing and the other is broke. No worries
Hey Eric, I've been watching your videos for a while, just trying to catch up on your earlier ones. I have an issue with water leaking into the rear passenger side floor on a '06 Taurus. I'm thinking door seal. What is your thoughts?
farmboy30117 Hey lol I have been watching your project too, Dunno on the Taurus. Any way you can have your wife run water over it while you watch on the inside to see where it is originating? Not a real common problem on them that I know of right off hand.
farmboy30117 You know I just got thinking I think I did do one of these. I can't remember for sure but is there a heat duct that pops up under that pass. seat to direct air to the back pass. footwell?
On the Taurus from 96-07, the foam gasket around the evap core drain doesn't seal well. Get a big tube of silicone or rtv. And create a deal between the drain and the body to cover the foam gasket. It'll look like a volcano. Done a dozen or so of Taurus and Sables that had this leak.
I have a 1990 Lincoln towncar and I have water leaking Into my passenger floorboard. Redid the gasket on the old version of the cabin intake above the heater core and windshield is fine. Why else could cause leaks there
If you ask me, that is a very big engineering mistake. Yes, looks like an easy fix, but this problem should never be, in the first place. I was going crazy. There was no way a water leak around the two doors could be causing the leak........so where is it coming from? I could have never figured this out without this You Tube video. Thanks for the info.
My town car passenger floor ALWAYS has a wet spot, about the size of a silver dollar, regardless if it rains or I take it to the car wash. Could it still be the same problem?
But below theres a foam seal that goes bad & needs resealed or its just gonna happen again when it rains. It wont be as bad free of debris, but i had to scrape off the old one & use silicone
Bought a 2003 last fri nite,water both front / rear pass side guy say owner left windows cracked rain got in.Couple days later went to spray carwash to vac out water.Saw the vid cleaned drain flap area out had junk in it,buddy stopped by and i used garden hose fill with water in the cowel area while freind held drain flap closed,as water rose i looked in front pass side,can see water dripping in,friend let flap go and water stopped dripping into car,next let hose water run down windshield as if was raining........drain flap worked fine and no dripping inside.Back floor still very damp,moved front pass side seat all way to dash then used a squeegee on rear area carpet to get water in to towels to absorb............we shall see
People are saying in the comments that the grommet on the hood release cable at the firewall driver side is not seated properly or rotted, so check that out - probably some silicone gasket stuff in a tube will solve it
Sorry didn't work at all. Tried thos and step numerous times.when it rains there is nothing on the back floor but when I drive and park its flooded. I saw another video that said there may be a hole underneath the vehicle that needs patching. That's the only option. For me right now.
Can I permanently seal the fresh air duct so nothing gets through it anymore. I have a tree that keeps the fresh air intake full of leaves and dust just like the one youre working on and prefer to drive with my cabin circulation turned on anyway.
I'm a 50+ yo lady & this video was super accurate in diagnosing my flooding problem. I've been to the car wash 2 days in a row vacuuming an inch of water out of the back passenger seat of my 2003 Lincoln Town Car...Next 2 days rain in the forecast so I figured I should at least give it the old college try. I lifted that little flap & immediately saw the messy clog of leaves...went to my kitchen-got my spatula because it looked like the right size and handle length...got everything cleared out in a few second...I'm super confident its a done deal. My son is so proud of me...Thank You for helping me save money & avoid rust & damage to my beloved Lincoln.
I think it's awesome that you took the time to comment on how this video helped you fixed your leaking problem with your Lincoln. Another SMA satisfied customer.
Terry Brown did it actually end up fixing the issue?
Could either be that or the gasket underneath deteriorating and letting water in down and through the mesh filter.@@JayyBird93
All I gotta say is " THIS GUY IS A FREAKING ROCKSTAR" in my book. Dealer wanted $125.00 for evaluation, plus cost of part & labor. GRACIAS SEÑOR, GOD BLESS YOU
Hey Eric! Have an 03 Town Car. My friends both have 04 Town Cars. All of us had passenger side of the car water leaks. We all had clean cowls - no leaves. Friend and I found there's a foam gasket between the inlet duct and the body of the car that causes water leaks. Watched it running into the car. With my 03 the gasket had rolled over whenever it was installed at factory. Finally started letting water in. Their cars had the foam deteriorated. So we got a rubber gasket cut to size and installed in place of foam.
Also my hood release cable grommet in firewall was not seated or installed right - so water was coming in there too.
Nick, I did similar thing. I saw another video that pointed to that gasket also, so when I removed the cowling that foam gasket was all screwed up so I removed it and then put a sealer in place. So far, so good👍👍
Same here
South Main. I have a 08 Town Car and pulled off the fresh air intake box and discovered a bad OEM foam seal on the bottom of the box. Did the prep work required and used a tube of permatex ultra black RTV. That was my main issue along with the drain filled with leaves. Thanks for all your help.
Hi I’m having the same problem. We just had a hurricane here in Florida and it left massive water on my floor. I looked under the hood and flap and saw the leaves. I’m going to go ahead and fix it, but what is the other stuff you got to fix yours? I’m thinking of doing it all at once so I won’t have to worry about it.. where was it purchased and such... thanks in advance.
Oh, thank you! March, 2023. I'm here in the mountains of Central California in the worst flooding and snow melting time in years and my Lincoln has so much water in it. . . "You the man!"
You certainly have lightened up a bit since these first videos....thanks for them.
I know this was made five years ago but I just bought one and it's nice to hear the voice of reason. I'm going outside to check this right now. Thank you so much.
Well thank you for showing the detail of the flap that drains the compartment. It saved me the time of removing the complete air intake. My drain was clogged and that looks to be the main problem. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! This,was the exact problem I was having with my Lincoln. You helped me fix it quickly and easily. Very GRATEFUL!
Just an FYI I had this problem with my town car. I was able to stick my finger in that flap and pull out the leaves and debris without removing the plate. This worked for a year or two and then at one point it didn’t and kept leaking on to the floor of rear passenger side. At this point I had to remove the plate and I found that the foam seal attached to the bottom of the plate dried up and deteriorated. I had to replace the foam seal because It continued to leak slowly because the old foam had deteriorated. Once I replace the foam seal and put it back together the problem was fixed.
Hey man can you tell me where exactly is that foam seal located???
And where did you get a new foam seal from??
@@Ace-44 once you take off the plate you will see the old dried out seal on the plate and on the frame
Scrape off and add silicone a good amount screw it back together
@@mintmarksi9072 OK thanks for the quick response!
Is the drivers side same idea..my drivers side floor is wet
I’m so glad I found this video. I thought I had a heater core leak in my 2007 town car. After watching this video I have fixed the problem, thanks!
It can also be the foam seal under the cow air intake. I had to replace the foam seal underneath the cow. Mine had rotted away. I used 2 layers of the one sided stick foam you use on doors as weather stripping. Sealed mine, no more leaks
Thank you sir! I bought one not too long ago, had it checked out and that 4.6 is in great shape, but always had a soaked passenger floor, glad to see it’s a simple fix
I watch your channel all the time. I recently bought a 2001 town car and it was leaking into the passenger floor board. I googled the problem and boom South Main Auto pops up with a quick vid. Nice!!
That's too funny that you popped up when I googled water in the floor board. The problem is on both sides of the Lincoln I'm working on and the passenger's side was exactly what you had there but the driver's side wound up being the grommet on the hood release cable has deteriorated and the water was traveling from the cowl hitting the cable and traveling through the grommet filling the front floor board and then running in the rear floor board filling it up. Crazy to find water leaks that travel that far. Thanks partner and you look a lot less stressed back then! LOL!!!
Its hilarious watching your old videos and your old intros lol. You have came a long way since then.
Lol, same here :D
Yes sir same design setup as my 2008 town car. Thanks for showing this.
Might have been one of your first videos but it sure was great one. It hit the mark! A serious distressed customer concern that you showed us how to approach the problem and conquer with very simple easy no to low cost fixes. That insight helped out many, many people many, many times. As Always, A Great Video. It's always good to go back to your roots and see the path you walked.
Look at that young stud. Decided to see where it all started
i can tell the way you make video from 9 month ago to now..!!!big difference..!but they all great!!
Stenio Fernandez Yeah we are changing a bit.
Weird to see Eric O without his classic Jeep hat. Loved hearing Mrs. O's high heels clicking in the garage while filming (or was that Josh), lol.
Thank you so much. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out where I should take my old school car to get this problem fixed.
You fixed my problem, I just lifted the cover and pushed the dirt from the tube. Thanks.
I had to rewind to make sure you said “Dr O”. Good stuff.
I know the video is old but thanks for the advice I've got a 94 Lincoln town car and it's taking in water on the passenger floor also ,I wonder if it's the same situation???
1/2 of the issue. The cheap foam seal under the fresh air inlet falls apart and lets water in. Lots of other videos for that.
It’s also the foam seal under the cowl intake . Remove old seal clean with alcohol to remove old material . Buy 1/2 thick or 3/4 weatherstripping foam. Stick it where old seal was. Then put some black rtv sealant on the foams other side with no adhesive. That way it sticks down and seals watertight
Great video. Very informative, and very concise!
What a blast from the past 🤩
had the same problems thanks for the video
Amen, thank you, now I have the answer that I couldn’t completely figure out on my own.👍
Replace the foam seal/gasket as well, make sure to get the old one completely off and cleaned up. Using black make a gasket works perfect but use latex gloves. Messy if it gets on your hands.
just wanted to say thanks. exactly the problem i had in my 2003 town car. THANKS
I haven't gone out and looked yet to see if this is accualy my problem but I have the wet floor issue in my 99 that I bought yesterday. And I had the hood up and noticed leaves all in that area . First I watched a video on how to remove a heater core then I watched your video . As I'm not smelling antifreeze I'm thinking your video is more likely my problem . With that thought I did a righteous touchdown dance. God I hope this is all that's going on . The heater core looks like it might put me in the loony bin.
Man this was the time of you actually responding to the veiwers ima enjoy going thru all of them vids and leaving a comment lol im so bored today 🔧🔧
Thank you my Mom's Lincoln has the same problem I'll see if that's it
Already did all that. Thought that solved it, but no. It was deeper. I believe it's the spongy, porous seal (obviously breaking down) that the channel seats against. You could even see the water trail going down, from the seal, into the mesh air intake.
Any thoughts on that?
Common issue on the town car. The seal/foam under the cowl breaks down and water passes into the air intake for the HVAC. Ours leaked even with drains cleaned. Contrary to his opinion that you shouldn’t seal it, Lincoln forums and techs disagree. Removed foam and did Black rtv and it never leaked again.
Could be both, more common as these cars age its the seal deteriorating. Im doing the seal and clearing out the passage in the next few days. With how often i wash the car and how much it rains with my 2010 town car im surprised i have zero water inside.
I think he was talking about sealing the actual top of the windshield which would make sense not to but def wanna reseal under the cowl.@@sideburns2009
dR. o saves the day again.our hero!
My Father in laws 2002 Buick LaSabre has water in the passenger compartment after a big rain. Never thought about a water back-up from a blocked drainage system. Definitely going to check that out next time I see him and the vehicle.
Sandbag1300 Easy to find, just bust out the garden hose, start down by the cowl and work your way up the glass and don't forget the sun roof drains too.
If that gasket is dry rotted, then yes you must not only clear all the debris out but replace the gasket as well, otherwise your still gonna have a leak.
Thanks for the explanation. I went to buy a used town car today and I noticed it looked like the carpet was wet
Your the man !!! You help alot of people and that's great!!! Keep up the good work !!
Great video! Such a stupid design to have them that close together!
Great helpful video... Thank you!
you're absolutely right this is where the leak is coming from your absolutely wrong how to fix it. You have to take that next when peace off and silicone around the vent opening because that gasket there is a piece of crap and leaks like a sieve
Much appreciated.. cleaned mine during the video... life saver thank you.
hahahahaha look at these old sma Vids! "I'm Dr O."
Ohh man the OG vids
I love this Eric @ SMA but watching the old videos reminds me the awkward insurance videos from the 90’s... yet he still the best
You look so uncomfortable being on camera in this video must be an old one...Doc o..in my books you are youtubes Doc of automotive.
Oh my God. A young Erick WITH OUT HIS HAT???
You look better now with the Jeep hat.
How NAPA could not sponsor a video with this magnitude of quality is beyond me. 🙄
I have the same problem in my 2001 town car but not the drain there is a bad gap where the two seams meet on the plastic on the windshield I silicone the gap problem finally fixed
Great video fix thanks! Any chance you know what part number or where I can find the nylon inserts for the retaining screws? Apparently one is missing and the other is broke. No worries
Great information
Dude thanks so much for this video helped me out a ton
Thanks for the video .
these old videos amaze me, you were so "stiff" back then! you've really loosened up in front of the camera!
You Sir are The Man... Thanx Big Dawwgg 😎👊💯
Great information my man,much appreciated....
Thanks your a blessing
Great job again like always
Thank you so much!
Surprised you didn't mention cleaning out the blower motor as well. When the drain is clogged the blower motor gets full of leaves and crap too.
Thank you!
Thank You
Excellent
Hey Eric, I've been watching your videos for a while, just trying to catch up on your earlier ones. I have an issue with water leaking into the rear passenger side floor on a '06 Taurus. I'm thinking door seal. What is your thoughts?
farmboy30117 Hey lol I have been watching your project too, Dunno on the Taurus. Any way you can have your wife run water over it while you watch on the inside to see where it is originating? Not a real common problem on them that I know of right off hand.
Ok, thanks, I'll try that. And, thanks for watching too! :)
farmboy30117 You know I just got thinking I think I did do one of these. I can't remember for sure but is there a heat duct that pops up under that pass. seat to direct air to the back pass. footwell?
I'll check on that but I don't think so.
On the Taurus from 96-07, the foam gasket around the evap core drain doesn't seal well. Get a big tube of silicone or rtv. And create a deal between the drain and the body to cover the foam gasket. It'll look like a volcano. Done a dozen or so of Taurus and Sables that had this leak.
I have a 1990 Lincoln towncar and I have water leaking Into my passenger floorboard. Redid the gasket on the old version of the cabin intake above the heater core and windshield is fine. Why else could cause leaks there
If you ask me, that is a very big engineering mistake. Yes, looks like an easy fix, but this problem should never be, in the first place. I was going crazy. There was no way a water leak around the two doors could be causing the leak........so where is it coming from? I could have never figured this out without this You Tube video. Thanks for the info.
Thx for the info
I have this exact problem but it's with a 2000 Signature Series Towncar. Would you know if it's the same process to remove the cowl?
would it be wise to put a filter in that area to filter the air going into the cabin?
My town car passenger floor ALWAYS has a wet spot, about the size of a silver dollar, regardless if it rains or I take it to the car wash. Could it still be the same problem?
Wouldn't a piece of window screen fitted over this opening, under the cowl solve this issue, or would it cause other issues. Seems a simple fix to me.
Thank you!!!
Does this fix the drivers seat too? Because drivers seat carpet also is wet on mine.
Did you figure how to fix drivers side leak?mine is also wet on the floor
But below theres a foam seal that goes bad & needs resealed or its just gonna happen again when it rains. It wont be as bad free of debris, but i had to scrape off the old one & use silicone
Is it the same idea for the driver side..im getting water on drivers side floor..97 TC
Thanks for the great video!!!
Help fix the the problem!!!
Hey your welcome Joshua Black . One of my very 1st YT vids :)
Who was behind the camera in these early vids ? Hannah or Mrs. O ?
Why does it get the passenger floorboards wet and now here else?
You came a lonnnnnnng way sir.... lol
Please can you help me with the exact cowl panel retainer sizes. I keep trying wrong ones
But why is it in my rear passenger Floorboard and not the front there was a big water puddle there I am confused
Nice!
Hey, Dr. O! Is Mrs. O. the camera person in these early videos?
Whats up with the look at the end?
Bought a 2003 last fri nite,water both front / rear pass side guy say owner left windows cracked rain got in.Couple days later went to spray carwash to vac out water.Saw the vid cleaned drain flap area out had junk in it,buddy stopped by and i used garden hose fill with water in the cowel area while freind held drain flap closed,as water rose i looked in front pass side,can see water dripping in,friend let flap go and water stopped dripping into car,next let hose water run down windshield as if was raining........drain flap worked fine and no dripping inside.Back floor still very damp,moved front pass side seat all way to dash then used a squeegee on rear area carpet to get water in to towels to absorb............we shall see
I having the same problem but not on the passenger side but the driver side front and rear 🤷♂️
Was Nurse Vanessa behind the camera?
This guy is in real look young but all grey hair of all wooriey of work he may take with him.
What if it's leaking on the drivers side?
People are saying in the comments that the grommet on the hood release cable at the firewall driver side is not seated properly or rotted, so check that out - probably some silicone gasket stuff in a tube will solve it
Another down!
how do u repair water leak on driver side
Did you figure how to fix the drivers side leak..mine is also
@@rokncobra check the rubber grommet where the hood release cable goes through the firewall, that’s a common leak spot also.
@@InternetDude thanks..it was the sunroof drain..
What no munted Jeep cap :)
Sorry didn't work at all. Tried thos and step numerous times.when it rains there is nothing on the back floor but when I drive and park its flooded. I saw another video that said there may be a hole underneath the vehicle that needs patching. That's the only option. For me right now.
Easy peasy
what about driver side?
Coming in from the hood release cable. Silicone both side at the firewall
Uh, I'm glad he uh, dropped the uh, habit of saying uh.
Can I permanently seal the fresh air duct so nothing gets through it anymore. I have a tree that keeps the fresh air intake full of leaves and dust just like the one youre working on and prefer to drive with my cabin circulation turned on anyway.