Fast Marina Magazine

Carpets and all seats minus drivers are now out and the floorpan was bone dry until I pulled off the drive and braked at the first junction where a faif bit of water came onto the passenger rear footwell and gushed forward - Nothing from the rear behind the drivers side though - Any thoughts where this could be coming in?

Thanks Billy (1974 1.3 Coupe)

Try looking at the rear parcel shelf - Coming in from the rear screen.

Try taking the side trim panel off (below the rear passenger window) and look inside that space.

Many years ago I went to Cowley with the club, and we were walked around the production line (montegos). Then taken to the lecture theatre given a talk and when questions were asked for, some bright spark asked if the Marina was so called because it let in so much water!

Brian

Just another thought,

Behind the rear windows are the air vents to allow air out of the cab, water does get in here and so there are drains to let it out. Looking in the forward part of the boot and there should be a hose each side running from the bottom of this vent to a hole in the boot side well (the bit that 'Josh' hasn't got. It may be worth checking that these are not blocked up and spilling it the cab.

Brian

I have found a couple of my Marinas have leaked in the boot area, and this has run forward under the rubber mat and ended up under the rear seat.
Took me a while to find where the damp carpet smell was coming from.
The fact that most Marinas sit nose down doesn't help...

Hi Brian, Is that vent drain only on the Coupe?
My saloon has no drain on the rear air vents! :?
Also has none on front and rear screens as I think they came in later.

Could the water problem be the rear door drain holes blocked?
Or is it a coupe :?

Try opening teh rear doors and see if you can hear water in the passenger one. If so, thats your problem - just clear the drain holes with a screwdriver.

It could also be the boot letting in water and when you brake it comes under the cardboard panel under the seats and into the front footwell. My coupe does that!

Hi Paul,

Bottom of Billy's post says 1974 1.3 coupe, so commented on problems I've experienced with my 72 coupe.

I only have experience of a coupe so don't know about the saloon, but I'm suprised that there are no drains from the rear air vents.

The corners of my windscreen were rotted away and required a fair bit of cutting and welding to get the correct shape, and no there were no drains in there or the rear screen.

Any luck with the water hunt Billy??

Brian

Story so far -
Intrestingly when I removed the rear seat there was water underneath the cushion - I have also noticed some water in the boot around where the rubber drain tube exits (surely with the latter the water level would be too low to spil underneath the rear cushion?)
All remains now is to remove the rear inside door cards and then wait for some rain - I am not going to give up on this!!

Thanks for all you help guys - Anyone else had problems with there cope leaking water?

Billy S

The saloon did not come with drains from the rear air vents. The original handbook says on the coupe periodically check the drains and there is a picture showing where they are.

Billy Shears wrote:Story so far -
Intrestingly when I removed the rear seat there was water underneath the cushion - I have also noticed some water in the boot around where the rubber drain tube exits (surely with the latter the water level would be too low to spil underneath the rear cushion?)
All remains now is to remove the rear inside door cards and then wait for some rain - I am not going to give up on this!!

Thanks for all you help guys - Anyone else had problems with there cope leaking water?

Billy S

Sounds exactly like my coupe - its coming in from the panel under the rear window which has rotted under the vinyl roof.

I have the interior out, so I can see it coming in from the boot when I brake!

Reading this reminds me of a Montego we had as a fleet car at work. Was a saloon and brand new back then, it leaked water into the boot. I remember being the youngest at the time so I was thrown in the boot with a torch while they hosed the car down. I found the leak but the buggers wouldnt let me out

Rather than wait for rain why not try a similar thing by sitting in the car with the seats and trim out and get someone to pour water on suspect areas and check inside for it coming in. Would be easier to sort it if you know exactly when it leaked where the water was being poured...just an idea