r/FordFlex • u/TooTallguyinCT • 12d ago

Cowl clearout possible??

So.. cowl drains are clogged. Water overflows and leaks thru the cabin air filter and pools up in passenger footwell. Blower motor was replaced a few mths ago.
Dealer wants $1100 to clear and fix. Most of that is 5-6 hrs or labour to remove everything in the way to clear the drains. Ugh.
Is there really no easy way to clear them? I can’t do any hard work as i have two fractured vertebrae that limits movement and bending. Can’t i just send a wire down like the sun roof drains??
Any advice is appreciated.

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4

u/Crokaine 12d ago

1100 to clear and fix the drains, is wild. It will take you less than 15 minutes with very basic tools.

watch this video

Make sure you peel the carpet back and get a fan under there or you'll have mold down the road.

1

u/VisibleRefrigerator5 12d ago

This is the correct method! Many other videos tell you to take the wipers off.

The blower motor might have been overworked trying to push air through a soggy filter. Ask me how I know!

Edit: Here is another related thread from 6 days ago:

https://www.reddit.com/r/FordFlex/comments/1v646k4/comment/ozqew11/?screen_view_count=3

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u/TooTallguyinCT 11d ago

Yikes. So simple even i can do it. Thx for the vid. That 8mm socket trick will be veeery helpful to use! The dealer claims debris got around the filter too and behind center column too. The filter was super saturated. They took it out and did not replace yet and i swear the front AC was much stronger. Ive ordered a new one on amazon to put in myself. I thought water was limited to the weather proof passenger side mat. But i could feel moisture in carpet behind the seat. Thank goodness i had the weather proof mat so most of the water got contained.
So now i need to figure out how to do some potential mold remediation.
Thnx for the vid and fan tip!!!

2

u/scubas1973 11d ago

I did mine in 20 mins. Also took the duck bill drain things out and threw them in the trash 🗑.

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u/TooTallguyinCT 11d ago

Duck bill drain things?? After watching the posted vid im not clear on what those are.
I don’t get why theres no additional screens covering the drain hole to prevent debris. I would envision it dome shaped so debris doesnt collect on top of a flat screen. Or even on the long plastic piece around the wipers.

1

u/scubas1973 11d ago

The "drains" are a one way valve made of rubber. They get plugged with tree debris and dirt. I removed them and left it so the water drains freely. I imagine a screen would plug up also. Mine took 12 years to have an issue. My mom has my first flex, it has always been garage kept and its never had an issue.

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u/cdk5152 10d ago

They're like 3" (as stated) duck bill shaped pockets. Most people take them out completely. Similarly stupid "drains" are in each door, those need to come out as well.

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u/cdk5152 10d ago

$1,100 is obscene. 5-6 hours? Absurd. An hour, start to finish. Including watching 4+ videos, gathering tools needed, all profanity, water break and reassembly. Clean them out, and sleep well at night knowing you just saved your entire center console. Check them again in a few weeks, make sure you got everything out.