Fiat Ducato blocked windscreen drain again! (2 Viewers)

[Jim Schush]

Over the last few years I have made a point of regularly checking the windscreen drain points on our 2018 Fiat Ducato after reading a post on this site.
My last check was about 6 months ago and everything was ok, last week i checked again and I noticed the telltale water marks on the engine cover.
This morning I opened the pipe only to find it totally blocked! After a few minutes pushing and prodding with my extending brush I managed to unblock it and now water flows easily.
I was considering sealing the pipe joints but I have decided against it so I can easily check it in future.
I clean the van regularly and always check the drain points for leaves and debris. I have even started to park the van front end up when in storage to avoid the deluge when it rains.
If you have the same van it might just be worth checking yours.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I just pop the end of a hose pipe down them occasionally, but more frequently than every 6 months, you can see the water running out if all's well.
Mike.

 

[Cidered]

Thank you. Checked mine after reading. Middle one blocked so really useful post.

 

[Mikeco]

I’ve put two extra ones in at each end using a nozzle from a sealant gun and some hosepipe.

 

[bobandjanie]

Never had a problem with our 2017 motorhome, but the 2012 was always blocking because of the smaller drain holes, we used curtain wire on that to clear them. Bob.

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[DerryW]

Done mine on Wednesday as part of prepping the van ready for the year ahead.

I tend to pour a few litres water down all 3 holes every couple of months when checking the levels.

 

[L' Hobo]

I have stuffed, in the top of both scuttle drains (I added an extra one on the opposite side of my scuttle to the original) part of a Stainless Steel pan scrubber.

Let's the water through but not the debris.
Just need to remove the leaves occasionally!

 

[Riverbankannie]

I have stuffed, in the top of both scuttle drains (I added an extra one on the opposite side of my scuttle to the original) part of a Stainless Steel pan scrubber.

Let's the water through but not the debris.
Just need to remove the leaves occasionally!

I use plastic ones and also keep the long windscreen cover on during autumn seed and leaves fall.

 

[Brains]

Pipe Cleaners, extra large, can be obtained from any hobby shop

or on line like these ones

Just stick them down the holes every time you clean the van

 

[oldiesontour]

Had the bonnet on my boxer up today noticed top of engine very wet,on close inspection rain is getting between the windscreen and the moulding tat forms the gutter,on pulling the moulding away from the glass a few mm "muck and moss" between the 2.having tried various rubber mouldings have come to the conclusion the only thing to do is bond the back of the gutter to the screen where it won't be seen...maybe worth other owners having a closer look

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[IRHP]

That drain heads off and appears under the inner wheel arch. The problem seems to be it takes a right turn where it exists. I had to remove the inner arch to get it cleared last time. Poking a wire down it just compacted a load of leaves. I was thinking about cutting a hole in the inner arch to get at it easily. Anyone know if that's a good or bad idea?

 

[the1andonly]

My "solution"
clean out tubes with trombone brush
seal connection tube to top. this was the joint that leaks. Centre Top drain hole place a sieve to prevent blockage. all 3 positions get blocked by leaf detritus.

 

[white elephant]

I just pop the end of a hose pipe down them occasionally, but more frequently than every 6 months, you can see the water running out if all's well.
Mike.

 

[white elephant]

I inspect & clear debris from outside ( dont even open the bonnet) if they look blocked as previous, a hosepipe wash through.

 

[Bolti]

Had the bonnet on my boxer up today noticed top of engine very wet,on close inspection rain is getting between the windscreen and the moulding tat forms the gutter,on pulling the moulding away from the glass a few mm "muck and moss" between the 2.having tried various rubber mouldings have come to the conclusion the only thing to do is bond the back of the gutter to the screen where it won't be seen...maybe worth other owners having a closer look

This is a known issue, this is a simple fix.

Fiat Ducato 2007 Scuttle Issues

Hi all and thank you for the add. I recently had a new windscreen fitted to my 2007 Autotrail Tracker motorhome. After collection I noticed that the joint at the bottom of the windscreen, (dead centre), wasn't sealed. I asked the fitter about it and he said, on this model they weren't designed...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[oldiesontour]

Thanks for the link..A disgrace they are still making vehicles so many years later with such a well known and potentially serious design fault...How much has this cost owners worldwide..corroded failed injectors/ electrics/even major engine damage.Even though mine is a 2020 (24 K miles)Evidence of injector corrosion is visible how bad is invisible corrosion injectors to cylinder head/plugs/sockets.I will be removing the injectors and cleaning lubricating and refitting asap.

 

[L' Hobo]

Thanks for the link..A disgrace they are still making vehicles so many years later with such a well known and potentially serious design fault...How much has this cost owners worldwide..corroded failed injectors/ electrics/even major engine damage.Even though mine is a 2020 (24 K miles)Evidence of injector corrosion is visible how bad is invisible corrosion injectors to cylinder head/plugs/sockets.I will be removing the injectors and cleaning lubricating and refitting asap.

Just check, as something in the back of my mind tells me, that on modern injectors, lubrication is not recommended, as it can stop them seating correctly?

 

[Jewellbags]

This winter I laid over the nose of my Ducato a super light crop protection net ( trapped under the wiper blades and boot lid ) no leaves at all, no debris no marks on the body work . And we get a lot of leaf fall here .

 

[ManTheVan]

This winter I laid over the nose of my Ducato a super light crop protection net ( trapped under the wiper blades and boot lid ) no leaves at all, no debris no marks on the body work . And we get a lot of leaf fall here .

Great tip. Thank you!

 

[Bibbers]

Great tip. Thank you!

This water issue cost me over £1600 recently on our 62 plate Ducato.
Rain had got into the engine as described earlier and following several days of minus 4 c according to my mechanic some had frozen on the timing belt. As I have then innocently tried to start the engine the belt (2 years old) behaved as though it had gone due to the ice in the teeth on the belt. This caused all the timing to go and smashed and bent most of the rockers. Thankfully the valves were ok so it wasn't a cylinder head off job.
Since then I have been trying to get a decent screen cover that keeps the water out of the engine, with no joy at the moment.Our mechanic says it's a common fault with Ducati, Boxer fronts etc as they let so much rain water in.

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[Jewellbags]

I also got one of these (tbh for another vehicle ) but might prove useful

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VVJZ6HR/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[oldiesontour]

Maybe copies of this and other similar threads from forums around the world should be sent to the manufacturers,and maybe a communal legal action could follow if enough people can show costs involved PSA can't deny knowledge as they have modified but failed .
Glued the back of the seal to the screen yesterday with Stix like sh1 t Looked today all dry, hopefully problem solved long term??

 

[Bibbers]

Following the repair I went to check on our MH after a snow fall and the subsequent thaw. On lifting the bonnet it was like a mini waterfall. The drain pipe discussed earlier was removed and cleaned by our mechanic when he repaired the engine. He said that MH front end are called sieves by a lot of mechanics because of how much rain water etc gets into the engine area through all the nooks and cranies. He also said basically it's a poor design but added the Ducati engine itself is a really good engine.

 

[mohobot]

I cut the little rubber flap off the exit of the pipe on the drivers side right up in the wheel arch. I assume This is supposed to prevent mud going into the pipe. In my experience it does exactly the opposite & traps leaves & debris in the pipe from the scuttle & really blocks it tightly! Since I cut the flap off no problems. I check it regularly, because near that pipe is also where mud & salt gets trapped between the plastic wheel arch shroud & the metal wheel arch itself (both sides of the Ducato) . I regularly flush out that area with a hose. If you dont that could be a real hidden corrosion issue building up at the top of those arches!!

 

[wiff2110]

I used to have all of these problems on my 2008 swift bessacar but not any more, I spent £40 on ebay and my problems solved, cheap,easy and effective.

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[Bibbers]

That was the advice from my mechanic to get a cover. I ordered this one which would have been idea but it was just too tight. I may opt for the one you have got

 

[AlaaMo]

That drain heads off and appears under the inner wheel arch. The problem seems to be it takes a right turn where it exists. I had to remove the inner arch to get it cleared last time. Poking a wire down it just compacted a load of leaves. I was thinking about cutting a hole in the inner arch to get at it easily. Anyone know if that's a good or bad idea?

Yes I drilled it which allowed a long narrow bottle brush in to clear a very compacted blockage. Six months later it's blocked again so I'll have to get the brush out again. Poor design. I like the look of those filter screens - cheaper than a cover although I'm sure that's the best answer. Love this forum it really does cover everything!

 

[Richard J]

I made a few of these; plastic garden mesh and a cable tie. Make to size and they pop in and out of the drain holes for cleaning. The cable tie stops it falling down the hole. They seem to work well

 

[oldiesontour]

Simples !! Great easy solution to stop drains blocking...but like rodding,brushing, cutting off,won't stop water getting between screen and scuttle (gutter )moulding.Maybe yours doesn't leak there (yet) but keep a close eye for algae/moss/dust between gutter and windscreen this can be happening un noticed for years

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Tesco's do a pack of 6 mini stainless steel pot scrubbers. They can easily be rolled into a sausage shape and squeezed into the drain vents allowing drainage, but filter out the larger bits of crud. Of course regular inspection is is still required, and a hose pipe flushing of the down pipes.
Mike

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