Technical Strange water leaks and potentially some rubber in the coolant reservoir

[fathom2]

Hello again.

A few days ago I fired the Panda up and noticed a few droplets of something leaked out from underneath the engine as I was pulling out of the garage, I figured it's just condensate or something so I ignored it. Same thing happened today, this time accompanied by a small puddle underneath the passenger footwell after a little while. I checked the leak properly this time and it was watery, no odour, wasn't able to spot any colour on it either. I thought it was the heater core, but everything that's supposed to go when you have a faulty core still works properly. A clogged drain somewhere, maybe?

Also, I checked the coolant levels just to be sure it's not coolant leaking, and as I opened the cap I realised the rubber seal had mostly peeled apart. I found a little piece of the rubber on the inside of the neck of the reservoir and I'm worried that more of it had found its way inside the coolant. Is this something I can resolve by just taking off the reservoir and changing the coolant or should I take it to a shop?

 

[koalar]

Mostly intact, I would worry about a small bit

Cap need replacing, it will leak and not hold pessure

 

[porta]

If you mean odourless water actually in the footwell, as opposed to underneath, I’d suspect the windscreen scuttle drains are blocked
As for the radiator cap, replace it and see how it goes

 

[fathom2]

If you mean odourless water actually in the footwell, as opposed to underneath, I’d suspect the windscreen scuttle drains are blocked
As for the radiator cap, replace it and see how it goes

The leak was odourless and watery both underneath the car and in the footwell. I've heard that the scuttle drains are usually a problem point, but I've checked underneath there and there's nothing worrying.

 

[koalar]

5 minutes job, needs doing every year or so, unless they been removed by the previous owner

clearing windscreen | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

The incessant rain of late has highlighted an issue. I really struggle to clear the windscreen. There IS air coming up through the vents. I can feel it. I have it on cold bringing in outside air but nothing seems to clear it, to the point of it being dangerous. I have searched the forums for...

www.fiatforum.com

Allows rain water to comes in via the ventilation ducts if blocked

 

[porta]

The leak was odourless and watery both underneath the car and in the footwell. I've heard that the scuttle drains are usually a problem point, but I've checked underneath there and there's nothing worrying.

I’d check the drains anyway, water will always find a way to get where it shouldn’t

 

[fathom2]

Bought a new cap, they gave me one off of a Bravo/Punto of the same generation (attached pic for reference). It fits fine and it holds the same amount of pressure, but it looks a bit different from the original one, so will it work properly?

I also checked out the scuttle drains yet again and they really weren't clogged. I still cleaned out whatever I could, fired the car up again, checked underneath and there was nothing. Reversed a few feet back, looked underneath, realised there's an even bigger puddle than before, it just looked like murky water dripping from somewhere near the firewall or centre of the engine bay but I really can't quite discern what it is and it makes it difficult to put some cardboard or something underneath the engine as it sometimes just leaks upon startup and other times it leaks when I move the car. I did the flashlight trick and also dipped a straw into the coolant reservoir and it looks to be at a normal level. I also saw some coolant dripped onto the radiator hose right underneath the coolant reservoir, but I'm mostly sure that it just dripped off of the straw once I pulled it out of the reservoir as there was nothing on the ground in that area. Is it possibly just a clogged drain somewhere else?

Thanks for all the help thus far, by the way. I don't know what I'd do without this forum lol.

 

[koalar]

Yes cap is fine

 

[A3jeroen]

Aircon on? Condensation of evaporator would be my guess.

gr J

 

[DaveMcT]

Water in footwell after the rain we have had is almost certainly the intake scuttle drains are blocked.