Rain in Sparkplug Hole

[Hess]

Three times now during / after a serious rain (like the 8" we just got over the weekend!) I get water in my "firewall" side and the next one up sparkplug hole... especially the 2nd. The only problem this causes is some sporadic hesitation. Then I pull the coil and dry it out and it's all good.

How the hell and why the hell is this water getting in there? ONLY seems to happen when we get A LOT of rain. I have the cover on as well. I'm wondering if I have a partially pugged drain near the windshield wipers (???). How do I check that? Any other thoughts?

[kevinqjhps]

How the hell and why the hell is this water getting in there? ONLY seems to happen when we get A LOT of rain. I have the cover on as well. I'm wondering if I have a partially pugged drain near the windshield wipers (???). How do I check that? Any other thoughts?


Garden hose?

[creich68]

check the seal on your cowl cover. it could be cracking and breaking away like mine. I have yet to find a replacement other than the ones on bav auto or real oem.

[EastBayBimmer]

check the seal on your cowl cover. it could be cracking and breaking away like mine. I have yet to find a replacement other than the ones on bav auto or real oem.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/catalog/shopcart/BE36/POR_BE36_BDYext_pg8.htm#item37

[creich68]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/catalog/shopcart/BE36/POR_BE36_BDYext_pg8.htm#item37

I just realized the one I found was on pelican, not real oem. I looked all over on real oem but never seemed to find anything remotely close. thanks for the help anyways.:)

[Hess]

Interesting. How does the cowl cover seal work? i.e. assuming the cowl cover is the grate between the windshield / hood gap, is this filling up with water then passing through a questionable seal? Sorry, I'm a noob in this area of the car seeing I've never dealt with it.

[creich68]

The cowl cover has two seals: one that rests against the windshield, which is the seal that's failing on me, and a seal that presses against the underside of the hood when it's closed. When water runs off the windshield, the cover is suppose to divert water to either side of the car and drains it through the drain rails where the fenders meet the windshield. Also check the drain rails. They could be clogged and allowing water to build up and seep through.

[thedude60126]

Man I tell you though this weather has done a number on my car too. I was driving and at night on Saturday and all of a sudden splash I hit a huge puddle that was 2 blocks long. Needless to say luckily I keep a can of maf cleaner in my trunk because my hole engine bogged down it got so wet. Take a hose and spray your car and try to find the leek that way were in Chicago are you.

[Hess]

The cowl cover has two seals: one that rests against the windshield, which is the seal that's failing on me, and a seal that presses against the underside of the hood when it's closed. When water runs off the windshield, the cover is suppose to divert water to either side of the car (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1081319#) and drains it through the drain rails where the fenders meet the windshield. Also check the drain rails. They could be clogged and allowing water to build up and seep through.


Hmmm... where does the water go that travels through the grate work under the wipers? I was wondering if that was slow to drain and filling up and over... which would then question the seals you're talking about? I need to go look at the cowl a little closer (obviously!).


were in Chicago are you.
I live near Woodfield... work near Gurnee... was at McCormick Place / downtown Chicago Friday when the rains began non-stop. No issues for me in the standing water. But it's the 3rd time hard rain has filled my hole(s).

[creich68]

I believe that water is diverted to the drain rails also, but i'm not exactly sure. There is a gap between the cowl and the windshield and the seal that rests against the windshield blocks that gap. Without this gap being water tight, your dme will get water in it and your floor boards will be damp.

[creich68]

If you take the cowl cover off, you'll see what I mean.