Serious Leaking/electrical Problems On 2005+ Mustangs
This is a follow up post to my problem of having a musty smell in my car (on another forum), it seems that many people are having similar problems with leaking. The exact leaking that is causing my musty smell is also causing many electrical problems with others. I wrote this new post to hopefully reach a wider audience. Everyone should be checking there cars for this problem before it gets out of hand. Like mentioned below your exterior carpet does not have to be wet. Mostpeople feel it under the carpet in the padding (look below at Hyproman's directions)
This is definately a serious problem... When I searched this Forum I came up with these examples:
-Mot250 wrote: found I have a leak today after a heavy rain. Probably coming in around the same area, above the interior fuse box behind the passenger side kick panel. I'll have a closer look as soon as I can. The only electrical glitch was a weird tail light thing. The passenger side center light in the tail light came on and would not turn off. Bright as though braking or signaling. Car off and all light switches off and that light would stay lit. I had to disconnect tha pigtail to keep it from staying lit all day while at work.
If it persists before I can get it checked out, I'll pull the entire assembly and yank that bulb when I get home
-Torch Vert wrote:I went through dealer hell with a similar problem. (same symptoms, electrical system going "berserk" after heavy rain) I found there was water sneaking in above the fuse panel in the passenger side kickpanel. Five trips to the dealership.
-Mark wrote: After a heavy down pour the track re opened but had some standing water in places. It was NOT over 1 inch in depth and it was only lightly raining when my instructor and I did 5 SLOW laps with 15 other cars. The electrical system went biserk and ONLY with my car: The gas gauge showed empty (it was full) oil pressure showed zero, park brake light was on, traction light was on, windows would not come back up, but engine ran normal, no turn signals, no clock on radio
-Wjbiv wrote: Next week my GT will go in for the second time for a severe rain leak into the passenger-side foot-wells. We've had two unseasonably heavy rains in the past couple weeks, and each of them has caused a flood in both the front and rear passenger side foot-wells. This flooding is odd, in that little sign of leaking is visible on the surface of the carpet. The water seems to be coming in from below and saturating the padding beneath the carpetting. In the first trip to service they indicated that they resealed with windshield, cowl, and heater core after discovering some leaking there. If true, I must have additional leaks, 'cause with the last rains it all happened again, just as bad as before.There appears to be something going on in the outboard sidewall in the front foot-well. Behind the plastic trim panel things get noticably wet, especially around the rubber gromet sealing the cabling coming in from the passenger door. Is it possible that water is finding its way inside that area of the body/fender and flowing in through the various bolt-holes and other openings?
67 and 05 ragtops wrote: I have the same water issues. I have even had the door locks and head lights do a freek out when they got wet.
On another forum:
AirForceGeorge- Had electrical problems with tailight
-Hyproman wrote: On the passenger-side, there is a square door just to the front of the car door, a few inches up from the floor carpetting. Pull of the door, and you will see a black box, and some wiring/conduits. Reach inside this cavity, and down until you find the carpetting ends. Reach UNDER the carpetting, and you will find the spongey stuff that's laid out under the carpetting. Follow this spongey material (and the metal frame) down to where the frame levels out on the floor. When I do this, the sponge at the end of my fingers is pretty saturated, even a day or two after a rain storm. I have been to 2 different dealers with no good fixes. I am very interested to see how many other people have this problem, and just don't know it. I've found that this stuff can be wet, even if the carpetting doesn't appear wet.
-I felt my problem on the left(driver) side. I pulled the carpetting back, i had to bend it under the clutch and I ran my hand down to the exact same point and the padding was soaked! No wonder my car smells like mildew.
Since this is obviously a problem. How can we get Ford to recognize it? My car more than likely has damage that is going to require them to pull out the carpetting, fix the leaks, clean and disinfect any mold that is present and I hope replace the carpet and underpadding. I dont think that they will want to do this but I feel like it is the only thing that will get rid of the mildew smell properly. Since this is a problem that can cause electrical malfunction, rust, corrosion, potentially hazardous mold and mildew spores among other things I beleive something has to be done soon. Are ther any consumer advocacy groups that can deal with these things? What sort of things can we do? Should I get a lawyer and what could they do if anything?
Why do you want to create more bad press by sueing Ford.... c'mon man.... give them the chance to get it fixed right. This problem has to show up in enough service stations for them to open a TSB or recall on them.
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2006 Mustang GT in Torch Red
C&L Intake, Evolution Performance Tune, Borla Axle Backs, Hurst Shifter, 4.10's, JBA Long Tubes, Prothane Engine Mounts, Steeda UDPs, FRPP Charge Motion Delete Plates
Why do you want to create more bad press by sueing Ford.... c'mon man.... give them the chance to get it fixed right. This problem has to show up in enough service stations for them to open a TSB or recall on them.
I never said I was going to sue Ford, I wanted to know what the best thing I could do was... Sueing is an option but hopefully not my solution. I am taking it back to the dealer and seeing how they handle it.
I am having the same water leak problem. Anybody else? Has anyone gotte a fix from Ford?
I noticed it for the first time the other day after a 24 hour rain...just a little on the passenger's side floor. Hope my strut brace and CAI didn't cause the problem lol...gonna take it in and see what they say. Guess it's gonna be hard to recreate the problem for them though.
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2006 GT Premium IUP Black Auto
Member - Mustang Club of Maryland - Mustang Club of America
Update: I have had my car outside during a few extended downpours since my first wet carpet and tail-light glitch experience quoted above and the problems have not re-occurred. The only difference is that I have not actually driven the car during those storms. It just stayed parked outside. Leads me to think it is coming in due to splashing from the street while driving through unavoidable puddles/standing water, at least in my case. I have not had the car in to FORD for a look-see.
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2006 Legend Lime Mustang GT/Manual Trans/some mods(tired of updating) 13.257 @ 109.36 on stock 18 fanblades and stock BGFs wth CAI, tune, UDPs
1967 Lime Gold Galaxie 500 XL/390 4bbl/Toploader
1966 Mustang Coupe/bare metal (rebuild in process-slowly)/engine&trans TBD
noticed a musty smell in my car about a week ago. i thought i was smelling things as i keep the car very clean but now i am gonna check under my carpet. i am sure i will find it moist
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06 GT
mac axleback, saleen short throw
after next depoyment KB s/c to follow!!
69 coupe w/302 410hp + 125 shot
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but since you quoted one of my posts - I thought I'd give the update even though it all happened months ago.
Basically I had the '05 in two more times after the one I posted about. The problem never did get resolved and I filed a dispute using Fords dispute resolution process. In CA, the combination of downtime, number of attempts to resolve, and potential safety issue (electrical systems don't like to be wet) caused 'Lemon Law' to kick in. After a brief 'negotiation' my car was replaced by Ford.
Been driving the '06 for near a year now and its still bone dry, thank goodness, but I don't eny anyone with this problem.
On a positive note, Damn, you have to really LOVE a car to give it the kind of second chance I did - and I do love that damn car!
As I mentioned in another post, most states have a lemon law. Your best bet is to check your local law and see if it qualifies for protection undedr the lemon law, if so, Ford will replace the car under warranty. I am familar with California's lemon law, but not any other state's law.
I have vacuumed it out four different times now. About every other day...
The mildew smell is beginning.
Do I have to use a lemon law? Does it work in Washington state?
First you have to take it in and ask them to fix it. Lemon law usually kicks in after several times to the shop for the same problem.
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05 vert GT premium, any color you want as long as its black, 5spd, shaker 500, 18" Chrome Bullits wrapped with KDW2s 255/45 up front and 285/40s bringing up the rear, K&N CAI, Diablosport Predator 91 Octane tune, Pioneer AVIC-D3 w/Bluetooth XM IPOD, Hireman Flaming Pony, 8" antenna, Smoked lenses all around, Webelectric sequential turn signals, Redline hood struts, Hurst short throw shifter with T-handle, Bassani off-road x-pipe and axle-backs
Here is what worked for me. Tell your dealership that you will schedule a weekly service appointment until the problem is resolved. That is not a joke. Try it. Call the Ford customer relationship center and outline your problem. They will document everything you tell them. Make sure you have your VIN handy. Repeatedly ask your dealership to have an engineer dispatched to evaluate your problem. Most importantly, DO NOT allow yourself to be convinced by anyone that this is normal! It's not! Stay on message. That this is a problem and you demand, not ask, demand that it be resolved. Ford is not doing well these days and is more willing to work with you to resolve your displeasure. Good luck!
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06 GT Deluxe, Manual, Satin Silver Metallic, Dark Char Cloth, IUP, Anti-Theft, Spoiler Delete, No mods, but Spark Knocks on anything below 91 octane anyway
I had the same problem with my car in Nov 2005. I got in the car after a driving rain and found 1 inch of water in the rear passenger side rear floor. I took it to the dealer & was told they suspected a windshield leak & it had been fixed. The leak continued & I decided to fix it myself. I found that under the cowl covers in front of the hood that the seals were not installed correctly. The plastic cowl covers are held in place by pins that snap into a plastic cup. Under the cup is a foam rubber self adhesive seal that doesn't work. I applied black RTV sealant around the cup and the leak went away. The cups are mounted in a hole in the firewall. The rightmost hole is directly above the SJB and causes the water to run directly onto it. This causes the electrical problem. It has taken me almost a year to get rid of the musty smell. I vacuumed the carpet every day for almost a month. It is virtually impossible to get the water out from under the carpet underlayment without removing the carpet. I didn't want to tear up the carpet so I lived with it untill it completely dried.
Very informative first post, RStanf. Thanks! I haven't had any leaks in my car...yet. but, I will be following your directions and inspecting the seal under the cowl.
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2005 Mustang GT M5 -I reject your reality and substitute my own-
Serious Leaking/electrical Problems On 2005+ Mustangs 
