Removing air cowl grille on LR Focus

flukey77 · 26-02-2009, 05:10 PM

Hi Guys I realise this could be a bit of a no brainer, but im wondering how to remove the air cowl grille on an LR Focus. From what I can see there are 3 clips at the front, and a screw on one side, and then 2 other clips that I cant see but i know are there. Its these 2 other clips that are giving me curry, one of them appears to be broken (will need replacing) and is letting water into the car everytime it rains, the other one is holding firm and im not sure if it just pops out or has to be slid one way or what. I've tried both but the cowl itself feels like it will snap before the clip will release. Anyone got any tips?

Sorry if this is the wrong spot for this, wasnt sure, hopefully someone can shift it if it isnt.

melbzetec · 26-02-2009, 05:46 PM

Is the water coming into the passenger side foot well?

If so, it's not the clip (or not just the clip), but a common problem if the cabin filter is not correctly fitted and sealed.

I have never removed the cowl myself, so not of much help with regard to the individual clips, but someone else will know the details relating to the water problem

Also, have a look at focusfanatics.com in their How to sections. there maty be something on replacing the cabin air filter, which involves removing the cowl

flukey77 · 26-02-2009, 11:23 PM

Yeh water was running down into the passenger side footwell, it was waterlogged after just one drive in the rain.

The problem is that the cowl needs to be sealed down with a butyl strip (according to the ford service manual), however in this case the sealant has cracked and perished because the clip that isnt holding has allowed it to come loose. Basically the fix would be to remove the cowl, clean off the old perished sealant, replace the broken clip, run some new sealant, and put the cowl back in position. The trouble im having is that our local ford spare parts seem to not know what im talking about and are effectively not being much help, and i cant find another place to order the clip, and i dont want to break the one good clip, which is suppossedly easy to do, and is probably the reason that the other clip snapped. I might just have to have a go at prising the cowl off and hopefully nothing breaks.

Tj-zetec · 26-02-2009, 11:42 PM

Are you in sydney?
I know for a fact that Spectrum Rubber out at St Mary's has the little round clips with the screw through them.
They're used right through the car and i know i've broken a few of em.

Fast Eddie · 27-02-2009, 02:26 PM

Fluke, I feel your pain as I've experienced the exact same thing but maybe not as much water as it was only overnight drizzle. The part was replaced with a brand new one and now my mechanics are super-careful when replacing the Pollen Filter. So far so good.

It's a common design-fault in LR's imho.

melbzetec · 27-02-2009, 02:53 PM

If its those little Ford black scew/plug things, then you can get a back of 5 or 10 from Ford Parts and they're pretty cheap. There's no point trying to save them. Just unscrew then pull out with pliers and replace with new ones

Tj-zetec · 27-02-2009, 07:41 PM

Yeah, they're more or less a disposable part. Kinda rubbish when you think about it.