Body drains?

[ccb222]

'87 740 GLE Wagon.
I have water accumulating in the left foot wells which I think is coming from the air vent between the hood and the windshield. I assume there are drains for this area and I'm guessing they're plugged. How do I gain access to this area?
Also, the screen under the slits in the body metal has detached on the left side and it's got to be letting leaves and junk in so a clog is likely.
Again, how do I get access to this area?
Thanks,
Charles

[billofdurham]

To remove the cowl piece there are three bolts along front edge where the rear edge of the bonnet sits. You do not need to remove the bonnet but you may have to adjust how much you have it open at various stages of this procedure. Remove the wiper blades and the rubber pieces that cover the wiper spindles. The middle bolt is usually hidden behind the rubber weather strip. When the bolts are out gently move the cowl toward the engine and then remove it by pulling it back towards the windscreen. There are pins on each side that fit into slots on the cowl. It also fits into clips along bottom edge of windscreen.

The leaf screen is fastened to the underside of the cowl with a black adhesive caulk. This can be replaced with Butyl Tape, in 1/4 inch diameter, from a car parts store. This is the stuff used to glue in older windscreens and tends to last forever. Warm it up with a hair dryer to make it nice and sticky then push the screen onto it.

Getting the cowl back in is slightly more difficult than getting it out. Usually the small plastic pins at the ends break. They are a type of blind plastic rivet and you should have one or two new ones available to replace breakages. Getting the cowl properly lodged under the clips at the lower edge of the windscreen can be tricky and if you don't get it right it won't lie down against the lower edge of the windscreen. Push down on the cowl while a helper pushes it back against the bulkhead (firewall).

Whilst you have the cowl off you will see that it drains to each side. Leaves can, and do, accumulate here and block water flow so it will need cleaning.

Bill.