Whats up everyone?
Its been a while since my last post... too much work I guess.
Here I bring you a very important yet super easy to do mainteinance for our Rangers; How to clean the windshield cowl drains.
In this tutorial, Im gonna show you step by step this super easy manteinance which will keep our Rangers out of water on the inside and most important, RUST FREE.
1- TOOLS NEEDED:
1.1- 3/16" socket and rachet
1.2- Flat screw driver
1.3- Garden hose
1.4- A brush with a long handle
1.5- Little bit of engine oil
1.6- Vacuum cleaner, a powerfull and water/dust preferably
2- PROCEDURE:
2.1- Open the hood and locate the two dain access points; they are 2 black plates located on the upper side of the firewall, right below the windshield cowl; one is located on the very middle of the firewall and the otherone just behind the engine relay/fuse box
2.2- Remove the 3 3/16" screws on the middle access plate
2.3- With the flat head screw driver, remove the relay/fuse box prying out the 3 tabs. Gently pry the tabs and lift the whole box up. Then set it aside.
2.4- With the flat head screw driver, pry out the wiring harness push pin that holds the wiring on place. This may change from year to year, but in the 1995, 96 and 97 Rangers the wiring harness is fixed in place in the very access plate we want to remove. Check your vehicle as this may change.
2.5- Remove the 3 3/16" screws and remove the drivers side access plate.
Removing this 3 bolts is a little bit trucky, as you dont have space to work comfortable. Just be patient!!!
2.6- LET THE CURSES BEGIN!!!!
Check for all the dirt, leaves, sand and othe crazy stuff stuck in there for the last 22 years.
The cowl drain has two drain points, on the passenger side as well as on the drivers side. As you can see once the access plates are removed, the main drain has a slope towards the drivers side, so this is where all the stuff gets stucked.
My truck has been always good kept, me and the previous (original) owner always took good care of it: even on my clean truck, take a look at the inside of the cowl drain:
This is the middle access point
This is the drivers side drain point: just take a look. Look at it!
This is a close up on the drivers side: totally clogged up!
2.7- After removing both access plates, vacuum all the dirt, leaves and other stuff in there. Make sure the vacuum reaches all over the cowl drain in both sides.
After the vacuum cleaning, with the garden hose and the long brush clean all the drain, specially on both sides where the stuff is clogged.
2.8- After cleaning everything, even though my truck had no rust at all (thanksfully), I applyed a thin coat of engine oil to prevent from rust in the future.
This is the result of the cleaning inside the cowl (just vacuum and water, before the deep clean):
This is so easy to do, from now on once a year Ill be doing this.
I think this is a very easy thing to do, it will take just 30 minutes to complete using simple house-available stuff. Most important, by doing this simple manteinance, you can avoid water leakage to the interior of the truck as well as serious rust.
Hope you find this usefull!!!!!