TL/DR: I notice water collecting in the painted metal part of the door frame after it rains, but never inside the cabin. This happens on all four doors. Has anyone else seen this? The car’s 12 years old with about 140,000 miles on it. It’s a stick shift, and I bought it from a friend who kept it well maintained, though one door was damaged when his son backed into a pole. I replaced it with doors from a junkyard. They fit well, but it was tricky getting them aligned properly. The rubber on all doors seems fine. I’ve checked the door gaps, and they seem okay. But when it rains heavily, I see water at the bottom of the door. It doesn’t get inside, so I’m not too concerned. I’m just wondering if this is something I should be worried about or if it’s just part of the car’s design. Anyone else experience this?
I think this is totally normal for this car. I’ve had my 2013 model since new, almost at 136K miles. I’ve noticed the same thing when I washed my car yesterday. After drying the car, I opened the doors and saw the water marks you’re talking about. It’s always there, but never inside the car, just on the trim and painted areas of the door.
@Reilly
Thanks for confirming! As long as it’s normal and not causing any real damage, I won’t worry about it. The car’s finish is in great shape, and there’s no rust or anything. I just can’t figure out what makes this car different from others, but I guess it must be the door design. Thanks again for your input.
@Ellis
You’re welcome! Yeah, it’s definitely the door design. There’s a little space between the door and the body, and I think that’s where the water collects.
Reilly said:
@Ellis
You’re welcome! Yeah, it’s definitely the door design. There’s a little space between the door and the body, and I think that’s where the water collects.
Oh well. I really like my little Focus. It might not have the build quality of my old Volkswagen Jetta or my 2001 Audi (which I miss a lot), but it runs great and is a fun car to drive. I got it for a good price from a friend, and I put on two new doors, so it’s not perfect but still pretty good. The hatchback holds a lot of stuff, and I love the sporty look. I thought I would never want another stick shift, but after driving this, I’ve decided to keep it and sell my Volkswagen. I’m so glad it’s a manual. If something ever happens to the engine, I might swap it for a clean automatic, though!
@Ellis
You got it for a thousand bucks? That’s amazing! And it’s a manual too? Wow, you really scored! I’m happy for you. I have a hatchback too, Performance Blue. I love it!
Reilly said:
@Ellis
You got it for a thousand bucks? That’s amazing! And it’s a manual too? Wow, you really scored! I’m happy for you. I have a hatchback too, Performance Blue. I love it!
Yeah, I lucked out. My friend’s a smart guy and does well for himself, so he didn’t mind selling it for so little. He just didn’t want to deal with selling the car. It worked out great for both of us. I got two doors from a junkyard for $50 each, and the car’s been well maintained with regular oil changes. I’m loving it and would totally buy another one if I had the chance.
I get water in the same spots after a car wash or heavy rain. Just like you, it never gets inside the cabin. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Check the door seals. If they’re worn out, water might be seeping through the gap and trickling in. Also, there could be blocked drain holes at the bottom of the doors, or the window seals might be in bad shape. Another possibility is a clogged condensate drain from the air conditioning system. If it’s blocked, water could leak inside the car instead of draining outside. You could try disconnecting the drain tube and blowing through it with some air. If you’re not sure how to check, a Haynes manual can guide you through it, or you can take it to a mechanic, though that can be costly.
@Chen
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely check the seals and see if the drain holes are clogged.
There are little drains at the bottom of the car doors that can get clogged over time. Make sure to clean them out. You’d be surprised how much water can collect in there. Keeping the drains clear will prevent problems down the road.