Covers on weep holes

[CRUZTAKER]

I was prepping the door jams (removing grease and undercoat overspray) for their first coat of wax and noticed these cute covers over the door weep holes. In all my years, I never saw such a thing. Actually, I am missing the two from the drivers door and one from a rear door.

Also, on the driver and pass. front doors, above the lock latch assy, there is a plug covering a slit in the door. There is an actual plug in the drivers door, and a piece of tape covering the one on the pass. door.

This should really p/o the servive dept. I WANT MY MISSING PLUGS.

Let the flames begin :flamer:

[Mark McQuaide]

Mine is missing 3 out of the 8 plugs. I wonder if they were supposed to have been removed? I don't know why they should be there, they'll just hold water in the door.

Mine has both "slits" plugged. Also, the undersides of my doors aren't painted.

[CRUZTAKER]

The plugs don't actually BLOCK the holes. I took one off, and put it back.
Just a curiousity thing..........

[gonzo50]

I went in for my first service, (3000 miles) last week and I showed the service tech. those plugs you are talking about, I was only missing one. I told him since all were there except one that he would have to order it along with the other Items I needed. :scream: I told him if they are suppose to be removed than I will remove them. Thats what the Warranty is for no matter how little the issue. Thanks CRUZTAKER, I thought I was the only one with this issue. :confused:

[Ron]

Rinsed & wiped down the car, noticed a clear plastic tape covering
(1) of the (2) weep holes in the bottom of each door. Pulled the tape off, & out came some water.
Each door had a piece of tape over the weep hole nearest to the hinge. The tape did have a small cut out, but was still obstructing the hole.

[CRUZTAKER]

I had tape on the passenger door slit, above the latch assembly, just under the window trim. The drivers door has a black rubber plug assembly. I requested, and received another. Unfortunately it did not fit well, fell out a little, and my mother shut it in the door creating my first NASTY dent and paint scrape on the rear pass. door in that same area......lovely......

Thankfully there was a paint bubble 6 inches beneath the new dent, and the body shop will fix it when they fisx the paint.

It never ends......:burnout:

[jgc61sr2002]

I believe the rubber plugs are ment to let the water out and also to keep foriegn matter from entering. Can one of the FMC technicians clarify this matter. Thanks John

[RCSignals]

Originally posted by Ron
Rinsed & wiped down the car, noticed a clear plastic tape covering
(1) of the (2) weep holes in the bottom of each door. Pulled the tape off, & out came some water.
Each door had a piece of tape over the weep hole nearest to the hinge. The tape did have a small cut out, but was still obstructing the hole.

that's exactly what mine has. Water still "weeps" out, but since the hole in the tape is small, it's very slow.
I wondder what the purpose of restricting the weep hole is?

[Ron]

Originally posted by RCSignals
that's exactly what mine has. Water still "weeps" out, but since the hole in the tape is small, it's very slow.
I wondder what the purpose of restricting the weep hole is?

I can't believe the tape was supposed to remain in place permanently & I don't understand why is was put there in first place. It should have been removed prior to delivery!

Owned a 1986 Jeep Grand wagoneer, used 86K mi. I noticed
the bottom of the doors rusting out, the drivers side rusted through.
The doors contained that cute little black insert w/ a screen.
Pulled them, all blocked.
Checked all my vehicles since then & pulled those little black inserts. No purpose for them except to obstruct the flow!

[schuvwj]

I am missing 5 of the 8 weep hole covers but I think I'll pull mine out. This is just something else to plug or restrict drainage and cause future rust!

Looked for tape but had none.

Have a Great Day!

[DEFYANT]

Rinsed & wiped down the car, noticed a clear plastic tape covering
(1) of the (2) weep holes in the bottom of each door. Pulled the tape off, & out came some water.
Each door had a piece of tape over the weep hole nearest to the hinge. The tape did have a small cut out, but was still obstructing the hole.
I hate to resurrect a dead gone hibernating thread, but I have a question on this. As stated above, yesterday I washed and waxed the MM and found the weep one weep hole on each door covered by tape. Is there any reason for leaving one hole covered? Could it be a lazy prep by the dealer figuring "Ah, one is good enough."

At the least, junk in the door that gets clogged will promote rot, those here with older cars should check your doors for proper drainage.

[the_pack_rat]

My 04 had this tape as well.

I removed it.

Eric

[Agent M79]

Aww heck, a weep hole is supposed to weep, ain't it? If'n it were called a tape hole, you'd leave the tape. That's what a horse with sense would say, anyways.

A look in one of them fancy shop manuals oughta tell ya, hmm?

[DEFYANT]

Aww heck, a weep hole is supposed to weep, ain't it? If'n it were called a tape hole, you'd leave the tape. That's what a horse with sense would say, anyways.

A look in one of them fancy shop manuals oughta tell ya, hmm?
Where do I get the shop manuel for this car BTW? For what ever reason, the tape had a slit in it hat allowed the water to drain out. It redused the size of the weep hole. Regardless people, check for the tape, youll be glad you did when the car is old and you dont have rot.

[Hack Goby]

Now I have to go check my doors.

[Agent M79]

Where do I get the shop manuel for this car? They can be found at HELM (click HERE (http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?class%5F2=FCT&mk=Ford+%26+Lincoln+Mercury&yr=2004&md=Marauder&dt=Shop%2FService+Information&module=&from=result&Style=&Sku=FCS1219104&itemtype=N&mscsid=K9SAC5GLXKVX8HJW5AJDH80 073383CMC)). It'll say "2004 Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis Workshop Manual" but if you click "Model and Years Covered" it includes the MM.

A few folks here already have them and like them. I've heard tell of them being on eBay in DVD form but I haven't looked there lately.

[Bradley G]

I think whomever is responsible for taping the weepholes,has a rubberband fettish;)

Bradley G

[modular46]

Mine is missing 3 out of the 8 plugs. I wonder if they were supposed to have been removed? I don't know why they should be there, they'll just hold water in the door.

Mine has both "slits" plugged. Also, the undersides of my doors aren't painted.


You guys drive in the rain? Wash your cars?

[Rollin'Thunder]

[QUOTE=CRUZTAKER]I had tape on the passenger door slit, above the latch assembly, just under the window trim. The drivers door has a black rubber plug assembly.

I just looked at mine. I have the same plug/tape combination as Cruztaker. :confused:
I also had the tape over most of the weep holes. I discovered that right after I bought the car and removed them then. I figured the tape was put there to keep from plugging the hole with paint at the factory and nobody bothered to remove it.

[jakdad]

Weep holes should be open for drainage.

[BruteForce]

Anyone have a pic of what these holes look like? I looked at the bottom edge of my driver door and don't see any holes. :confused:

[Bradley G]

THEY ARE ABOUT AN INCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR.The good news is, If you can't find them you dont have any tape over the holes.:P
Bradley G
Anyone have a pic of what these holes look like? I looked at the bottom edge of my driver door and don't see any holes. :confused:

[GordonB]

OK all,
Here is my 411:
1. 2003 300A model cars had black plastic weep caps (gromets) on the front weep holes of all doors. I have replicated this on my own 2 cars at no small cost out of pocket, about $2.75 each wholesale, sold individually bagged. Contact The Dealer, Ray Sr., for this part. If he can't find it, I'll post tonight from home with the real part number from my MM receipts.

2. I have removed the clear plastic tape from all rear weep holes on all doors. Had to use several doses of oil-based paint thinner to get the gumy residue off, turning the cloth frequently.


Hope this helps you all.

GordonB

[Bradley G]

Hey GordonB,

What purpose do they serve? thanks in advance!I do recall seeing them on other models but I thought they were to be removed also.:confused:
Bradley G

[1 Bad Merc]

HI Guys,

Found these taped up weep holes right before Marauderville II on both my late 03 and 04. On my O4 they actually had painted over :mad2: one of the weep holes and when I pulled the tape off I ended up taking a little bit of paint off the inside of the door. Bruteforce..I would definitely double check and make sure they did not paint over these pieces of tape. From talking to my brother in law who works at the Ford Stamping Plant, they put this tape on before shipping out these doors to the assembly plant to keep the dirt and other stuff out.They are supposed to be removed before installed on the car.

I would suggest everyone pulls the tapes off these holes as you will eventually get some dirt in their and they will rot out your doors.

Just my .02.

Brad

[GordonB]

Bradley G,
I believe the Front plastic gromets are intended to let water out, but keep other stuff (dirt?) from getting in while driving. The rear weep hole TAPE should be removed IMHO to allow proper draining.
Since I have a '03 300B and an '04 300A, NONe of my cars came with the front gromets, but they did come with HEAVY, clear tape over the rear weep holes.
Was looking at Merc Sables and they have these black plastic gromet `thingys' so that is how I got the correct part nbr at the dealer -- had the parts guy go look on their new car lot and then do a lookup.
IMHO, FMC did a cost-cutting job on us later MM owners/buyers.
Hope this helps understand what I found/have done.
Perhaps a St Thomas Assembly Plant employee on this board could shed some more light on this.

GordonB

[MM2004]

Here are some images of the weep holes on my 04MM. Out of 8 holes (4 doors), 3 were taped. All tape has been removed as of this afternoon.

Mike.

[jonroe]

Thanks so much for the heads up!!

I just checked mine. All 4 rear holes are open and all 4 front holes are taped - just like your picture, Mike!

I'll get on that later today.

Jon


Here are some images of the weep holes on my 04MM. Out of 8 holes (4 doors), 3 were taped. All tape has been removed as of this afternoon.

Mike.

[Mike Poore]

I was prepping the door jams (removing grease and undercoat overspray) for their first coat of wax and noticed these cute covers over the door weep holes. In all my years, I never saw such a thing. Actually, I am missing the two from the drivers door and one from a rear door.

Also, on the driver and pass. front doors, above the lock latch assy, there is a plug covering a slit in the door. There is an actual plug in the drivers door, and a piece of tape covering the one on the pass. door.

This should really p/o the servive dept. I WANT MY MISSING PLUGS.

Let the flames begin :flamer:

:eek: ARRRRRAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH! My poor car's up at Snow Shoe all covered up and now you guys are telling me I'm gonna go up there and find a rust pile in the spring. There it was at the dealer's, sitting out in the nasty weather since December '03 when I rescued it last August, and now I learn it's weep holes are taped shut. No wonder Charlie beat me at the shootout, what with me driving down the strip with gallons of festering, feted, fungus laden goo living inside my doors. Now I gotta drag Barb up there this weekend to take a look. :banned:

[jonroe]

Mike,

Maybe not so bad. When I pulled the tape off my 4 front holes yesterday I noticed that each piece of tape has a small hole in the middle so water could get out even with the tape on - just not as easily. You can see the holes in the photos above.

Jon

[Mike Poore]

Mike,

Maybe not so bad. When I pulled the tape off my 4 front holes yesterday I noticed that each piece of tape has a small hole in the middle so water could get out even with the tape on - just not as easily. You can see the holes in the photos above.

Jon
Thanks, Jon. We'll go up anyway, just on GP's. I need to get the correct build date for Mary's database anyway.:)

[Matt In Detroit]

Guys, im a body designer here at Ford. Let me speculate on the reason for the taped holes. This would add cost to the car which isnt taken lightly, even at a few cents per car. There must have been a good reason. possibly from litigation.

1- The tape is reducing debris/water from entering the door after being thrown up from the tires. Possibly corroding connections. Recall issues.
2- I know there was an issue where customers would open the door and water would fall on their feet. Maybe these "restrictors" allow the water to drain but not so fast.
3- Quickie fix for noise or NVH issues. Less holes, less noise.
4- Cheaper than changing the tooling to reduce the hole size.

Im gonna ask around and see if i can find anything out.

[valleyman]

Thank you, Matt.

[CRUZTAKER]

I am really surprised this thread found new life. I had figured I was just being ridiculous in asking the dealer to replace these black plastic covers. But I did! The service guy found them on the microfiche, and they gladly ordered and replaced the missing ones under warranty.

My wife's Lincoln LS was missing a few as well, and they replaced those as well.

$2.75 each....ewww. Glad I pushed the issue.

[jakdad]

I am really surprised this thread found new life. I had figured I was just being ridiculous in asking the dealer to replace these black plastic covers. But I did! The service guy found them on the microfiche, and they gladly ordered and replaced the missing ones under warranty.

My wife's Lincoln LS was missing a few as well, and they replaced those as well.

$2.75 each....ewww. Glad I pushed the issue. I checked yesterday and most of our covers were still there. They're gone now! Our doors can drain! Next time I have it up on a lift, I'll look to see if there are anymore water and debris traps.

[Petrograde]

Where do I get the shop manuel for this car BTW?

right here (http://www.helminc.com/helm/Result.asp?Style=&Mfg=FMC&Make=FCT&Model=MAUR&Year=2003&Category=&Keyword=&Module=&mscsid=VPC508DS9MTW9JKWHSS3TJH 8DQH8DCTA)

Be prepared to break out the Visa. :censor:

[Bradley G]

Mine did not have the little grommets some of you guy's mention that you have!I will not put them in (or have the dealer do it)if this grommet does not have the hole positioned at the lowest point.I have witnessed first hand when ford engineers weep holes in the doors above the lowest point.AKA; full size Bronco. Look at the tailgate on any full size Ford Bronco, If it has not been replaced already,I can almost guarantee that it will be rusted out.( I am sure there are exceptions) look close and Ford designed the weep holes a few inches from the bottom!When I see ****z like this, I wonder if the people in the related departments(responsible) ever went to school?

Bradley G

[CRUZTAKER]

..... They're gone now! Our doors can drain! .......
The black plastic tabs DID allow draining. There was no need to remove them.
But since you did....sell them for a dollar a piece.:P

[jakdad]

The black plastic tabs DID allow draining. There was no need to remove them.
But since you did....sell them for a dollar a piece.:P Any amount of debris would soon plug those small holes in the tape strips, just as it would eventually plug the weep holes. It's a good practice to clean the weep holes every 2 or 3 years. It's amazing how much can sift into vehicle doors.