Gen 6 Explorer wet front driver/passenger floors

[jimbo60666]

Gen 6 Explorer wet front driver/passenger floors problem with my '22 ST.

I think I have tracked it down to the rubber relief bladder mounted behind the driver side wheel well lining, on the engine side of the firewall, below the engine bay fuse box. On the liner, removed a pop pin, a small retaining screw, a nut-washer in order to deform and lift up the cloth-like lining to expose the small rubber bladder. Pulled bladder out and cleaned out LEAVES and popped it back in. I imagine that under heavy rain conditions the blocked bladder was unable to service the volume. I also ran a weedwacker nylon line down the drain line from the front driver side corner of the sunroof channel. Tested, clean flow regardless.

TWO notes. 1) I'm going to check out passenger side soon as I imagine that might be a future problem.
2) In both corners of the window cowl/wiper area, both drain to the outer edge where there is a gap that leaves can also accumulate and fall into the drain area with the bladder. Bad design!

I went to a far NW Chicago suburb (that my BIL works at) and spoke to the FORD service manager and asked about the wet floors and that drain relief bladder behind the wheel well liner on the firewall. He stated: "Of course, IT HAS TO BE CLEANED...

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
The most common issue with the Explorer causing water to pool in the footwell was blocked moonroof drains.
Thank you for the detailed explanation/diagrams of the issue you encountered.

Peter

 

[jimbo60666]

Welcome to the Forum.
The most common issue with the Explorer causing water to pool in the footwell was blocked moonroof drains.
Thank you for the detailed explanation/diagrams of the issue you encountered.

Peter

Yeah, this seems to be a problem with the newer Gen6, appears to happen to the Gen6 Explorerss that are parked under plants/trees. Not only do the leaves block the drain, the debris can fill up the cavity between the wheel well splash shield and the in metal wall.
Picture attached (not my vehicle, LOL).

 

[jimbo60666]

Gen 6 Explorer wet front driver/passenger floors problem with my '22 ST.

I think I have tracked it down to the rubber relief bladder mounted behind the driver side wheel well lining, on the engine side of the firewall, below the engine bay fuse box. On the liner, removed a pop pin, a small retaining screw, a nut-washer in order to deform and lift up the cloth-like lining to expose the small rubber bladder. Pulled bladder out and cleaned out LEAVES and popped it back in. I imagine that under heavy rain conditions the blocked bladder was unable to service the volume. I also ran a weedwacker nylon line down the drain line from the front driver side corner of the sunroof channel. Tested, clean flow regardless.

TWO notes. 1) I'm going to check out passenger side soon as I imagine that might be a future problem.
2) In both corners of the window cowl/wiper area, both drain to the outer edge where there is a gap that leaves can also accumulate and fall into the drain area with the bladder. Bad design!

I went to a far NW Chicago suburb (that my BIL works at) and spoke to the FORD service manager and asked about the wet floors and that drain relief bladder behind the wheel well liner on the firewall. He stated: "Of course, IT HAS TO BE CLEANED...

View attachment 463213

View attachment 463214

View attachment 463215

 

[jimbo60666]

Update on wet floor on my 2022 ST:
-Driver side floor became wet after driving in a heavy rain on 5/2/2025.
-The floor does not get wet while parked or driving in light rain.
-I checked the drain tube 4R33-01523-AC (I called it a drain bladder) and it was clean.
-In the past I have also checked the sunroof drains and they were clean.
New speculation: The pinch opening of the bottom of the drain tube behind the wheel well splash guard is being overwhelmed by the volume of water when operating the vehicle in heavy rains. On the Gen 6 Explorers, both of the windshield wipers sweep rain from the passenger side to the driver side forcing the majority of the rain to the driver side drain.
Solution: 5/5/25 I modified the driver side drain tube by cutting a portion of the bottom of it off in order that the tube is ALWAYS open. I only cut off one side of the pinch opening in order to maintain the original length of the rubber drain.
Status: No wet floor to date.

 

[Chairborne Ranger]

Thanks for sharing this information and the detailed photos.