Ford Fiesta Quiz
Body and Paint

Body System. Diagnosis and Testing

In this manual: Body and Paint
Service Information — 27Suspension — 48Transmission — 9Brake System — 52Steering — 21Engine — 140Manual Transmission, Clutch, Transfer Case and Power Transfer Unit — 48Exhaust System — 6Fuel System — 21Climate Control System — 58Instrumentation and Warning Systems — 26Battery and Charging System — 20Infotainment Systems — 41Lighting — 29Power Distribution — 11Electronic Function Group — 30Body and Paint — 275Frame and Mounting — 3
~9min read

Symptom Chart

The diagnosis in this manual assumes a certain level of skill and knowledge of Ford-approved diagnostic procedures.
REFER TO: Diagnostic Methods (100-00 General Information, Description and Operation).

Dust and Water Leaks

Most dust and water leaks are caused by missing or incorrectly installed body sealer or components. The leak source is located by:

  • pressurizing the vehicle and checking with soapy water.
    • Locate and seal body ventilation openings.
    • Turn the blower motor to HI.
    • Turn off recirculation.
    • Close the windows and doors.
    • Open the hood and spray soapy water on body seams and grommets. Be sure to check the areas around the front fender-to-cowl and hood mounting location.
    • Check for bubbles.
  • inspect for traces of dust or water near and above the area in question.
  • remove any trim or carpet in the general leak area.
  • road tests or water tests of the vehicle.
  • place a bright light under the vehicle, remove any necessary trim or carpet, and inspect the inside of the body for seams and weld lines.

Wind Noise

Most wind noise leaks occur at the corners of the windows or at the doors. Wind noise is detected while driving the vehicle at highway speed or at the speed specified by the customer. The vehicle must be driven in 4 different directions with the windows closed, the radio off and the A/C blower motor off.

Squeak and Rattle

Squeaks and rattles are usually caused by loose parts, contact, or relative movement between two surfaces, or by loose wires and connectors. The noise source can be located by stopping the movement of the suspected part by hand, or by using damping materials or low-friction materials.

Symptom Chart: Body System - General Information


Condition Possible Sources Action
Wind Noise/Draft and Water Leak at Door Perimeter Loose Seal Use the PINCH weld seal retainer to improve retention on the seal flange.
Seal Improperly Installed INSTALL the seal.
Door Misaligned DRESS the door. CHECK the door gaps and approach the door opening and ADJUST as necessary.
REFER to: Front Door Alignment (501-03 Body Closures, General Procedures).
REFER to: Rear Door Alignment (501-03 Body Closures, General Procedures).
Sill Trim Improperly Installed REINSTALL the trim.
Seal or wiper strip retainers damaged INSTALL new seal/wiper strip retainers.
Sheet metal seams in door or door opening SEAL leaks with silicone sealer and sealant.
Draft/Wind Noise and Water Leak Around Glass Run Door glass out of position ADJUST door glass.
Glass channel incorrectly installed or not fully seated REINSTALL the window regulator. INSTALL foam into the glass holder if necessary.
Water leak path past glass INSTALL foam rope behind glass run.
Glass channel spread open CLAMP the glass channel to reduce the opening size.
Glass run damaged INSTALL a new glass run channel.
REFER to: Front Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
REFER to: Rear Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
Glass overlapping at corners, forming wrinkles REINSTALL the window regulator. INSTALL a new part as necessary.
REFER to: Front Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
REFER to: Rear Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
The inner glass opening shows the edge not contacting the sheet metal REINSTALL the window regulator. INSTALL a new part as necessary.
REFER to: Front Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
REFER to: Rear Door Glass Upper Guide (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
The outer glass opening shows the rear door edge not contacting the sheet metal REINSTALL the fixed quarter glass channel assembly. INSTALL a new part as necessary.
The applique on the door center pillar has shifted, causing the glass to bow REPOSITION the applique so the glass run channel engages correctly.
The inner belt is overfilled, creating a gap between the glass and the glass run. INSTALL the inner belt and INSTALL the foam. The cord behind the inner edge of the glass runs along the belt. INSTALL a new glass if necessary.
Draft/Wind Noise and Water Leak at Inner Belt Line Belt line seal incorrectly installed on flange ADJUST seal (do not kink flange).
No contact with side glass ADJUST door glass.
No contact with the glass tracks at both ends of the conveyor line seal. ADJUST the belt line seal or ADD foam to the ends of the seal.
Belt line seal damaged INSTALL new seal.
Draft/Wind Noise and Water Leak at Outer Belt Line Weatherstrip Belt line seal incorrectly installed on flange (no glass contact) ADJUST seal.
Belt line seal not contacting glass ADJUST door glass.
No contact with the glass tracks at both ends of the conveyor line seal. ADJUST the belt line seal or ADD foam to the ends of the seal.
Belt line seal damaged INSTALL new seal.
Draft/Wind Noise at Inside Door Handle/Speaker Opening Hole in the weather shield. SEAL hole with suitable tape.
Weather shield out of position REPLACE the weather shield. INSTALL a new weather shield if the pressure-sensitive adhesive does not hold.
Outside door handle seal out of position/damaged ALIGN or INSTALL new seal as necessary.
Speaker or speaker seal missing or damaged REPAIR speaker seal or INSTALL new door speaker.
Wind/draft noise and water leaks at floor pan and grommets Missing or damaged plugs/grommets CHECK plugs/grommets for correct installation or damage. INSTALL new plugs/grommets as necessary.
Road noise Missing mastic insulators CHECK for missing mastic insulators.
Missing body insulators CHECK for missing body insulators.
Body/Door and Instrument Panel Creak Loose wires/cables CHECK that all wires/cables are routed correctly and inserted into the correct retainers.
Loose objects/components in door cavities, body pillar trim panels CHECK the doors by lightly tapping under the door with a rubber mallet while listening for rattling of the doors and pillars. REMOVE or TIGHTEN any loose items/components.
Buzz from instrument panel components IDENTIFY which instrument panel components are buzzing. SECURE/TIGHTEN components as necessary, ADD foam or felt as necessary if noise persists.
Door Drain Holes Collecting Water Drain holes clogged with dirt or road tar CLEAN the drain holes of foreign material with a punch or screwdriver. CHECK the drain holes regularly.
Wind Noise from Outside Rearview Mirror Outside mirror housing shifted REALIGN with edges overlapped for airflow, without gaps.
Mirror sail gasket bent/shifted REINSTALL, turning over and correctly aligning gasket.
Mirror housing plug incorrectly installed REINSTALL with edges overlapped for airflow.
Air leak through the mirror body hinge. FULLY SEAT the mirror in the operating position. USE foam to block the air path through the hinge.
Sail panel inner trim incorrectly installed REINSTALL the sail panel trim. ADJUST the door trim.
Sail inner gasket/barrier incorrectly installed INSTALL the trim cover, correctly aligning the seal/barrier.
Air path through wiring harness/fastener openings SEAL the air paths with foam/tape.
Open fastener hole in mirror housing/sail INSTALL new cover if missing.
Mirror body trim cover is flush with the body, causing a whistling noise. INSTALL new outside mirror.
Refer to: Outside Mirror (501-09 Rear View Mirrors, Removal and Installation).
Knock/Vibration from Outside Rearview Mirror Mirror mounting nuts loose TIGHTEN the mirror mounting nuts.
Refer to: Outside Mirror (501-09 Rear View Mirrors, Removal and Installation).
Aftermarket air deflector / rock shields If possible, REMOVE the non-original air deflector/stone shield, then ROAD TEST the vehicle. If the concern no longer exists, INFORM the customer that the aftermarket component caused the concern.
Draft/Wind Noise and Water Leak Around Fixed Glass Perimeter Gaps in sealant bead APPLY approved sealer.
Air rises up the windshield molding along the front pillar INSTALL the foam rope along the entire length of the front pillar.
Gaps in the windshield/backlite sealant bead RESEAL the windshield/rear window.
Refer to: Windshield Reseal (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, General Procedures).
Refer to: Four-Door Liftgate Glass Reseal (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, General Procedures).
Windshield/backlite is shifted or incorrectly installed REINSTALL the windshield/rear window.
Refer to: Windshield (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
Refer to: Four-Door Liftgate Glass (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
Refer to: Front Quarter Glass (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
Refer to: Five-Door Rear Quarter Glass (501-11 Glass, Frames and Mechanisms, Removal and Installation).
Hood rear seal at the base of the windshield is shifted/damaged ALIGN or INSTALL new seal as necessary.
High Mounted Stop Lamp CHECK the high mounted stop lamp seal. REPAIR or INSTALL as necessary.
Application on the front pillar along the windshield rise CHECK the mounting clips for damage and REINSTALL the component. INSTALL a new component as necessary.
Draft/Wind Noise and Water Leak at Rear Door/Liftgate Perimeter Loose Seal JOIN the seal carrier to improve retention on the seal flange or INSERT foam into the carrier.
Seal is shifted or incorrectly installed RE-INSTALL the seal.
Liftgate/cargo door is misaligned REALIGN the liftgate. CHECK that the liftgate seats in the body opening and ADJUST as necessary. REPLACE the liftgate if necessary. Check whether the liftgate fits the body opening and ADJUST as necessary.
Refer to: Liftgate Alignment (501-03 Body Closures, General Procedures).
Sill plate is shifted INSTALL the SWIVEL PLATE.
Seal or wiper strip retainers damaged INSTALL a new seal or retaining clips.
Wind noise/water leak or noise from the roof opening panel Sunroof panel/components Refer to the Symptom Chart: NVH for diagnosis.
REFER TO: Sunroof (501-17 Sunroof, Diagnosis and Testing).
Wind Noise Generated by Airflow Over or Around Body Panels Fender splash shield is misaligned REPLACE the fender splash shield.
Body panel is shifted (exposed edge) ALIGN the corresponding body panel.
Hood is shifted (front gap) CHECK the hood gaps and fit. ADJUST the hood as necessary.
Refer to: Hood Alignment (501-03 Body Closures, General Procedures).
Front grille edge noise APPLY foam into the recesses behind the louvers.
Wind Noise Generated by Grille Opening Panel Grille contacts the leading edge of the hood If possible, ADJUST the front grille opening panel to eliminate wind noise.
Sharp edges due to material defects REMOVE the sharp edges (without visible surface damage).
Wind Noise from Vent Outlet (Body Vent) Vent housing is incorrectly installed REINSTALL the air extractor housing.
Vent housing or flap is damaged INSTALL a new exhaust fan.
Wind Noise from Bug Shield/Outside Windshield Sun Visor Turbulence caused by location and shape DETERMINE whether the component is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part or an aftermarket part. If aftermarket, ADVISE the customer accordingly. If OEM, CHECK the installation for correctness. If the noise is abnormal, REPAIR or INSTALL a new component as necessary.
Wind Noise from Hood Panel (Sheet Metal Screen) Rubber edge of the sheet screen does not contact the windshield. REINSTALL the component. If the component still does not fit, CHECK the mounting clips for damage. INSTALL a new component as necessary.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Fiesta quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.