Ford Fusion: Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs / Water Drain Panel. Removal and Installation

Special Tool(s) / General Equipment

Materials

Removal

NOTICE: Battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) contain a high-voltage battery. Before cutting or welding near the high-voltage battery it must be removed to avoid damage.

NOTE: Left hand (LH) side shown, right hand (RH) side similar.

NOTE: Factory welds may be substituted with resistance or metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds. Resistance welds may not be placed directly over original location. They must be placed adjacent to original location and match factory welds in quantity. Metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds must equal factory welds in both location and quantity.

NOTE: Adequately protect all adjacent areas against cutting, grinding and welding procedures.

1. NOTE: The water drain panel is made of multiple mild steel components welded together and may be sectioned to minimize the potential intrusiveness of the repair. The following assumes full component replacement. Adjust to meet repair needs.

   Possible sectioning points.
   

1. Depower the SRS.
   Refer to: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering (501-20B) .
   

1. If Required:
   Dimensionally restore the vehicle to pre-damage condition.
   Refer to: Body and Frame (501-26) .
   

1. Remove the back panel and quarter panel.
   Refer to: Back Panel and Reinforcement (501-30 Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs, Removal and Installation).
   Refer to: Quarter Panel LH (501-30 Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Remove the body plugs.
   

1. Remove the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

1. NOTE: Pay particular attention to location of adhesive and sealer location to aid in installation.

   Remove the welds and the drain panel.
   Use the General Equipment: Spot Weld Drill Bit

Installation

NOTICE: Battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) contain a high-voltage battery. Before cutting or welding near the high-voltage battery it must be removed to avoid damage.

NOTICE: The high-voltage battery in a battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) can be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures. The temperature in some body shop paint booths can exceed 60° C (140° F). Therefore, during refinishing operations, the paint booth temperature must set at or below 60° C (140° F) with a bake time of 45 minutes or less. Temperatures in excess of 60° C (140° F) or bake durations longer than 45 minutes will require the high-voltage battery be removed from the vehicle prior to placing in the paint booth.

NOTICE: If refinishing cure temperatures exceed 60° C (140° F), the charge port light ring on plug-in vehicles must be removed.

NOTE: Left hand (LH) side shown, right hand (RH) side similar.

NOTE: Factory welds may be substituted with resistance or metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds. Resistance welds may not be placed directly over original location. They must be placed adjacent to original location and match factory welds in quantity. Metal inert gas (MIG) plug welds must equal factory welds in both location and quantity.

NOTE: Adequately protect all adjacent areas against cutting, grinding and welding procedures.

1. Drill plug weld holes in the replacement water drain panel.
   Use the General Equipment: 8 mm Drill Bit

1. Install, properly position, clamp and welds the water drain panel.
   Use the General Equipment: Locking Pliers
   Use the General Equipment: Resistance Spotwelding Equipment
   Use the General Equipment: MIG/MAG Welding Equipment

1. Install the welds.
   Use the General Equipment: MIG/MAG Welding Equipment

1. Dress all welds as required using typical metal finishing techniques and materials.
   

1. Seam Sealing:
   All seams must be sealed to production level.
   Material: Seam Sealer / TA-2-B, 3M™ 08308, LORD Fusor® 803DTM

1. Refinish the repair using a Ford approved paint system.
   

1. Install the body plugs.
   

1. Install the quarter panel and back panel.
   Refer to: Quarter Panel LH (501-30 Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs, Removal and Installation).
   Refer to: Back Panel and Reinforcement (501-30 Rear End Sheet Metal Repairs, Removal and Installation).
   

1. Restore corrosion protection.
   Refer to: Corrosion Prevention (501-25 Body Repairs - General Information, General Procedures).
   

1. Repower the SRS.
   Refer to: Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Depowering and Repowering (501-20B) .