Ford Flex Plugged Cowl Vent Drains

Unplugged my 2010 Ford Flex cowl vent drains. Took about 5 minutes to examine the disassembly locations, another 20 to remove the clips and shrouds and push the debris down the drain holes, another five minutes to put it back together.
You will need a pocket knife to pry/pop the caps on the wiper arms. Then remove the wiper arms (many youtube videos showing how to pry off the arms)
Then pop the two small cowl ends on top of the large cowl. Just lift up the corner of the small ones at the joint, and pull straight up.
Lift the hood. Use the pocket knife to pop the plastic grommets along the edge of the cowl. First, pop the little plastic "nail head" looking portion (the smaller one, on top of the large one) up about a 1/4" or more first, then push up from the bottom and pull the whole plastic grommet out of the holes of the cowl. This grommet is two pieces, so don't lose the pieces. (put all the fasteners in your pockets so you don't lose them)
Next, pull the metal clip that is squeezing the top cowl, to the bottom half, at the left and right sides. If all the fasteners are removed, the top should move freely, even with the washer hoses connected. Holding up the small cowl piece at one corner of the windshield, carefully pull the large cowl top toward the front of the car (see video).
The bottom portion of the cowl will have white plastic wedge clips that should not be removed from the body of the car, but rather, slide the bottom cowl toward the rear of the car and out of the clip, then remove the larger of the two bottom portions of the cowl. (see in video)
Now the same removal for the smaller bottom portion of the cowl.
The video shows the drains, and assembly is just reversed.

[@spankymagee]

I just did this 2 years ago, and here I am again trying to remember how to take it all out right. I gotta stop parking under these nasty oak trees in early spring. Also I noticed the last time it happened where the water was coming from. It was coming out of my backseat heater Vents, the one under the passenger front seat. I had to vacuum out the vent itself. The heater blower wasn't forcing any air out because it was blocked with water.

[@tennaj1367]

Use an 8MM socket on those two beige clips that holds the bottom cowel all you have to do is go underneath it with an 8 mm socket and it will close those clips then you can just lift the cover up once the other outside clips are removed. 👍👍

[@HappyCamper1992]

First thank you for the video. Second I guess I got lucky I was able to get my hand to the one on the passenger side and pull it out from the bottom. Yup it was clogged. And was able to replace it without too much issue and without any dismantling. The drivers side I had to use a wooden dowel and a flashlight and with some Dawn dish soap and low amount of water was able to work the clog out from the outside. But thank you for showing me the locations

[@sammypsycho8273]

Short and sweet. Your the man. I hate these 30 minute videos. Hi five from Texas!

[@johne.6354]

Also where the PCM is if anyone was looking for that. No other videos I could find would show where the PCM is. Thank you for showing a video of both sides!

[@jdw2kx]

Thanks! This three year old video is right on time. Good thing it's not raining till the weekend!

[@jamiek8361]

Thank you. You saved me $250!

[@Stone177]

Just did this yesterday. Thanks.

[@dowroa]

+Munkyby How did you remove the cover to the wiper arms? I looked around, and no one describes that. Mine are rubber circles covering the arm, and I can't find a way to remove those without marring them up. Thank you for the video!

[@munkyby6090]

dowroa They are friction/snug fit. They actually pull off with a little effort of evenly pushing up from the bottom of the cap/cover with a standard screwdriver and rocking them back and forth while pulling up.

[@killercricketman]

how did you get the caps off the wiper arm?

[@weaverron3751]

cant find it on the 2015 model

[@boysNtoysCHANNEL]

Is this also where the ac drain is?

[@munkyby6090]

Boys N Toys No. The ac/condensate drain is not associated with these drains. These are simply for the cowl where rain water, car wash, etc., drains.

[@karladamczyk3349]

Just did this job tonight and lost the two rubber things that were clogged. Is it worth buying a replacement?

[@davenpattianders6400]

I don't think so. Not worth the trouble

[@davenpattianders6400]

Some valid points written below. No rubber seals may cause exhaust from other vehicles to enter the cabin. great point

[@karladamczyk3349]

@@davenpattianders6400 if I begin to notice more exhaust smells, I'll know what the culprit is

[@karag6556]

Why do they even put the rubber things in the drain hole, shouldn't you just take them out, I figure maybe its to prevent road debris but as if having a swamp of sitting water isn't any worse?

[@fumbles17]

I know this is a post on a long time ago but I was thinking the same thing. I'm about to work on my car to clear them but why wouldn't I just take him out.

[@ajb100]

The cabin air intake is there. The rubber seals prevent air from the engine bay being drawn into the cabin and forces the air to come in from the outside. Engine bay air will be hot, smelly and if there’s a exhaust harmful