Last night I was finally getting round to sorting a couple of big stone chips on the sills of the car above the stone chip paint. I think most pre-FL cars have an issue there.

Anyway I was working at the front just behind the wheel arch liner. I noticed a leaf poking out from behind the liner.I founf a little gap big enough to put my finger in and I could feel a lot more 'stuff' in there.

So I unscrewed the corner of the liner and had a look. The whole void behind the liner at the front of the sill was stuffed with leaves and dirt. I must have pulled out a good bucket full of it.

I'm wondering how it all got in there? My first thought was that there must be some drainage there from the bonnet or front windscreen but the mass was totally dry. Only seemed to have affect the drivers side too.

I had a similar shock when I fitted front mudflaps. General consensus was to make it a regular check.

It comes down the drains, as that's the exit for the drain holes.

Only solution is to clear it out at the end of every autumn or spring.

Interesting to know. Not looked at mine but I think I should now.

They end up very full of cr*p.

Easiest way is to undo a couple of screws at the bottom and one on the side ,then pull the lining back, pull out the leaves and then run a hose pipe into the drain at the bottom of the windscreen until the water flows out clean. Give the bottom a quick hose down, then let it dry out for a bit and do the other side.

Once you're done, do the sides back up and hopefully you should be leaf free for a while.

If you don't do this, then the area ends up permanantly wet and can cause rusting in the sill areas.