Blocked passenger side drain

[SonnyA85]

Drain cleared using the cable rods.

I tried from underneath and they were too firm. Couldn't Bend them at the angle required to get them in and up. They got in but would get stuck.

Decided to poke from the top and then I got a gush of water. I managed to get enough crap out. Was bits of mud/debris and then found the actual hole itself.

Bung was removed last time around.

Now I just need to rinse the area out every so often to keep the area clear.

Regular washes should hopefully do the trick.

 

[colb]

If you take the rear wheels off and take the arch liner out you can see the drain ends and the rubber valve caps quite clearly and allow you to get in there with something to rod the drain. As mentioned earlier net curtain wire is flexible enough to get up and into the drain to unblock it. Once clear clean water can be poured down from the top with a watering can to flush the cavity out and dilute any built up muck thats lying in there. Leave the rubber valves off so they dont get blocked again. The amount of dust and grit that gets washed into the wells from around the roof to body seal really builds up over time, I make a point of partially opening the hood and cleaning all around the body seal when I wash the car and make a point of ensuring the drains are clear at least once a year.

 

[SonnyA85]

If you take the rear wheels off and take the arch liner out you can see the drain ends and the rubber valve caps quite clearly and allow you to get in there with something to rod the drain. As mentioned earlier net curtain wire is flexible enough to get up and into the drain to unblock it. Once clear clean water can be poured down from the top with a watering can to flush the cavity out and dilute any built up muck thats lying in there. Leave the rubber valves off so they dont get blocked again. The amount of dust and grit that gets washed into the wells from around the roof to body seal really builds up over time, I make a point of partially opening the hood and cleaning all around the body seal when I wash the car and make a point of ensuring the drains are clear at least once a year.

Yeah I took the rear wheel off last time. This time I went through the hole at the bottom right. The cable rods however were far too stiff. My small bottle brush got in but wasn't long enough. The bigger longer bottle brush got in but got stuck. I am assuming too flexible and it bent in on itself.

Cable rod from the top worked a treat though.

I will be next weekend partially opening the top and giving the edges a good scrub with rag top cleaner. I bought 3 different types. Going to use each one and give the full soft top a proper detail with soft top brush from vikan. Then once I know it's spotless (already cleaned it a few weeks back with miltons sterilising fluid) i'll be using renovo soft top re-colouring to make it jet black again. It's already looking brilliant but want it looking perfect. Then after that has dried I'll be painting fabsil onto it. Some people have suggested liquid shoe polish mixed into the fabsil will also do the trick but I'm not too sure about that because fabsil will wear off and then the show polish will be getting soaked. I would rather do it properly using the correct stuff.

I gave the roof a wash after clearing the drain but I never had enough time to do the edges properly with a partial open I know there is a lot of crap still in there. Thorough rinsing of the drains is definitely required, you should have seen what came out of them. I have removed the bung on the left side even though it wasn't the bung causing my issues. Thought it best just in case.

I am still trying to think of what could be used as a rinse for the drains every so often that could help break up the dirt better than just plain water. Might try baking soda and sterilising fluid mixed together.

 

[Zedebee]

Is Milton a sensible thing to use for drain clearing, since it is corrosive to metal? I get the drain tube is rubber, but it’s discharging directly onto the sill.

 

[enuff_zed]

Is Milton a sensible thing to use for drain clearing, since it is corrosive to metal? I get the drain tube is rubber, but it’s discharging directly onto the sill.

Once it's clear and the bung is removed there shouldn't be any future issues really.
Although this depends on regular washing so fresh water can run through to remove dust. A ten minute job once a month may not be enough, but if you are diligent and keep your car cleaned regularly there is no reason why you should ever encounter problems again.

 

[SonnyA85]

Is Milton a sensible thing to use for drain clearing, since it is corrosive to metal? I get the drain tube is rubber, but it’s discharging directly onto the sill.

In the video they use it in a metal sink to clean baby bottles. I have already used the stuff to clean the hood as thats what people recommend and it's already went into the drains previously.

https://www.milton-tm.com/sites/default/files/pdf/MILTON%20STERILISING%20FLUID%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

I can't see any warnings regarding it's corrosive to metal but I understand it was designed to clean plastic, silicone etc.

 

[enuff_zed]

Is Milton a sensible thing to use for drain clearing, since it is corrosive to metal? I get the drain tube is rubber, but it’s discharging directly onto the sill.

In the video they use it in a metal sink to clean baby bottles. I have already used the stuff to clean the hood as thats what people recommend and it's already went into the drains previously.

https://www.milton-tm.com/sites/default/files/pdf/MILTON%20STERILISING%20FLUID%20INSTRUCTIONS.pdf

I can't see any warnings regarding it's corrosive to metal but I understand it was designed to clean plastic, silicone etc.

I'd just carry on. What could possibly go wrong?
Who knows, eventually the hole will be so big nothing will ever block it again.

 

[Zulu4]

Milton fluid is just very dilute sodium hypochlorite i.e. toilet bleach.
It will not damage a stainless steel sink but will eat mild steel if left to pool.

 

[SonnyA85]

Milton fluid is just very dilute sodium hypochlorite i.e. toilet bleach.
It will not damage a stainless steel sink but will eat mild steel if left to pool.

So should be fine if I pour 500ml of water, baking soda and a Milton tablet down the drain and then wash the car after which will result in at least a couple of litres if not tens of litres of water through the drain afterwards.

Just need something to stop/kill anything from growing in there and also something to break up and dislodge anything before it builds up again.

I'll take my trust cable rods to the hole every year.

Problem is I couldn't actually find the hole on the right side. The drain which is clear so hopefully rinsing is enough for that side from now on

 

[Zedebee]

Problem is I couldn't actually find the hole on the right side.

It’s in the back right corner of the cavity as you sit in the car

 

[enuff_zed]

Problem is I couldn't actually find the hole on the right side.

It’s in the back right corner of the cavity as you sit in the car

Awesome, thank you. But I never asked!

 

[Zedebee]

Problem is I couldn't actually find the hole on the right side.

It’s in the back right corner of the cavity as you sit in the car

Awesome, thank you. But I never asked!

That’s weird, but at least you know for when you need it :lol:

 

[SonnyA85]

Problem is I couldn't actually find the hole on the right side.

It’s in the back right corner of the cavity as you sit in the car

Went out to clean the interior as it needs a deep clean thanks to the drain on the left being blocked.

Now noticed that the right side is blocked. Never had water in it before but I poured some sterilising fluid down and it never drained.

Can't find the hole.

So back right as in near the petrol cap?

 

[Zedebee]

Yes that’s correct, right in the corner.

 

[enuff_zed]

I'm impressed that what I always thought was a straightforward operation has now run to four pages and still not resolved.
It must rain Araldite where Sonny lives

 

[SonnyA85]

I'm impressed that what I always thought was a straightforward operation has now run to four pages and still not resolved.
It must rain Araldite where Sonny lives

The cars been sat on the drive for 2 years so the car was full of mould inside and out. Inside not so bad it was deep cleaned today. Outside was done a couple of months ago.

Unfortunately all that crap has now went into the drains and blocked them. Never had any issues before.

The issue is at the top not the bottom. Getting to the bungs is easy but cleaning the top seems to be impossible when there is a puddle of water and all sorts blocking all vision to where the hole might be.

Couldn't find it will jack the car up tomorrow and see if I can get at it from underneath. I have a mechanic coming tomorrow to do the Lexus so he might be able to sort it for me with something

 

[SonnyA85]

Figured out why I couldn't clear the right side drain from the top.

The issue was at the bottom. Bung was full of mud. Took bung out and shoved the bottle brush up I used on the other side but this time it came out black instead of white like last time.

Put water in the top and came flooding out. Both drains now sorted and both had completely different issues. One blocked at the top and the other blocked at the bottom.

Regular washes now to keep on top. Both bungs removed. Will see how road noise is and if I can tell I might out them back but couldn't tell so far on a short 10 min drive after.

 

[SonnyA85]

New door membrane ordered. Finally got to the bottom of the leak. The old membrane had been such on using gaffer tape which had peeled off and some of the membrane had torn rather than do a patch job picked up a new one from the dealer for £38 something.

Need to fit it on Saturday just hope it doesn't rain too much until then.

Got the door closed and did a hose test and the water was flooding in. Not as bad with proper rain as the hose exaggerated it but I think that's a good thing. Couldn't even see any water coming in even when it was lashing down.