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Left Side Drain Clog - Question

StudioWizard

Member
Los Angeles, CA, USA
My 2005 2.5i has been getting soaked the last few weeks with rain and I've visually seen water in the drain cavity where the roof motor resides. Fortunately, the motor still works perfectly, but I do plan to move it.

In the meantime, I have successfully been able to get my hand up to the rubber drain grommet. I fiddled with it, but no water came out. Next, I tried to slide a hanger wire up the tube to unclog it, but it would only go an inch or so. Is that drain tube really small?

I know others have suggested sucking the water out with a wet/dry vac, but it seems like the space is way too narrow to get any type of tube in there.

Any suggestions?
 
The most effective tool I’ve found to unblock (apart from physical removal of the actual rubber valve on the drain) is to feed a garden bamboo pole down between the roof mechanism into the well, you can then locate the hole and push it through until it drains
 
I tried feeding a hanger wire down the roof mechanism, but I couldn't find the hole (no jokes, please!). This is on the side where the roof motor is (driver side / US). Is the drain accessible??

Also, I was able to feel the rubber valve (grommet) and open it with my finger, but no water or sludge came out.
 
For uk/eu cars the nearside is where the roof motor is and has a drain

I tend to go from underneath, remove the plastic trimmings around the arch liner, get a screwdriver and poke up into the grommet- either to unblock or remove it completely
 
That's basically what I did except I just went from underneath the car. I could feel the grommet and even started to pull it off, but nothing came out. I tried sticking the wire hanger into the hole, but couldn't get more than about 3-4cm in.

What's the diameter of that drain tube? What's the diameter of the drain hole feeding the tube?
 
That's about what I thought.

Does the roof motor sit directly over the hole making it hard or impossible to push a straight hanger or stick straight down the drain hole?
 
The hole is toward the front of the car, the motor sits at a slant toward the rear, you should be able to angle a stick from above into the drain
 
Trying again and I just can't find the hole. The motor must be blocking it. I've tried bending the hanger wire to give it an angle under the motor, but just nothing.

I also removed the rubber grommet and no water came out. I can see some water when shining a flashlight from above, but I cannot for the life of me or feel any hole.

After I removed the grommet, I was able to get the hanger wire to go up a few centimeters, but still not enough to get all the way through and remove the blockage.

Any ideas?
 
Delving into the depths of my z4 memories…

I think I’ve had a car which had no drain on that side

I might have imagined it… but regardless I would get your motor relocated

If you use the method of popping the roof up in that corner you’ll be able to see down into the pocket and confirm
 
This thread on another form might give you an idea where the drain hole is.

https://zroadster.org/threads/z4-roof-motor-relocation-to-boot.19256/
 
Be aware that the drain hose is not straight, but has a kink, so you cannot use a stiff object such as a bamboo stick to poke through. Best result is with a plastic electrical wiring routing cable. It is flexible but sturdy enough to pass bends.
 
Straba said:
Be aware that the drain hose is not straight, but has a kink, so you cannot use a stiff object such as a bamboo stick to poke through. Best result is with a plastic electrical wiring routing cable. It is flexible but sturdy enough to pass bends.

Now that's some EXTREMELY useful information!!! Thank you!

Where might I find such an ingenious tool? I googled it and nothing popped up....
 
I used a trombone cleaning brush on my mx5. It’s a coiled wire piece with small brushes each end and can easily fit down most drain holes depending on how long the drain tube is.
Mx5 parts website sells them but I have one in my garage if anyone wants to use it. :thumbsup:

Handy tool to have. Push it in from the top and once it pops out below you slowly drag it out along with any muck.
 
Just be careful that you don't push too hard or you can dislodge the drain pipe. Then the water goes into the sills instead.
 
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