Blocked Drains

[irelandbuyer]

Hi Steamship/Snap and all....

Thanks for the advice...I went at the plenum/evaporator drains yesterday. As you said, it's pretty straightforward. I was surprised though because they're bone dry. This leads me to believe that maybe there's a blockage elsewhere and water isn't making it down that far.....

I read somewhere else that perhaps it is the cowl drains...

It's becoming a bigger issue now that the mornings are getting colder. My choice is either to let the car warm up in the driveway or keep windows open...

I've attached a photo of the drains...you'll see they're spotless....

[steamship]

Originally Posted by irelandbuyer

I've attached a photo of the drains...you'll see they're spotless....

Everything looks dry as well, but since everything seems clears, I'm still going to ask a stupid question.

When you had those pipes disconnected, did you try pouring some water down them to see if they were clear, or remove them to check for blockages? Theory would dictate that since there wasn't any water in them, then they are clear.

The only other thing I can think of is the carpets being wet, but then you'd probably have noticed this. I know the backs of the D2 mats have a thick rubber lining (great for holding onto loads of water), but only ever lifted the carpet in the passenger footwell of the D3 once, and don't remember if it had a rubber backing.

It was your comment about you could still hear water sloshing around making me wonder if the water has collected in the footwell(s), underneath everything else, and since it isn't being removed, it's why the windows are steaming up.

[irelandbuyer]

Steamship,

Actually it's not a stupid question at all. I didn't think of that...doh. Where would I pour the water down from?

The water sloshing around is a different locaiton, in the roof, driver side. Which i'm not sure about because my mechanic cleared out all 4 sunroof drains. I'm going to go and check them myself again now to be totally sure.

Back to the windscreen fogging up issue, i'll check the drains but I can't think of anything else. I did read somewhere that the scuttle drains might affect also but not sure where they're located.....

Any ideas?

cheers.....

[steamship]

Originally Posted by irelandbuyer

Steamship,

Actually it's not a stupid question at all. I didn't think of that...doh. Where would I pour the water down from?

The water sloshing around is a different locaiton, in the roof, driver side. Which i'm not sure about because my mechanic cleared out all 4 sunroof drains. I'm going to go and check them myself again now to be totally sure.

Just pour some water into the pipe shown in your picture above (post #42). If it's blocked, you'll soon know, and some people have used the likes of Mr. Muscle in them to clean them, and then flushed with hot water. I've never had those drains out completely on the D3 (only the D2), so don't know if it's easy to do, but would give you the opportunity to snip the ends of them.

The roof one is puzzling if all the drains have been cleared, unless some other part of the sunroof mechanism has upturned edges and allows water to collect, but then it would have to be hidden from view or would have been easily spotted when clearing the drains.

[homer simpson]

Well finally got around to doing the front sunroof drains today and yes they were blocked! Fortunately no water had been inside the car as they would drain very slowly but still needed doing. I tried various methods but they just would not clear properly so I tried a different approach - the other end.

Passenger side, not too bad. Remove the rear shield and the drain is there. Gummed up from dirt so gave it a good clean with a pipe cleaner. Water flowing effortlessly now. Driver's side, not so easy as the washer bottle is in the way. I removed the fixings and gently pulled the bottle forward enough to see behind it. I could not see the drain and so I used a inspection camera (boroscope) to find the drain. It sits behind the washer bottle area and so I managed to get my hand up there and cleaned again with a pipe cleaner. Drains now clearing properly so I'm happy for now. I will tackle the rear ones in a week or so when I will have the wheels off, although I could see water dripping out at the back. Then will be the A/C drain and scuttle area.

[ScottD3]

I've had an issue for about 2 years where the roof would get damp or there would be evidence of water in the fuse boards but no idea where it was coming from.
I cleaned the drains, flushed water down and all was fine.

If I parked the car facing up the road, so passenger side was lower than drivers, no issues. Only happened if the drivers side was low.

I needed a new sunroof cassette, so I ordered one from A8 Parts and stripped mine out.

Having a proper look at my sunroof and the drains, I found no issues with the drains. The issue was with the cassette.
The plastic bit where the drains clip in to, was coming away from the cassette and letting water in.

So just a warning, if you got water and clear drains. Check this area as well.

[homer simpson]

Originally Posted by ScottD3

Having a proper look at my sunroof and the drains, I found no issues with the drains. The issue was with the cassette.
The plastic bit where the drains clip in to, was coming away from the cassette and letting water in.

So just a warning, if you got water and clear drains. Check this area as well.

Good call Scott.

On a side note, how difficult was it to change the whole sunroof? Was it a complete headlining off and out of the car job? I read somewhere that the passenger seat needs to come out to get the headlining out? I am looking to replace with a solar roof when I get a chance.