Best way to clear sunshine roof drains?

[rogerthechorister]

My ratty Sport is now running nicely. Next issue the water getting into the driver footwell. No, thank goodness, it is not the heater matrix or control valve.

Most likely culprit the sunshine roof drains.

Open to suggestions as to the easiest way to unblock them - or if they are totally fubarred to replace the rubber drain hoses!

I have heard it said that they can be blown out with compressed air. Upwards, or downwards? Does this not risk blowing a HUGE hole in the rubber drain tube?

I think another way might be to thread stiff-ish nylon cord (like used on heavy-duty garden strimmers) up or down.

What does the team think?

[skippyfox]

A mate of mine had the same problem with his Discovery and we used a piece of polyprop cable to push down the drain tubes. It was about 3-4mm thick and did the job. Strimmer cable may be to flexible and not be able to push through the gunk. If you P.M. me your address I'll pop a length in the post for you to try, have got a bit to spare, about 200mtrs.... I use it for welding polypropolene fabrications.

Steve. aka skippyfox.

[Jimsiss]

My rear wash wipe tube leaks where it comes through the bulkhead.

[rogerthechorister]

A random thought Skippyfox - can you tell me how to fix a crack in polycarbonate? Preferably without taking the spoiler off my caravan!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by rogerthechorister

My ratty Sport is now running nicely. Next issue the water getting into the driver footwell. No, thank goodness, it is not the heater matrix or control valve.

Most likely culprit the sunshine roof drains.

Open to suggestions as to the easiest way to unblock them - or if they are totally fubarred to replace the rubber drain hoses!

I have heard it said that they can be blown out with compressed air. Upwards, or downwards? Does this not risk blowing a HUGE hole in the rubber drain tube?

I think another way might be to thread stiff-ish nylon cord (like used on heavy-duty garden strimmers) up or down.

What does the team think?

Compressed air is the favourite, about 30psi should do it with a good flow. Open the roof panel and fit a blow gun into each drain hole in the corners and blow. If you can find the ends of the drain hoses (usually they exit into a hidden part of the wheelarches, may have to remove arch liners etc and have a good grope to find them) you can poke some stiff wire or as suggested earlier, polyprop line up them to help dislodge whatever is blocking them. If you happen to know any industrial electricians, one of them may have a plastic draw-wire (often called a mouse) which is designed for pulling cables into conduit.
That would also work to help clear the blockage.

No risk of blowing a hole in the drain tubes other than wherever they're leaking because they're blocked downstream. Usually this is a joint so can be refixed later once dry.

[loki_the_glt]

Originally Posted by Jimsiss

My rear wash wipe tube leaks where it comes through the bulkhead.

Try this thread - or get your Matt to do the job for you.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...ailgate+washer