Just bought my second 1st gen and this one has a problem with the water drains in the rear hatch. I've never had this problem before and have no idea how to get these drains cleared and working again (I'm not even sure where they drain to) - appreciate hearing from those who have solved this one - thanks

 

Just take a 2 foot piece of 18 gauge wire or so, and you'll find the drains after opening the hatch, there's one on each side, a couple of inches from the side edges of the hatch seal towards the center of the car. Just jam the wire down the hole and work it in and out and spin it around. That should do it.

 

Put some water in the spot around the drains that way when ur poking the wire around, you'll know you got it when all the water rushes out onto ur feet lol.

 

I use some thick 10 awg solid wire... Like home electrical wiring... The hoses drain behind the rear bumper

 

thanks guys - I figured it was something easy but I was worried about damaging the drains.

 

so i guess a coat hanger would be outta the question?

 

Take your handy-dandy compressor and blow that garbage outta there. Personally, I've never had that problem.

 

a coathanger will be fine. the drain is a semi-rigid plastic tube

 

Air compressor works great.

 

A coathanger could puncture the tubes. Use an old bass guitar string to avoid poking a hole in the vinyl tubes. You can even chuck the end of it in your hand drill and spin it like a mini roto-rooter, if you really want to have some fun. This same method works great for clearing obstructions in the fuel pickup tube as well.

 

Ditto .

I think they are too thick for that.

~T.J.

 

TJ:

I used an old coathanger with the end twisted blunt to clear my drains in the 7. Same coathanger cleared my drain holes in my Miata also...

Kevin
85 GS
10AE Miata

 

I'd think a coat hangar could work, but not as well. And yeah..I don't think you'd puncture the hose unless you really put some force into it..just be carefull I suppose.

 

I just use a garden hose with a pistol-grip nozzle. Put the nozzle against the hole, wrap a towel around it so it don't spray all over, push down and squeeze the handle. Clog all gone!

 

yeah, compresed air would be great to blow them out.

I just used a thick cable tie to do mine, pretty much anything pretty stiff but not sharp would be fine to use.

 

I remeber a while ago, driving down the highway, i decided to wash my windscreen, as you do, and at 80Mph the water goes over the roff and into the drain channels beside the rear hatch, and then down the drains onto the road.
when i got to the next set of light, the guy behind me ( in a rx2, told me my car was leaking fuel and saw it coming from each side behind the wheels. i told him it was just water, but he didnt belive me, i told him i will look at it, and continued on my way. Obviously, he didnt see me wash my windshield, but saw the water drain to the road.


i know, useless pointless story. but hey, im bored.

 

I just used a coat hangar to clean the drain hoses...worked wonders. hehe Though, they weren't really too clog anyway.

I like that garden hose idea...simple and easy.

 

don't forget the drain hoses for the sunroof ... they also get clogged up

 

Where do those hoses lead to? How long?

I was gonna do them last night, but it was COLD..heh.

 

the rear sunroof drains come out of those black vent things next to the triangle windows, and the front two drain come out in the front door jamb somewhere.

 

I found out what the problem with my drains was - they were not clogged! the one on the right was pulled from the hole under the bumper - looks like it was ripped out when the jack was removed - hose was lying in the back draining into the spare tire area - however, no damage done - thanks for the help (side note - sounds like the moon roof drains could be a challange to clear based on where/how they drain)

 

Not really, thats where the air compressor comes in. Just blast the **** out.