I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Drain holes
I’ve recently bought a beautiful MX-5 and have read numerous articles suggesting to watch out for blockages in the hood drain holes. I bought the trombone brush and searched for drain holes (keen to check them as the car is 5 years old) but can’t actually see any. Does anyone have any experience/advice please? The car will always be parked on my drive but no overhanging trees. Thank you.
My nd is late 2015 & I clean the drain holes minimum once a year. As the previous commentator has said plenty on utube. You have to strip some of the internal trim on each side but it is very easy. They have a spongy filter in a cassette once you remove the cassette the sponge comes out easily & you give it a good clean. You do need to be a bit of a contortionist though but once you get used to it it is simple. I’ve never had to use the trombone thingy as once back in just run some water on the hood & look under the car & the water flows out. Two tips 1 try & make a mental note of the orientation as you lift them out. 2 don’t do it cold temperatures as you may snap the title tab that locks the cassette in. Once you do it a couple of times you will soon get it done, you do get quicker
I have started to clean my first drain basket today to check how they are (not had any problems with it). I have cleaned the first basket and sponge and out them back in, They were not too bad but needed emptying. I am now wanting to run something down the drain tube while I am there and have watched the youtube video of the guy putting some wire down the drain. Looking at my car, there is a push connector in it. The video does not show a connector there but not sure if he had just taken his out before filming.
My question is, if the clip should be there, how do you reach it to remove it and should it be left out for future access?
Photo attached of the clip (with the seatbelt pulled out).
I had this problem this week following the first big rain since getting the car! I watched the same video (and every other one), was surprised to see the plastic rivet in the way, I used a long small flat screwdriver through the gaps in the seatbelt reel to pop it out and some dextrous fingers and luck to retrieve it (I’ve got some long needle nose pliers on the way for when I do the passenger side). I found my drain brush was too flexible to feed through the holes but was successful with a used bass guitar B string, was delighted to see the car proceed to wet the driveway, popped off the connection at the bulkhead and flossed the drain out.
Having watched it all, I understand how the second method appears easier, but I’m a tad unsure about removing trim. Does the part that runs along the bottom of the door literally pull off as he demonstrates? I have history for taking things apart and having bits left over after rebuilding!
