Hey folks,
First, the TL/DR - Keep the drain ports clear, as blockages cause water ingress, which may well knacker your ignition and starter.
I thought I’d just post this missive about my recent woes, caused by the infamous blocked drains of the NC 3.5
On the way home from work, the car had a wobble and the electrics and engine shut down whilst on the dual carriageway. As I was doing 60, the car bump started, and everything came back to life, although the DSC light stayed on until I got home. After turning the engine off, I tried to restart it. Nothing. No solenoid click, no cranking the engine, not a sausage. Towed it to my usual garage, who initially declared a possible fuse/relay issue affecting the starter motor. However, on replacing the fuse, as a first port of call, the car still wouldn’t start. I went home and left it there. The following day, I received a call saying that they had reached the starter motor. (tricky business, as Mazda have seen fit to hide it at the bottom of the engine.) and having tried the age-old “hit it with a hammer ‘cos it might have got stuck,” they removed it and bench-tested it. It was burned out. £900 quid later (parts not too bad, for Mazda, labour - eyewatering, due to the phenomenal ball-ache of getting it out and putting in a new one), the car had a new starter motor. Turned the key, and the car started at position 2. At this point, it was noted that the front passenger carpet was soaking. The water was coming into the cabin, down into the interior fuse box, and as a result, the ignition relay was also damaged. Long story short, the starter motor was permanently engaged, whilst driving, which burned out, because of the ignition’s own permanently on position, and so as well as a new SM, I had the ignition replaced, the drains cleared out and the car dried out with a wet/dry vac. So… £1200 later, my troublesome little friend is working beautifully again. All as a result of a blocked drain hole, although I now have paranoia about the damn things. But as it’s Xmas, and a time for scary stories, I thought I should share this cautionary tale. Happy Christmas, everybody. I hope you all have a great holiday 
