DIY: Checking your water drains

[Synthetik]

I felt that it was time for someone to post some solid information regarding water drains in our cars.
If anyone has other pictures, or additional ones that you feel are important, PM me and I will add them in.

Some common issues that arise from clogged water drains are:
-Water seeping into the driver or passenger sides of the car
-Radiator fans running full speed when the key isn't even in the ignition
**-Solution is not only cleaning your drains, but also replacing a relay fuse in your ECU (Relay #219)

If your drains are clogged, you can purchase some brake wire or weed trimmer line (thanks Nihil) and feed it through.


Video summary of how to check your drains:


EASIEST: Door Drain Locations
Underneath each of the doors you will see punched out holes.



MEDIUM: Sun Roof Drain Locations
The front drains are the easiest, simply open the front doors and locate the drain.


The rear drains are slightly more of a pain. Remove the rear wheel, unscrew the hex bolts holding the wheel liner, peel it back and at the top of the wheel well you'll see the drain.




EASY to PITA: "Engine Bay" Area
It's easier to test the drains than it is to observe them, see the video. To access the area, remove the rubber molding, then the plastic cover. If you drains are clogged, remove the battery and check the drain underneath. If water still stand in the bay, remove the ECU.





Thanks to oldguy for this contribution:

There are two plenum drains. One underneath the ECU box and one underneath the battery box. Both of these drains can be accessed from underneath the car. You don't even have to remove the belly pan but you need a set of ramps. Once underneath look upward from just behind the front axles to where the steering rack runs across. Just behind the steering rack you will see the drains. There is one on the right side of the transmission and one on the left side.
This pic is the one on the drivers side. you can see the hydraulic line to the slave cylinder coming out beside the drain. You can reach up and clear the drain with your finger. The rubber is very flexible.

[[email protected]]

Good work

[kwimberly]

Video says it's not available. Other than that - NICE!!!!

[Synthetik]

Video says it's not available. Other than that - NICE!!!!

Yea still "processing" but I'm going to bed. Thanks!

[nihil]

One thing I use on the sunroof drains (not just my Audi but most cars) is a long piece of lawn trimmer/weed-eater plastic string. I keep one ~8ft piece in the garage that's a clean cut on one end, and frayed by way of slicing on the other. Running it through the drain helps pull out stubborn debris. After that I have a piece of hose that's carved into a cone on one end, and plugged into the duster/blower attachment for the compressor. Wedge it in so it's air-tight and blow.

[Asharp27]

One thing I use on the sunroof drains (not just my Audi but most cars) is a long piece of lawn trimmer/weed-eater plastic string. I keep one ~8ft piece in the garage that's a clean cut on one end, and frayed by way of slicing on the other. Running it through the drain helps pull out stubborn debris. After that I have a piece of hose that's carved into a cone on one end, and plugged into the duster/blower attachment for the compressor. Wedge it in so it's air-tight and blow.

i used to have a lawn blower that would suck too, just had to reverse it (obviously) and attach the bag that came with it. Pretty handy little thing.

..but PROPS for this, my vw had this problem.. haven't had to deal with it yet but now i know where all the HOLEs are! :)

[Synthetik]

Thanks for the tip nihil.

[Rommulus]

Great write up! Thanks!

[JEENYUS]

i got a letter in the mail asking me to schedule a day to do this at the audi dealership. they will check/clean the drains out. i will need to have this done.

[n7plus1]

nice vid yo.

[PCYC]

nice great job

[texasboy21]

helpful video

[ThreePointOhh]

thanks for this!

[1.8Turbo4me!]

thanks for the helpful video....just did my test and all passed. woohoo!!!!

[Synthetik]

Does anyone have any shots of the drain under the battery or anywhere else in the "engine bay" area?

[indyaudis4]

Cleaned mine last weekend. Too little too late!

[Synthetik]

Hey everyone, sorry if you tried looking at this DIY recently, all the pictures were removed from my web gallery but they are all back up now.

[old guy]

I thought about this thread today when I was servicing my car and decided to take a pic of the plenum drain to add to the thread. There are two plenum drains. One underneath the ECU box and one underneath the battery box. Both of these drains can be accessed from underneath the car. You don't even have to remove the belly pan but you need a set of ramps. Once underneath look upward from just behind the front axles to where the steering rack runs across. Just behind the steering rack you will see the drains. There is one on the right side of the transmission and one on the left side.

This pic is the one on the drivers side. you can see the hydraulic line to the slave cylinder coming out beside the drain. You can reach up and clear the drain with your finger. The rubber is very flexible.

[IMG][/IMG]

Here's the drain underneath the battery tray. The rusty bolt in the lower left is the downpipe to cat connection.

[Synthetik]

Thanks oldguy, I'll edit the OP when on my computer.

[Bsix3.0]

+rep

[darkstar]

great stuff guys!

[Mr_Goodkat]

i got a letter in the mail asking me to schedule a day to do this at the audi dealership. they will check/clean the drains out. i will need to have this done.

I'm looking at taking care of this, this weekend. How hard would it be to just feed the weed trimmer line through the top of the sunroof instead of taking off the wheels? Also, do you guys think just using the jack that came with the car would be sufficient enough in doing this DIY? Also, how much did you pay to have Audi check/clean the drains Jeenyus??? Considering I missed the July 23 deadline, I'm going to have to check with my attorney what my options are for that class action.

[jaustin]

^ what is the conclusion on just sending the line into the hole and not removing the tire?

[akalito]

thank you just what i needed. there was some big rain storm here and my whole passenger side got soaked. looking to knock this out this weekend

[a4darkness]

You sir... with the awesome. Nicely done.

[dsq]

i'm looking at taking care of this, this weekend. How hard would it be to just feed the weed trimmer line through the top of the sunroof instead of taking off the wheels? Also, do you guys think just using the jack that came with the car would be sufficient enough in doing this diy? Also, how much did you pay to have audi check/clean the drains jeenyus??? Considering i missed the july 23 deadline, i'm going to have to check with my attorney what my options are for that class action.

do not use the oem jack

[Lukerobbins03]

So what's the deal with the ECM fuse needing to be replaced? Irene and her 6 inches of rain are playing havoc on my car and apparently I need to clean the drains. Battery is draining like it's bad all of a sudden too and only a year old battery.

[old guy]

So what's the deal with the ECM fuse needing to be replaced? Irene and her 6 inches of rain are playing havoc on my car and apparently I need to clean the drains. Battery is draining like it's bad all of a sudden too and only a year old battery.

If the battery is draining it isn't a fuse. One a fuse blows the short stops. It's possible that you have water in the ECM box causing a short in the ECM master control relay. This can cause the fan control relay to stay engaged and drain the battery.

[Lukerobbins03]

Awesome so what all do I need to look for here? The harness is wet too which I don't think is a huge deal but what all do I need to do in this case? Thanks again Irene.

[Hyphy]

On my avant, Im pretty sure I have clogged drains near the hatch area. The corners of the headliners where the hanger plastic pieces are, it's soaking wet on both sides. Is their any info on the easiest way to clean them out?

[pOrKcHoP07]

Stupid question...but i figured I'd ask. My battery is dead. When I'm in the process of replacing it, can I access the two drains from the engine bay or would I have to lift the car up?

- Nick

[old guy]

Stupid question...but i figured I'd ask. My battery is dead. When I'm in the process of replacing it, can I access the two drains from the engine bay or would I have to lift the car up?

- Nick

Access from the bay. No problem.

[intylerwetruste]

nice write up - thanks !!

[fla]

good thread thanks. I have a slightly different issue in that the rear drivers side door always retains water on the exterior door sill (between the seal and the frame), so when you open the door after it has rained, you get a puddle of water that sploshes out. Its usu covers the audi badge on the door sill. Only on one side though. Any suggestions on this?

[woofster]

Thumbs up for an informative thread!

[errol]

good thread thanks. I have a slightly different issue in that the rear drivers side door always retains water on the exterior door sill (between the seal and the frame), so when you open the door after it has rained, you get a puddle of water that sploshes out. Its usu covers the audi badge on the door sill. Only on one side though. Any suggestions on this?

you ever get this sorted? i have the same issue, except it's my drivers front door. no water gets into the vehicle per se, but it can't be a good thing when water just sits on the sill like that!

[WB650]

needs new pics

I just did the test for the sunroof drains, all are good except rear passenger which drains but is not as much as the rest of them.

I noticed after getting my car washed the other day that when I put my fingers between the headliner and the sunroof in the front there was a bit of water, nothing major but enough for my fingers to get wet and this was only after a 5min drive thru Shell carwash. After testing the drains right now I poured water directly on the sunroof and checked and my fingers were not wet. I'm thinking back up of the rear passenger drain is causing water to get right there in front after a good amount of water?

Looks like the rears have to be cleaned from the bottom by removing the wheel & lining, great, can't do that myself

[milk]

I washed my car last night and went for a drive with my dad and brother, letting them drive. Sitting in the back, my fiancé and I noticed that the rear seat belts were soaked. I'm thinking this is due to the rear sunroof drain getting plugged? There is no noticeable water in the headliner right above the seatbelt tensioner or anywhere in the headliner for that matter. Right now I have the rear seat belts buckled into the front seat belts to help them dry out.

I have a B7 A4 Sedan, I'm assuming the great video/write up from above will work? Any other thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

[Kodymfk]

A hand full of the pictures are not able to be viewed?

[dxaudi]

Hi I have 07 A4 and noticed some brown stain on the edge of the rear passenger floor.. People suggested it could be the water from the blocked drainages and referred me to this thread.

I followed the instruction video and checked the roof draining. All went well, the fronts were clear as i can see holes at the corners and the water coming out from the holes by the door hinges. the rear wasn't clear as I cannot see any holes up or down. So I just pulled the water and see them coming out. But maybe the amount in and the amount out don;t match? I cannot say as I don't see the water coming out from the holes. I tried the drain in the front as well, but i didn;t put too much water as I don't see where the holes in the engine compartment. but as pulled some water in and I did see water coming out in the bottom. am I safe?

Before I tried the tests myself, I took the car to a local dealer, and they told me yeah we need to service the drain for $160. Then I called the other reputed dealer, they told me they will clean it for $75 and check the sun-roof drain. They did tell me there could be damage in under the floor matting and i better call the insurance. that scared me off!!

Also, if I want to clean it using the wire, how do i find the holes in the rear sun roof and the engine compartment? thanks.