BX A Pillar Sunroof Drains

[krekov]

Hi,
I've decided to tackle the issue of water in my footwells.
It turned out the black rubber tubing that goes outside of the cabin was detached from the drain lines found under the A pillar plastic trim.
My problem is that I have no idea how to route the drains properly. I know the black tubing is intended to be between the door seal and dash to hide a small gap showing bare metal, but I don't know how to route the drain line that's supposed to plug into it.

If someone could explain it to me I'd greatly appreciate it!

[prm-comp]

For the N/S drain, remove the glove box. On the upper left side at the rear, you should see the tubing run from the A’ pillar into the cabin. Slightly further down, you may find a circular, black?, trim coloured disc. Remove this, just pulls away. The tube then exits the cabin and goes between the inside and outside panels.
O/S. I've never traced this one. Should imagine you need to remove the inside trim. Probably it follows the same route as the N/S.
Have you cleared the rear drains? Outlets are, N/S, possibly near the fuel tank strap. O/S, at the very rear, inside the wing.
Avoid using compressed air to clear any blockages, this blows pipes and connection points. Use any semi-rigid loose fitting plastic tubing to clear.
Let me know if you have problems locating the tubing. Can send you a length that may help.

Regards
Apologies krekov, my reply applied to right hand drive.

[David]

On mine, there is no 'black tubing' on the sunroof drains. From what you're describing, the 'black tubing' is simply a piece of rubber that goes between the A pillars and dash to fill the gap.

The sunroof drains go into a hole on each side of the A pillars, behind the dash. It's not really a great design, as it allows water to sit inside the A pillars themselves, but it's how the cars were made. If you remove the glovebox, as already suggested, then hopefully you'll be able to see where the passenger tube goes. It's a small round hole that's about level with the glovebox. Once you've found that one, the drivers side one goes in the same place on the other side. Granted it isn't as easy to see, but once you've found & seen one, you should be able to work out where the other goes from touch. You also don't have all the wires in the way obstructing your access on the drivers side (assuming that it's RHD, that is).

If the pipes are already out, it would be a good idea to put a vacuum cleaner on them, just to make sure that they're clear before reassembling them. It isn't a good idea to use rods or compressed air to clear them, otherwise you can detach the tubes from the roof lining, which will require more work to find the ends & glue them in again.

Hope that helps.

[krekov]

Ooh, that's interesting! I thought those pieces of rubber were things you plugged the drains into, since they go into holes under the dash which lead outside of the cabin, but those are definitely not the holes you are talking about. They are right under the big bolts holding the dashboard and are rectangular.

Well, now that I know how they should be plugged in, I'll definitely take a go at routing them properly. I bought my 16V with a half-disassembled interior and those drain pipes were just freely hanging down, I had no clue where to lead them into.

[Kieron g]

I've been having rain soaking the driver's side carpet and guess this is the culprit.
I managed to wedge myself upside down under the steering wheel and located the pipe into hole in lower A post.
It didn't seem to be attached to anything so I pulled it out and blew up it no problem.
Also suspended the end over a recepticle and poured water over sunroof which drained through it.
My question is should the end I pulled out of A post be attached to something to extend it?
It seems quite short and wondered if water getting in from where it ends.
Thanks for any guidance

[panky]

The pipe drains into the sill once it's pushed back into the pillar. I had the same problem on the GT which I traced to a broken stub where the drain meets the sunroof. I managed to open up the hole and push another piece of tube in slathered in sealant. It happened again but the drain was fine that time it turned out to be the door seal which I took off and cleaned and replaced with smear of silicon grease to repel the water. Rather than silicon grease Gummy Phlege is supposed to be good and not as sticky to the touch.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194567705804

[Kieron g]

Thanks Panky.
I need to drop headlining again to repair roof so will get a proper look at top of pipe.
I made a repair under washer bottle on the offside, welded a small plate in but I sealed everything up after.
Reason I mention is because leak seemed to start roughly around that time.
I wonder if I melted a hole in the drain pipe around that area

[Kieron g]

Thanks for link as well. Only just noticed

[Jaba]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that the tubes, which are clear actually connect at the very bottom of the A pillar just above the front of the sill to a small drain opening which you can see when the door is open as a D shaped downward opening. Access to the tube and connection is through a carpet covered access opening in the metal work down in the bowels.
Run some water through and check for water dribbling out outside the car.
RH wet carpets can be caused by other things as well of course. Heater valve/connections being one to mention.

[Kieron g]

Thanks Jaba. Are you saying that the front sunroof drain tubes should be connected to something at the bottom rather than just loose through a hole in lower A post like mine are

[Jaba]

Yep. The water vents outside the car

[panky]

Yep the hoses just push into the hole in the A post, there's nothing else on the end the and water just finds its own way out of the sill drain. Hopefully the drain hoses on you car are long enough to not to spill into the car.

[Kieron g]

That's good thanks.
I watched water coming in and think there must be a pin hole in the weld of plate above pedals / under washer bottle.
When it's dry next I'll seal this up properly.
I used underseal previously, not sure if to layer this on or wire brush it off and use another product

[panky]

Seam sealer is good on welded seams as used originally. I've used black gutter sealant on joints and screens in the past, it stays flexible so won't crack - and it's cheap.

[Jaba]

That's good thanks.
I watched water coming in and think there must be a pin hole in the weld of plate above pedals / under washer bottle.
When it's dry next I'll seal this up properly.
I used underseal previously, not sure if to layer this on or wire brush it off and use another product

Not surprising really. This is a common place to find rust holes underneath the washer bottle.