Mazda MX-5 Mk3 Leakage problem - SOLVED!
Discussion
Hi all,
Just thought I'd get this topic back up on the forum, just incase it's gone missing in the many pages of topics.....
A quick background story of my Mazda MX-5 MK3 2.0.....
Bought the car a month ago from a dealership in Plymouth, with only 28,000 miles on the clock!
Had no problems with it at all until it began to rain. At first I didn't realize what was happening. I'd go to the boot, and take paper work or clothes out and they'd be soaking wet. At this point I hadn't checked behind either of the seats so just thought the boot seal might be a bit dodge. The car used to steam up ridiculously quick too, for no apparent reason.
However after popping to my local garage, and having a chat with a mechanic there, I soon found out I had a drainage issue.
The cars drainage is a bit flawed, if you ask me. The rain water runs off the roof, down around the roof lining and disappears, just by the door seal, down through the car and out the drainage holes at the bottom. The system is NOT sealed, and I could easily get access to the pool of water through many vents where the roof is normally stored on a sunny day.
After the recommendation to check behind the seats I was faced by what you'd call 'a lake' behind the drivers seat. The passenger seat was bone dry.
So I hit the web, and found out that there two are drainage holes that can sometimes get clogged and blocked.
WHAT TO DO!
Number 1: Scratch your head and have a cup of tea.
Number 2: You need to clear/clean the drainage holes. All I can say is that you're really going to struggle if you can't get the car in the air....
I went against the advice given and instead of cleaning from the top down, cleaned from the exit of the drainage hole and upwards. I got the car into the air, and soon found the drainage holes. I also found the cause of my problem VERY quickly...
As you can see in the picture, the exit holes for the drainage are small white plastic openings, that are extremely hard to get to if you don't know what you're looking for or where the hell they are. The drainage holes have thin bits of plastic covering them, so bits of rubbish from underneath the car can't flick up but rain water can drain away.
The issue I had was the the plastic cover had folded over on itself, blocking up the drainage system completely, and making my drivers seat into a rowing boat.
However, the issues you might have may simply be fixed with getting a long wire (I've heard that pipe cleaners are quite effective) and cleaning out the entire drainage system of any dirt or rubbish that's got into the system.
Fingers crossed after that you'll be all fixed and dry again!
Hope this helps anyone that was stuck, like myself.
Just thought I'd get this topic back up on the forum, just incase it's gone missing in the many pages of topics.....
A quick background story of my Mazda MX-5 MK3 2.0.....
Bought the car a month ago from a dealership in Plymouth, with only 28,000 miles on the clock!
Had no problems with it at all until it began to rain. At first I didn't realize what was happening. I'd go to the boot, and take paper work or clothes out and they'd be soaking wet. At this point I hadn't checked behind either of the seats so just thought the boot seal might be a bit dodge. The car used to steam up ridiculously quick too, for no apparent reason.
However after popping to my local garage, and having a chat with a mechanic there, I soon found out I had a drainage issue.
The cars drainage is a bit flawed, if you ask me. The rain water runs off the roof, down around the roof lining and disappears, just by the door seal, down through the car and out the drainage holes at the bottom. The system is NOT sealed, and I could easily get access to the pool of water through many vents where the roof is normally stored on a sunny day.
After the recommendation to check behind the seats I was faced by what you'd call 'a lake' behind the drivers seat. The passenger seat was bone dry.
So I hit the web, and found out that there two are drainage holes that can sometimes get clogged and blocked.
WHAT TO DO!
Number 1: Scratch your head and have a cup of tea.
Number 2: You need to clear/clean the drainage holes. All I can say is that you're really going to struggle if you can't get the car in the air....
I went against the advice given and instead of cleaning from the top down, cleaned from the exit of the drainage hole and upwards. I got the car into the air, and soon found the drainage holes. I also found the cause of my problem VERY quickly...
As you can see in the picture, the exit holes for the drainage are small white plastic openings, that are extremely hard to get to if you don't know what you're looking for or where the hell they are. The drainage holes have thin bits of plastic covering them, so bits of rubbish from underneath the car can't flick up but rain water can drain away.
The issue I had was the the plastic cover had folded over on itself, blocking up the drainage system completely, and making my drivers seat into a rowing boat.
However, the issues you might have may simply be fixed with getting a long wire (I've heard that pipe cleaners are quite effective) and cleaning out the entire drainage system of any dirt or rubbish that's got into the system.
Fingers crossed after that you'll be all fixed and dry again!
Hope this helps anyone that was stuck, like myself.
JUST TO ADD:
Once you've fixed the problem, you're obviously going to need to dry the car out.
Easiest way I found was cutting out the square of carpet directly under the seat. This'll mean you can get a cloth right down to the body work and get those impossible to reach places.
Once you're all dried up, pop the carpet back over (and re-secure, if you like) and nobody is any the wiser!
As you can see from the picture, you'll have to be careful cutting into the carpet, as there is a cable running directly across. Not sure what the cable situation is like on the passenger side but go careful!
Cheers!
Once you've fixed the problem, you're obviously going to need to dry the car out.
Easiest way I found was cutting out the square of carpet directly under the seat. This'll mean you can get a cloth right down to the body work and get those impossible to reach places.
Once you're all dried up, pop the carpet back over (and re-secure, if you like) and nobody is any the wiser!
As you can see from the picture, you'll have to be careful cutting into the carpet, as there is a cable running directly across. Not sure what the cable situation is like on the passenger side but go careful!
Cheers!
First thing I did when I bought mine was clean out the various drains.
Several are found in the various rubber seals.
I got one of those net curtain springs & in minutes had found the drains you are talking of. Every couple of months I pour a watering can through a funnel & tube with a bowl underneath to clean them out.
Look behind seatbelt tower, plastic panel with square hole, quick poke around, job done.
Wait till your passenger footwell becomes damp, that's another fun one
Take seats out to remove carpets etc
If your new to mk3 ownership, whatever you do keep your oil on or above the max mark.
Get on Nutz & say hello
Several are found in the various rubber seals.
I got one of those net curtain springs & in minutes had found the drains you are talking of. Every couple of months I pour a watering can through a funnel & tube with a bowl underneath to clean them out.
Look behind seatbelt tower, plastic panel with square hole, quick poke around, job done.
Wait till your passenger footwell becomes damp, that's another fun one
Take seats out to remove carpets etc
If your new to mk3 ownership, whatever you do keep your oil on or above the max mark.
Get on Nutz & say hello
Edited by g40steve on Monday 11th November 20:17
g40steve said:
If your new to mk3 ownership, whatever you do keep your oil on or above the max mark.
Steve, why above the max? i know the duratec engine needs to be kept oiled (more than NB NA) but why above.Edited by g40steve on Monday 11th November 20:17
how much space at the bottom of this engine before frothing risk? i track my NC so keen to hear informed views.
Sorry I know this is the mother of all necro bumps but a big thanks to you for this one, I have my first track day tomorrow and I finally managed to unblock and drain off the water building up in the passenger side footwell. I weather coated my roof multiple times and nothing was working. Thanks!
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