Check your drain pipes

[PetrolHeadPete]

While we were away on hols, that crazy heavy rain flooded the driver's side of my wifes 718 BGTS

I've removed the seat and various trims and have the carpet up and its drying out nicely (there are some very thick bits of sound proofing that are like sponges so its taking some work to squuze all the water out.

but...

Bose amp is ruined. Under the driver's seat in a "well" under the carpet. It was litterally sitting in a bath of water.

Reading around its obviosuly caused by the notorious rear drain holes being blocked.

I've now confirmed the driver's side was almost blocked and managed to clear it with rod/air line and lots of hot water.
Pours through now, just a dribble previously.

Looks like its going to be around 2K just to replace the amp!

And this car has been maintained by Porsche except the previous minor service at a local indie.

So its work checking them. There are some good you tube vids on this. On 718 the pipes/tubes can be accesed from top under the corners of the roof by the roll bars. Not sure on other models. Just pour water down them and see how fast it comes out.

Edited by PetrolHeadPete on Sunday 19th November 10:53

Edited by PetrolHeadPete on Sunday 19th November 10:54

[Discombobulate]

Sorry to hear this. Is there not an ECU under there too?

[interstellar]

Can you get a used amp from a crashed car at a breakers?

[kev b]

Same goes for MINIs too!

I had to replace both modules at great expense, took 6 weeks to dry the 30mm thick carpet.

Drained 20 litres of rainwater from the car, it can build up with no symptoms until the ecu shorts out.

[PetrolHeadPete]

Discombobulate said:

Sorry to hear this. Is there not an ECU under there too?

Luckily not. There is quite a bit of loom along the sill and that's all ok, The seat controller is mounted to the seat so no danger there. So overall its not damaged that much!

But I removed perhaps 8L of water from the sound proofing so would be near impossible to dry out without lifting the carpet.
Luckily I have a garage and a fan heater. Having owned a TVR Tuscan for 12 years I'm also not affraid to get the spanners out!

I've found a place in scotland that seems to offer a repair service but I have a nasty feeling it may be beyond repair. Porsch confirmed a new one will need re-coding by them at 1hrs labour.

[Boxster5]

PetrolHeadPete said:

While we were away on hols, that crazy heavy rain flooded the driver's side of my wifes 718 BGTS

I've removed the seat and various trims and have the carpet up and its drying out nicely (there are some very thick bits of sound proofing that are like sponges so its taking some work to squuze all the water out.

but...

Bose amp is ruined. Under the driver's seat in a "well" under the carpet. It was litterally sitting in a bath of water.

Reading around its obviosuly caused by the notorious rear drain holes being blocked.

I've now confirmed the driver's side was almost blocked and managed to clear it with rod/air line and lots of hot water.
Pours through now, just a dribble previously.

Looks like its going to be around 2K just to replace the amp!

And this car has been maintained by Porsche except the previous minor service at a local indie.

So its work checking them. There are some good you tube vids on this. On 718 the pipes/tubes can be accesed from top under the corners of the roof by the roll bars. Not sure on other models. Just pour water down them and see how fast it comes out.

Edited by PetrolHeadPete on Sunday 19th November 10:53

Edited by PetrolHeadPete on Sunday 19th November 10:54

Thanks for the warning - I foolishly thought the 718 was immune to this sort of thing as there is no rear clamshell as part of the roof system. The car is always garaged so probably not as at risk as one that stands out in all weathers but will definitely take a look. I know you can buy a trombone cleaner for this task!

[Tony B2]

What a coincidence!

I logged on this evening intending to post a question about 718 drains/gutters and risks of blockages.

Sorry to hear of your problem, I will definitely now be checking YouTube videos and attending to this.

Bloody UK climate.

Bloody trees (mine)

[996Targa]

Would one of these help?

https://cabrioshield.com/uk/porsche-boxster-981.ht...

[coffeekid]

996Targa said:

Would one of these help?

https://cabrioshield.com/uk/porsche-boxster-981.ht...

I have the premium version of this that I no longer require since I sold my Boxster, happy to sell if anyone is is interested. £150 including UK delivery

[Armitage.Shanks]

A length if garden hose with some tape around the end to make a seal on the drain hole neck will allow you to blow air through the drain to try and clear it.

The Problem is the other end gets clogged and the only way to get at these is to take the side skirt panels off (easy job - one screw behind rear wheel arch cover and the rest are plastic clips) and ideally remove the 'one way' plugs. I've not got to the latter yet but my driver side is not as free flowing as the passenger.

[PetrolHeadPete]

Armitage.Shanks said:

A length if garden hose with some tape around the end to make a seal on the drain hole neck will allow you to blow air through the drain to try and clear it.

The Problem is the other end gets clogged and the only way to get at these is to take the side skirt panels off (easy job - one screw behind rear wheel arch cover and the rest are plastic clips) and ideally remove the 'one way' plugs. I've not got to the latter yet but my driver side is not as free flowing as the passenger.

Yeah I spotted the video about that perhaps 4 weeks ago and was mentally prepping myself to do it...but the weather and a holiday beat me to it!
Ho hum, you live and learn.
What amazed me was the amount of crap that came out was not that great. Probs that nasty "one way" rubbery bit on the end blocks too easily?

[Tony B2]

Are there any similar issues with drainage from around the base of the windscreen?

[996Targa]

On the 996. 986 there was a "box" in front of the screen with battery etc in it and drain holes at the bottom.

I think that on the 991 and presumably 981 the box is open at the bottom so drain holes are not required.

[Armitage.Shanks]

Tony B2 said:

Are there any similar issues with drainage from around the base of the windscreen?

One thing I have noticed is the water drops through the holes for the wiper arms, trickles along the supporting bar creating a corrosion line. Then on the other it seems to drip onto the bottom inner lip of the rubber gasket filling it up and into the bulkhead where the AC lines disappear through foam. I'm assuming the water then drains out of the evaporator exit hole under the car? Given the fact I've found this foam saturated it's not a good design.

[soxboy]

Discombobulate said:

Sorry to hear this. Is there not an ECU under there too?

There’s an ECU under the passenger seat on 987s, referred to as the Rear Control Module. As with the OP, water collects and drowns it, causing rear electrics (from windscreen backwards) to go haywire.

Get a trombone cleaning set online and use it to brush through the drain holes on a regular basis.

[DJMC]

I believe checking drains on a Macan with sunroof is a standard service task. If blocked there is s small charge to clear the drains which would appear on the service invoice.

I've no idea about the 718 Boxster, but might it be that your last OPC service missed this out, if it's the same service check?

Just an idea to pass the buck...

[Armitage.Shanks]

DJMC said:

I believe checking drains on a Macan with sunroof is a standard service task. If blocked there is s small charge to clear the drains which would appear on the service invoice.

I've no idea about the 718 Boxster, but might it be that your last OPC service missed this out, if it's the same service check?

Just an idea to pass the buck...

Drain holes are checked I believe as part of some service regimes - it should say it on the invoice receipt (couple of mine do from a previous owner). That said you'll have no chance passing the buck unless it happened within a very short timeframe of coming away from the check and even then I'd expect them to refuse liability.

[981Boxess]

Armitage.Shanks said:

DJMC said:

I believe checking drains on a Macan with sunroof is a standard service task. If blocked there is s small charge to clear the drains which would appear on the service invoice.

I've no idea about the 718 Boxster, but might it be that your last OPC service missed this out, if it's the same service check?

Just an idea to pass the buck...

Drain holes are checked I believe as part of some service regimes - it should say it on the invoice receipt (couple of mine do from a previous owner). That said you'll have no chance passing the buck unless it happened within a very short timeframe of coming away from the check and even then I'd expect them to refuse liability.

Probably even less chance if previous minor service was with a local indie:

PetrolHeadPete said:

And this car has been maintained by Porsche except the previous minor service at a local indie.

[Tony B2]

Armitage.Shanks said:

DJMC said:

I believe checking drains on a Macan with sunroof is a standard service task. If blocked there is s small charge to clear the drains which would appear on the service invoice.

I've no idea about the 718 Boxster, but might it be that your last OPC service missed this out, if it's the same service check?

Just an idea to pass the buck...

Drain holes are checked I believe as part of some service regimes - it should say it on the invoice receipt (couple of mine do from a previous owner). That said you'll have no chance passing the buck unless it happened within a very short timeframe of coming away from the check and even then I'd expect them to refuse liability.

If the service frequency is every 2 years, and the drains are checked according to this schedule, surely the liability should be with Porsche? If the frequency is appropriate and the work done is adequate, it only leaves (pardon the pun) poor design as the problem?

[981Boxess]

Tony B2 said:

If the service frequency is every 2 years, and the drains are checked according to this schedule, surely the liability should be with Porsche? If the frequency is appropriate and the work done is adequate, it only leaves (pardon the pun) poor design as the problem?

The last service was by an indie, is that down to Porsche too?