Grumpy
09-07-2012, 02:13 PM
So I decided to clean the drains on the car since I now live where it rains a lot more. I had had the TSB done so the filter was protecting the drain, but that just means that crap covers the filter instead, causes the back up at the top, as opposed to in the drain tube.
Because of the collection tray above the filter/sponge, I couldn't even see the size of the filter or anything. Having today to waste, I decided to do exploratory surgery. Removed the large trim piece with the cubbies to try and get to the drains that way. (yes, this involved removing the door sill, and roll bar covers)
This picture shows the passenger side.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0006.jpg
As you can see from the picture, due to the other trim pieces, you can't just remove that to get to the drains.
I then proceded to remove the back tray that the top rests in it's natural position ;D, along with all the rest of the trim in the back, just to reach the drain tray that covers the hole/filter area. Yes, that's right, due to the overlapping nature of all the pieces, it all has to be removed.
This revealed this wonderful sight:
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0005.jpg
I grabbed a vacuum, sucked out the dirt and leaves, and removed, and tried to clean the filter a bit.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0002.jpg
Not 100% clean, but much better. I ran a small piece of flexible cabling down and out the bottom. nothing besides the cable, no dirt/ leaves/other debris, so I guess the filter works, as this is the first time since 2008 (when the tsb was done) that I've cleaned the drains , but if enough debris were to cover the filters, I can see where it might cause a backup that way.
This shot shows the orientation of the drivers side filter so it goes back in properly. The front of the car is towards the right. Yeah, I know it really only goes in one way, but I figured I might as well
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0004.jpg
After spending the 3 hours or so removing everything, cleaning the drains, and putting everything back, I discovered the tech who did it, missed 5 of the push fasteners on the inside. So I now need to get 5 more to fasten the large trim piece back the way into position.
So, if you've had the TSB done, and really want to do this, my advice? find a small person, because all the rear trim pieces behind the roll bar can only be removed with the top up. Most of you 6 footers out there will have issues. Fortunately at 5'3" I was issue free.
Because of the collection tray above the filter/sponge, I couldn't even see the size of the filter or anything. Having today to waste, I decided to do exploratory surgery. Removed the large trim piece with the cubbies to try and get to the drains that way. (yes, this involved removing the door sill, and roll bar covers)
This picture shows the passenger side.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0006.jpg
As you can see from the picture, due to the other trim pieces, you can't just remove that to get to the drains.
I then proceded to remove the back tray that the top rests in it's natural position ;D, along with all the rest of the trim in the back, just to reach the drain tray that covers the hole/filter area. Yes, that's right, due to the overlapping nature of all the pieces, it all has to be removed.
This revealed this wonderful sight:
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0005.jpg
I grabbed a vacuum, sucked out the dirt and leaves, and removed, and tried to clean the filter a bit.
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0002.jpg
Not 100% clean, but much better. I ran a small piece of flexible cabling down and out the bottom. nothing besides the cable, no dirt/ leaves/other debris, so I guess the filter works, as this is the first time since 2008 (when the tsb was done) that I've cleaned the drains , but if enough debris were to cover the filters, I can see where it might cause a backup that way.
This shot shows the orientation of the drivers side filter so it goes back in properly. The front of the car is towards the right. Yeah, I know it really only goes in one way, but I figured I might as well
http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy213/askut/carstuff/drains/IMAG0004.jpg
After spending the 3 hours or so removing everything, cleaning the drains, and putting everything back, I discovered the tech who did it, missed 5 of the push fasteners on the inside. So I now need to get 5 more to fasten the large trim piece back the way into position.
So, if you've had the TSB done, and really want to do this, my advice? find a small person, because all the rear trim pieces behind the roll bar can only be removed with the top up. Most of you 6 footers out there will have issues. Fortunately at 5'3" I was issue free.