2014 Ford Explorer Sunroof Drain Lines Unplug

Thank you for 15:27 of your time. Today, we attempt 3 different methods of unclogging the sunroof drain lines on our 2014 Ford Explorer. This "should" be applicable to all fifth generation Ford Explorers (2011-2019). Which do you think will unclog the drain lines the best? Snake, Brush, or Air?
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[@EverythingInBetween22]

Today, we attempt 3 different methods of unclogging the sunroof drain lines on our 2014 Ford Explorer. Which do you think will unclog the drain lines the best? Snake, Brush, or Air?

[@samuelugh5729]

I tried both. All three. Haven’t really worked

[@walterwhite1]

YOU JUST SAVED ME 4,000 DOLLARS!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

To my other favorite W.W. That's awesome! It's an honour helping you. Fondly EIB

[@planeanddirtsimple]

Thanks for the video. I watched your video on replacing motor and went just like you had shown. Now to clean the drain. Have a blessed one!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

The hard part is remembering to clean the drains every so often. :) Thanks for watching and I'm glad it helped you out! woohoo!

[@SealofPerfection]

The little split in the rubber is nothing. If it grows and gets to be an actual gap, that could be troublesome, but what you have (or had) is nothing. Water gets by the rubber seal all around it normally. It carries dirt with it. When the water dries, it leaves the dirt behind, and it builds up over time. That can be compounded by a leaf getting in there, a bug, a seed pod, etc. "Bio debris" is what I call it. Another good trick after you've cleared the drain is to run some detergent down it, let it sit a minute or two, and flush it with water. Wiper washer fluid is good, as it's designed to dissolve exactly the type of crud that's in there. When I clear the drains, I actually go inside the fenderwell and cut the restrictor off the tip so they're a lot less likely to ever clog again, but what you did works fine, you just need to occasionally flush them and they should hold up. I would personally never use compressed air, as if the blockage is really solid, SOMETHING is going to move, and it can be the drain hose popping out of the exit spout, and those aren't easily accessible. I use a trimmer cord and sometimes a tube I rigged up and lung power only. But cutting the tips off at the exit eliminates the need for that 99% of the time on the Explorers.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Thank you for your experienced insight, bud! That should be extremely helpful to those reading this. I never really thought about trimming the tips from the exit end. Might have to look into that.

[@SealofPerfection]

@@EverythingInBetween22 I have a video on how to do it. I stopped just blowing them out years ago when one came back after only 3 months. The end of the exit spout is very prone to holding on to dirt, etc, and clogging up. Clipping it off makes it flow like a fire hose, lol

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@SealofPerfection Will check it out. Thanks!

[@RobertGriffin-ct5xk]

Thanks for the video. I watched your video on replacing the moonroof motor and then followed up with this video to check my drains. The driver side was plugged and the air compressor did the trick to clean it out.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Glad it helped you out. Kind of hard these days to keep track of this type of maintenance but it is necessary, unfortunately. Like many others, I'm so busy that I forget to check at least every 6 months. 🥺

[@littleeagle5786]

Thanks. I am glad to find a video for this on this vehicle. My Momma just got one and the leak came inside while we were driving in the rain. It was a mess.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

You're very welcome. Glad that it helped you. Yea, that happened to my wife while she was driving home in the rain. Not fun.

[@ronaldpellet854]

Excellent video thank you and yes I saw the standing water and the slit in the rubber gasget

[@EverythingInBetween22]

You're welcome... and yes, especially if it rains a lot in your area or you have a lot of dust or sand in the air, you may want to check your drains several times a year. Keep those sunroof and shade motors as dry as possible.

[@novaeverything4020]

This really helped me out thanks!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

You're very welcome. Glad it was able to help you out.

[@jasonsim674]

Bro don't know if your still active but that was extremely helpful and that last part about the silicone, great point thanks brother keep it up

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Many thanks bro. Several videos being edited (hate editing lol) and many projects getting in the way, but I'm still around. And yes, even put silicone on your door seals as well. Those flex every time we open/close our doors and over time, they can dry out and crack. I have a few random uploads coming soon.

[@kevinshieldsw1kps785]

Very good video! I’m tired of this issue!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

I hear ya! They need to make self-cleaning drain tubes! lol

[@carltonwizzle1420]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾

[@EverythingInBetween22]

You're very welcome. Glad to help!

[@eugeneledesma8042]

Great idea with the trimmer line but you needed a longer piece. That drain exists near the floor pan

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yea, I thought about it after the fact, but was kind of in a rush to get back on the road. Appreciate the insight and thanks for watching.

[@andrespates-bq9cl]

My 2014 Taurus Limited has been leaking since day ONE. When I bought It from DRIVETIME,they HAD CLEANED THE ROOF BUT FORGOT TO LOOK UNDER SUNVISOR!! I NEED HELP!!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Just like the Explorer, you should be able to get to the drain lines from the sunroof on top after you open it. Use canned air or light pressure from an air compressor and blow out the drain lines or use one of the other methods that I tried. They may work for you. The front drain exits, are located on either side of the wheel wells. If you have a wheel well cover/protector piece, remove it and you'll see part of the drain hose coming out of the wheel well. Try turning your wheel to one side if it's a tight fit and you can try and blow from under there as well, if needed, to help loosen stubborn clogs. If I could have no sunroof, I would... but when you buy used, you kinda have no choice when you right the right deal. :( Hope you get those drains cleared. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[@SherylWelch-vl4mn]

For the drain hose to be clogged, will that cause it to leak water into my floorboard when it rains because the last two times that we’ve gotten really bad rain here my passenger floorboard has been soaked and the place where I got my car said that it could be fromthe drain being clogged

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yes, it's possible, if you've checked your drain lines and they are clear. Check the Cowl Drain (accessed from under the hood on the passenger side firewall). That could be clogged. Search on YT for Ford Explorer Cowl Drain Leak and it may solve your issue, if it's clogged as well.

[@MikeMansfield-qd2ic]

How many drain lines are there,2 or 4? My front lines are not clogged, but getting water in the back drives side speaker by the lift gate

[@EverythingInBetween22]

There are 4 drains but it sounds like more than that. Check the video links below and see if those help your issue. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZjacniio6yagqM OR kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZabmaeio8l2h9k

[@cheesecrums1559]

I think the idea of the brush is great but no where near long enough

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Thanks and yea, I was just giving ideas to those that may have something similar but much longer. Too bad I didn't have time to get a longer brush or trimmer line. I believe if either of those were longer, they would have worked just as well.

[@billwilliams699]

I swear I've opened up the sunroof and can't find the damn drain holes. Its recessed a couple inches inside the roof and the spring loaded bar gets in the way.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yup, they are there in each of the corners. They sure don't make it easy.

[@IceBear518]

how many drain holes are there? i only see 2 but some people are saying there is 4

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Many vehicles have a total of 4 . Two front corners and two back corners... but not all. It depends on the draining system of the vehicle. Some may have 2 drains, while others may have more or less. Depends on how they designed the drain system.

[@halfsquaredoubleinverse4014]

I have the same problem. I have a 2014 Ford Explorer and the sunshade opens but the glass roof does not open. I guess I cannot access the drain holes to clean the clog unless I change the motor first? Btw how much is the price of that motor?

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yup, unfortunately the motor will need to be changed before accessing the drain lines, if your sunroof is in the way. Currently, they are around $160-200 depending where you get it. Check out rockauto.

[@halfsquaredoubleinverse4014]

@@EverythingInBetween22 thank you

[@ashleybarber2335]

Does the sunroof have to be open to do this? My sunroof is thankfully closed but not working so….. lol

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yes, it has to be open. I mean, I'm sure you could possibly use a very long plastic tubing and go from the bottom to clear it out, but I haven't tried that. Not sure what year your vehicle is, but as time goes on, the rubber gasket surrounding the glass will eventually let water through more and more, which is why they have drains. Sunroofs are not waterproof, only water resistant. If you have a fifth-generation (2011-2019) Explorer, you can view my video on replacing the sunroof motor, if you want to tackle that task. If you start to see your headliner getting soaked or dripping water around the Map Lights area, especially after heavy rains, then most likely your drains are clogged. You want to eventually fix that sunroof.

[@ashleybarber2335]

I actually thought that i put this under the video of the motor change out ha. Does the sunroof need to be open to change the motor out?

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@ashleybarber2335 Haha, no worries. No, the sunroof doesn't need to be open. All work is done inside the vehicle.

[@nikitaso]

that's an easy drain to clean, i have rear driver side clogged

[@EverythingInBetween22]

I would try and unclog it from the bottom exit end. Either blow air up, that way, or get a super long piece a weedeater trimmer line and 'snake' it out from the bottom... or use both, is what I'd try.

[@nikitaso]

@EverythingInBetween22 yea thats the plan, i tried from top and couldn't get far

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@nikitaso Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

[@samuelugh5729]

I replaced the motor. Now I’m having issues not being able to drain the water. Water just don’t want to go.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

If air (canned or compressed) doesn't work, try using the weed eater (trimmer) method. Get a VERY long piece of weed eater/trimmer string and run it in and out of the drain hole and see if you can unclog it that way. If you can use a long enough trimmer string that sticks out of both drain holes, that'll let you know the hole isn't completely clogged and it should eventually get cleared. Use both air and trimmer string together to clear that drain. Pour a little water in the drain every so often to see if it's draining.

[@samuelugh5729]

@@EverythingInBetween22 ok. thanks. I’ll try that. I think its super clogged lol.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@samuelugh5729 Whatever you do, be careful putting chemicals. Do NOT use things like Drano. It is very aggressive and likely to tear up that tubing. If you have mud wasps in your region, they like to make homes in those drain lines. If you use a chemical, look into Splat bug off remover. It is less aggressive and can be diluted up to 1:48, but still ask around if that is suitable for sunroof drain lines. If it was me, that's what I would use If I couldn't loosen a drain line clog with air or trimmer string. Good luck and I hope you get it unclogged before rainy season comes back around.

[@samuelugh5729]

@@EverythingInBetween22 so have a update!!! got it fixed!!! used the air compressor and some trimmer. Thank you so much!!

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@samuelugh5729 Nice! glad you got it cleared out. Now just make sure to check it at least twice a year to prevent your motor from being submerged in the water. More, if you think it's getting clogged pretty quick. Thanks for the update.

[@landonelliott924]

Are those the only drainage holes?

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yes, two on the front. There are two on the rear but it seems like those are hardly used. Also, there seems to be no way to get to the rear drain holes unless you remove the glass moon roof but it's the front ones that clog the most due to the sunroof.

[@landonelliott924]

Ahhh yeah had to go the hard way. Which wasn’t hard but those plastic screws didn’t help. Spent an hour on one screw.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@landonelliott924 😦Ah man. Hope you got it going again.

[@landonelliott924]

@@EverythingInBetween22 i actually did, but your video did make my add an air compressor to a need in the garage. Appreciate it.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

@@landonelliott924 Glad to hear! And yes, you don't realize an air compressor's convenience, until you have one. Great thing to have in the garage.

[@user-qh9mw3xg1x]

Trimmer line needs to be at least 8 ft long.

[@EverythingInBetween22]

Yup, sounds about right.