MX5 / Miata Sill and Roof Drains - how to locate and unblock

[@guanqiaowang7586]

that's probably the only video that shows the exact location of the drains. good job!

[@Belindaxtz660]

The wire that you call the penetrator is that something you put together or where can we buy one from??

[@ianrichardson5160]

That's how I clean mine although I never drag the cleaner back up the roof drains due to the valve/flap, just one way. good video of where to locate them. also there's a drain hole next to the fuel filler cap that can get blocked (mk2)

[@valcian1]

Agreed, not sure why he dragged it back up rather than pulling it all the way through!

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

The 'Penetrator' doesn't cause any damage to the flaps when pulled back up

[@seanchapman5959]

Stop all the dirt and shit getting all over the interior too

[@nekosinner9177]

One other thing that's worth checking is the plastic/rubber rain rail. I kept getting wet carpet next to where the passenger side roof drain is even though I'd cleaned them out. I removed the soft top and discovered that the rain rail was damaged and blocked with dirt and debris on that side. Since I've cleaned it out and repaired it seems to have fixed the issue.

[@dwigman1]

The most helpful advice on a much discussed issue. Thanks chaps

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chriselliott2782]

Brilliant video... sounded like I had s private lake swishing under my seat...used a cable tie and out it came..well done😎

[@RobTheFrugalist]

Thanks. Wondered what the sloshing noise was thought it was petrol tank until someone said it was under the door. Quick check of the vid and 1 cable tie later a tonne of water came out. Thanks and yes Tackleberry I knew who you were talking about 😅.

[@LV.426]

Great video, i didnt know about the sill drains, thanks for sharing👍

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

No problem 👍

[@golders99]

I always put the roof down to do this. Makes it super quick.

[@LouSkunt44]

Lol yeah same I was just about to say! Always cleaned them with the roof down too much faffing around with it up!

[@mevcarter6664]

Very well done, great to see exactly where it all was. I didn't know about the sill drains before 👍

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Glad it was helpful!

[@simonward9224]

Thanks for doing this. Been wondering where the sill drains were!

[@dommarston23]

I thought the advice was to not pull the trombone cleaner back up, but pull down & out once it emerges underneath . Because the valve midway down (where the cleaner gets stopped initially) can break when you pull it upwards?

[@golders99]

Yes your right, insert from the top and pull it down gently. Never push it back up, as there are sound deadning/flaps which you can damage.

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

The flaps are very strong, you would have to try very hard to break them, they are basically rubber flaps that are part of the moulding on the tube at the bottom

[@dommarston23]

@@lightsuplightsdown3018 ok, thanks for the reply

[@just_passing_through]

I’ve cleaned/checked my sill drains (2003 NB 2.5) many times, but I had no idea the water from the roof didn’t channel to the same holes. Where can I get a ‘penetrator’?

[@chriselliott2782]

I used an old TV airel cable..

[@neillchippett655]

Are the sill drains the same on the Mazda 2 mk3 ?

[@PTSOPHOTO]

Nice video! I currently have an issue with my '93 miata. The floor on the driver side including under the seat is completely soaked in water and I have no idea where it's coming from. Any ideas what it might be?

[@eblegendswar6657]

Hey did you fix this, currently have the same problem on my '92

[@PTSOPHOTO]

@@eblegendswar6657 I might've found a solution to my problem. Turns out there was a bunch of water stored on the side panel of the driver side just at the door frame. I unblocked one of the rain drainage system and I filled up almost an entire bucket of water. I was quite shocked. But now my floors seem to be super dry. So I'm going to assume it was that

[@visitorvisitor4590]

Are drain holes under the floor carpet?

[@AC-sb9ut]

Good vid, ( as usual) What about the drain hole in the petrol flap area?

[@KineticLatency]

Pops out in the rear wheel arch I think.

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

We will try to include that in a video at some point

[@77Cfriend]

Thanks for the info...so the sill drains are just slits in the body seam? and where is the top of them?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

yes, just slits in the pinch weld on the bottom sill panels

[@just_passing_through]

I was always under the impression that the water from the rain rail channelled into the sills and then out of the car but clearly this is wrong.And the follow-up question. If the water from the roof goes down the ‘roof drains’, what is the source of the water that enters the sills?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Various ways, condensation, through all the seams, over flowing roof drains, etc etc

[@gimmefuel7268]

Hey Lights Up, thanks a heap for this vid! Now I know where all my drains are. Question for you please, after watching your video, I used a trombone cleaner to try & clean the roof drains on our 2003 NB. The driver side drains just fine from the rubber hose underneath the car. The “passenger” side however, instead of draining out the rubber hose at the bottom like it’s SUPPOSED to, drains out the sill drains!! Does this mean that the rubber drain hose has become disconnected inside the door sill somehow?? Should I just leave it as it is?? I would REALLY love your input on this. Thank you so much.

[@wayneskynet8265]

Man i looked for years to find a clean mk 2 mx5 with out any sill rust and could never find one. If only people did this regularly when the owned a mx5. Would u ever recommend spraying anything into the sills to prevent rust?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Yes we would recommend spraying Cavity wax into the inside of the sills, we do that as part of our undersealing process www.themx5restorer.co.uk/services/rust-prevention/

[@golders99]

Very helpful. Will do mine tomorrow

[@vincifernandez1137]

Highly informative, bravo

[@ragingbalrog]

Shame you couldn't have put this out in 1989, would have helped to keep a shed load of Mx5's on the road & mk1 prices down a touch, Cheers fella's.

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Glad you found the video useful

[@teamtls]

Are the seal drains located in the same/similar place on the mk 3?

[@antonyross9957]

there are drain holes under the bonnet by the hinges under the windscreen pillars!

[@nigelhawthorn8835]

Brilliant - at last someone tells you about the sill drains as well as the roof drains on a MX-5

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

Thank you, I’m glad you found it useful

[@fredziffle1991]

One more which ihad block3d to the extent that if id have taken the petrol cap off id have got water into the fuel tank..... inside the filler flap resess there is another drain which tends to get small debris and leaves in it.

[@Blingus69]

I accidentally pushed my drainage hose out the bottom of the car. How would I go about reattaching this hose?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

hmmm, not easy, sometimes you can push it back up from underneath and get it to locate correctly, if not you will need to remove the plastic hopper at the top, which usually means you need to remove the roof to get access

[@Blingus69]

For anyone else who had the same issue it was a relatively easy fix. I used a wire coat hanger and pushed it out the drain hole at the bottom of the rear quarter panel. Then once I had my wire I pushed the hose onto a hook that I made in the wire. I used the wire to guide the hose back up and pull it tightly onto the plastic hopper. I already had my soft top out but folding it should also work. If you have a hardtop your best bet it’s removing it to clean or re-attach

[@mick0846]

Is the mk2 cill drains the same

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

No, they are different on the Mk2

[@RoxusRemo]

Thanks for this. Would you recommend wire brushing surface rust, treating with dinitrol rc900 converter and then painting wherever you can get to? Also, do you have to cut into the outside sill to see the inner? This is where I worry I have rust I'm not aware of!

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

cleaning off any surface rust and treating with a good quality rust convertor before underselling is always a good idea

[@RoxusRemo]

@@lightsuplightsdown3018 Hi again, can you confirm where the rain rail is? Is this the strip of plastic that runs behind where the softtop folds from?

[@paulbrice3708]

How about showing the variations with the newer models, MK3 onwards?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

We will try to do a Mk3 at some point, we have done a video showing how to unblock the roof drains on the Mk3 kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5jOkoOZaal6nKc

[@jonathanleach3914]

really helpful...thanks for doing this film...

[@gam1471]

Very helpful and clear; thank you!

[@johnroddy8756]

The Drain exits especially under neat,should be be more distinct and larger.most owners never see them,despite the book provided

[@husseintaleb8799]

Wouldn't pushing the debris back in the sill make them reclog it?

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

That is a fair comment, however the is no way to get access to the inside of the sills to be able to push and debris back out the bottom, so the only option is to push it up and check them often, unblocking again if needed

[@X774M]

Goes to unblock sills sticks the zip tie in, goes fully in.... What is this blockage.

[@danlewis7641]

Thank you. This was very helpful

[@epp9122]

Great video thanks!

[@garyf5192]

Really helpful.

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

thank you, glad you found it useful

[@therealspixycat]

which model looks deceptively misleading better on the outside on the typical rust area: the Na or Nb? You mentioned it in one of your many many video's

[@AC-sb9ut]

Na

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

To be honest I wouldn't say either hides it better than the other, it's all down to how much effort someone might have gone to to hide rust, and that can happen on an NA or NB

[@brapinator8500]

i found where all my water was sitting it started to piss like a race horse, thank you

[@andyvaid69]

17 Holes on them....

[@joller79]

Great one guys. Keep those helpfull do it your self guides, tips and tricks.... Oh and love the comment. Cant find the hole. And Wrong place. Just my sick form of humor maybe. Edit. Link for Ash. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZKWp5WJh5mkjbc

[@lightsuplightsdown3018]

I'll pass that link on to Ash!!