How do you clean drains? I know where they are but how do you clean them?

[saaber]

Had lots of water pool in the area underneath the back window. It looks like the drain on the drivers side under then top is the culprit. I tried sticking a wire down there but it only goes in a couple inches through the hole in the metal (not a couple inches form the top of the foam). Used this method for saab convertibles in the past (ran wire up from bottom) and it worked great but can't get it to work on the boxster.

Is this drain a very small plastic tube that runs down to the bottom of the car? What does the drain itself look like? (plastic tube, rubber cone, etc.) How have you guys cleaned it? found the diagrams and discussions here but they don't say how to do the actual cleaning. Thanks for any help.

Man that foam holds a lot of water!

[Padawan]

I used compressed air to clean mine, but they weren't very clogged to begin with.

[Paul]

Weed wacker string works.

[saaber]

Originally Posted by Padawan

I used compressed air to clean mine, but they weren't very clogged to begin with.

I went back and looked at the other thread again, and simbob also says says a combination of compressed air, and also a vacuum ...to suck crud out of the bottom it looks like (probably not needed). I'll give it a shot, hopefully it won't be too plugged that the compressed air won't work. I thought I found the drains but I need to look for the second set near the door jambs under the top.

old thread is here fyi:

Water getting into car inevitable??

[rick3000]

This is sort of on topic, does anyone know if you need to worry about the drains leaking of you have a hardtop on?

Also, I've heard air compressors are the best way to clean the drains.

[saaber]

Originally Posted by rick3000

This is sort of on topic, does anyone know if you need to worry about the drains leaking of you have a hardtop on?

Also, I've heard air compressors are the best way to clean the drains.

I don't have a hardtop but 2 of the drain holes in the rear are located to the outside of the metal panel that goes up and down (I'll call it the "cover"). The drain holes themselves are in the rear quarter panel. So if water can get into the gap between the cover and the quarter panel when the hardtop is on, those drains would be affected.

The other 2 drains in the rear are down inside the bay where the top goes and I would guess those 2 would not be affected but I haven't seen a hard top on so I'm not sure.