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WCA

Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 26

Wet interior A Pillar trim

It has rained a lot recently. I got in the RR and noticed the A pillar was damp. I also noticed the trim in door jamb had water marks.

The damp patch was about level with the airbag sign but back nearer the door.
20180402_134756 by WCA!, on Flickr

I took the panel off but it was all dry behind there.

Click image to enlarge

20180402_140457 by WCA!, on Flickr

I decided to try and replicate the problem so I opened the sunroof and poured some hot water into the gutter above the driver door. The rain gutter filled up and the water didn't move suggesting a blocked rain pipe and then suddenly the water emptied and water dripped out from underneath the RR.

Great I thought, the blockage had cleared. Just to be sure I topped up the rain gutter again and the water just sat there again. Then it started dripping out of the door jamb right where the wire stick out. The wire just goes up into the dry bit behind the panel I removed earlier so it is not water running any distance along that.

Click image to enlarge

20180402_182649 by WCA!, on Flickr

A bit more prodding of the trim revealed the damp seemed to start at the roof as a bit of trim there was also wet.

Click image to enlarge

20180402_140507 by WCA!, on Flickr

So to summarise

1) Pouring water into the sunroof gutter fills the gutter and then just sits for a while.
2) The water clears quite suddenly after a short while either:
a) Out under the car which I assume is correct
b) Out through the interior of the car starting at the head lining and then running quickly down to slightly below window height
3) Although the damp I found was in the cloth trim on the A pillar, everything else behind the A Pillar trim was dry

Does anyone know IF there is a drain pipe running down the A Pillar somewhere?
Where is that then and how do I get to it?
Any better idea than trying to take the exterior A pillar trim off and having a poke around?

Thanks

2nd Apr 2018 6:37pm

GGDR

Member Since: 26 Nov 2016
Location: London
Posts: 3552

2011 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Stornoway Grey

search sunroof drain. I've read you can clear it by shoving some trimmer line down.

Good luck,
Greg Cheers, Greg
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

2nd Apr 2018 6:57pm

Clabs

Member Since: 08 Mar 2017
Location: Watford, Herts
Posts: 125

As Greg says - most likely the sunroof drains - the front drain tubes run down inside the A pillar.

Either a length of strimmer line or an old RJ45 network cable with the plug cut off should get it cleared out and maybe pour some warm soapy water down them for good measure. Current Cars:
MY11 5.0 SC Stornoway - sold
MY06 TD6 Zambezi - sold
1997 BMW E36 M3 Evolution Convertible Estoril

Last edited by Clabs on 3rd Apr 2018 5:24pm. Edited 1 time in total

2nd Apr 2018 7:30pm

WCA

Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 26

I have tried poking stuff down the hole but it seems to stick about 87 inches in. I have used some plastic tube and tried to blow it clear but it doesn't seem to work, or rather, it works to clear the water once but next time I pour water in it just fills again.

It seems that sometimes the water goes down the tube properly and sometimes it overflows and goes through the trim.

Is there any way to get at the drain pipe within the a pillar?

I shall try more hot soapy water while I wait.

3rd Apr 2018 11:14am

PaulTyrer

Member Since: 22 Jul 2013
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire
Posts: 1261

2006 Range Rover Supercharged 4.2 SC V8 Cairns Blue

If you can get hold of a can or the compressed air that you use to clean computer keyboards, try a quick squirt of the air down the sunroof drain.

3rd Apr 2018 1:17pm

Clabs

Member Since: 08 Mar 2017
Location: Watford, Herts
Posts: 125

Have a look at this thread:

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic14068....roof+drain

One of the pics is missing but there is still one showing where the drains exit under car. Looks like they are similar to the old Range Rover p38 drain tubes that had a kind of rubber valve thing on the ends. From that thread I linked to above, you should be able to get under the car and poke your chosen pokey wire from the bottom up.

Let us know how you get on. Current Cars:
MY11 5.0 SC Stornoway - sold
MY06 TD6 Zambezi - sold
1997 BMW E36 M3 Evolution Convertible Estoril

3rd Apr 2018 1:55pm

WCA

Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 26

ThanksI willsee if I can find the bottom end and pokeupwards

3rd Apr 2018 2:04pm

WCA

Member Since: 15 Jan 2017
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 26

Okay, I am not complaining but this is weird.

The RR is a UK model so the driver sits on the right and it is the drivers side a pillar that is damp.

I look at the thread linked to earlier and decide to look under the car for where the tube empties as that looks fairly obvious in the photo with a couple of pipes above it and the drain sticking out the side.. Of course mine looks different with just one pipe above and no obvious drain sticking out.

What I do see is a panel with some wet leaves stuck behind it. Clearly these leaves had been washed down the drain and were now blocking it as they got jammed behind the panel. Remove the leaves and remove the problem so I decided to photo document it for the forum..

1) Scratch and arrow on the side of your car before deciding just placing a lamp would be a better indication of where to start.

Click image to enlarge

20180403_142654 by WCA!, on Flickr

2) Undo the three 8mm screw/bolts from the panel so it drops down and you can remove the leaves. Outside of the car on the right of the photo. The offending 'plug' of leaves are in the 1st photo.

Click image to enlarge

20180403_151356 by WCA!, on Flickr

3) Feel a bit puzzled as, with the leaves removed, it really doesn't look much like a drain hole and why are there the other holes?

Click image to enlarge

20180403_142704 by WCA!, on Flickr

4) Check if that has helped by opening the sunroof and pouring half a kettle of ward water down the right side of the sunroof gutter. When I did this yesterday the wate backed up very quickly but this time it drained almost as quicklly as I poured...

Success!

The wife comes out to see why I had stolen the kettle as asks why all the water is coming out of the passenger (left) side of the car if I have fixed the drivers (right) side of it.

I was curious too so went round to the passenger side, scratched an arrow on the paint again...

Click image to enlarge

20180403_152039 by WCA!, on Flickr

... had a look under the car and there was the drain port sticking out with water still dripping.

Click image to enlarge

20180403_151934 by WCA!, on Flickr

In summary:
a) The drain was blocked
b) I removed, cleaned and replaced an unrelated piece of car.
c) The drain was now unblocked.

Wierd

3rd Apr 2018 3:47pm

PaulTyrer

Member Since: 22 Jul 2013
Location: Devizes, Wiltshire
Posts: 1261

You are forgetting one crucial thing here......

It's a Range Rover!!

3rd Apr 2018 4:32pm

Clabs

Member Since: 08 Mar 2017
Location: Watford, Herts
Posts: 125

I don't think that is where the drain tube is on the drivers side - I think it is further back and tucked away behind the air tank. Here is another thread for you:

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic33664....oof+drains

Scroll down a bit for photos.

Looks like you are getting there though Current Cars:
MY11 5.0 SC Stornoway - sold
MY06 TD6 Zambezi - sold
1997 BMW E36 M3 Evolution Convertible Estoril

3rd Apr 2018 5:58pm

lounge_on_wheels

Member Since: 10 Dec 2016
Location: in the great land of oz
Posts: 269

I was told brush cutter nylon line ( the whipper snipper, weed whacker, brush cutter what ever they are called in your region) is stiff and flexible enough to feed down the drain.

3rd Apr 2018 11:23pm

nino_nino

Member Since: 29 Mar 2015
Location: pocitelj
Posts: 690

2012 Range Rover Autobiography Black TDV8 Santorini Black

^^^
+1
use cigaret lighter or similar to soften the plastic and round of the tip of the linne. I use it twice a year as preventive measure.

Nino,

4th Apr 2018 1:44pm

mpirie

Member Since: 26 Jun 2012
Location: In the Highlands
Posts: 908

2013 Range Rover Autobiography SDV8 Luxor

Not having had this problem myself, i'd suggest working from the bottom up when cleaning the drain out.

If you push some strimmer wire from the top down, there may be a chance that you could push the rubber hose off the sunroof drain outlet if you use too much force?

Mike

5th Apr 2018 8:27am

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