Found a good sunroof drain cleaner - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JimmyL · #1 12-05-2007, 12:20 AM

It isn't the most rugged of tool suppliers, but there is a place in this world for Harbor Freight Tools!
I have been looking for something good to clean out the drains, or ream the rear drain of the wagon as it leaks into the headliner when it rains. Seemed like the driver's side rear drain might have been clogged.
Many folks have talked about using weed eater trimmer line, but that just wasn't rigid enough. I needed something that wasn't too fat, but would still poke through the drains.
Here it is:

Drip Irrigation Kit

And it has a nice cheap price tag too!
It worked really well. Here is how it comes:

and then laid out straight

Plenty of length to even get through a wagon drain, which was my patient of choice.
First I started by taping around the area where the drain comes out {D pillar on wagons} to protect the paint and the edging. This is a metal spring type auger after all .

Now it isn't real easy to get something started in the drain hole, but the thin springy tip of this auger just "finds" it way into the drain opening with just a small amount of correct wiggling.

Then you just poke it through until it enters the sunroof area.

It is super easy to get it into the front drain, and then see it come out in between the door and front 1/4 panel.

All in all an effective little tool.....

BoomInTheTrunk · #2 12-05-2007, 02:24 AM

thats cool i never knew that was a drain. things you learn everyday.

vstech · #3 12-05-2007, 09:23 AM

that point sure looks damaging. aren't the drains rubber in some spots? could that point tear up things?

JimmyL · #4 12-05-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

that point sure looks damaging. aren't the drains rubber in some spots? could that point tear up things?

It simply follows along the path of the tube, and other than an obstruction there really isn't anything for it to tear into. The path after all is made for the flow of water. The end isn't really that rigid, at least not at all to the point that it would tear anything up.
It is perfect for the job!

Dee8go · #5 12-05-2007, 10:06 AM

That looks like a regular drain snake except much smaller in diameter. My roof leaks, too. Maybe it's the drains. I replaced my sunroof gaskets, thinking they were the culprits. Maybe I'd better check those drains, too. Thanks for the tip!

Kpmurphy · #6 12-05-2007, 12:30 PM

the day i got my 1980 300SD i was cleaning it out, some old timer pulled up and was looking at my car, back in the day he restored MBs, we were talking, I told him the sun roof was leaking, i asked if i should replace the seals, he said no that will not help, he said you need to clean out the drains, and yes they were cloged. i cleaned the front drains, i could never figure out how to get to the drans in the back of the sun roof, now i do thanks guys.

omegabenz · #7 02-09-2008, 06:36 AM

Cool, so basically the sunroof drains originate in the same place on the coupe right? Do you think a welding rod would work ok for now?

Shawn D. · #8 02-09-2008, 10:15 AM

Good thinkin' there, Jimmy! I have one of those snakes in my basement already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

that point sure looks damaging. aren't the drains rubber in some spots? could that point tear up things?

It wouldn't be too hard to bend the tip inward a bit if that's a concern.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

My roof leaks, too. Maybe it's the drains. I replaced my sunroof gaskets, thinking they were the culprits. Maybe I'd better check those drains, too.

The sunroof seals aren't meant to be water-tight and will only prevent the majority of water from getting through. They'd have to be non-flocked rubber and fit tighter to do that, and then the sunroof would be harder to get open.

TheDon · #9 02-09-2008, 10:51 AM

I'm picking one of those things up tomorrow...

Chad300tdt · #10 02-09-2008, 11:15 AM

Nice write up and pics JimmyL. When I cleaned my drains, I used some weed whacker line and an old speedo cable. When cleaning out the rear sunroof drains I had to use a small wand extension on my wet/dry vac to clean the leaves that got into the sunroof cavity and the crud that got pushed up from the drain tubes.

JimmyL · #11 02-09-2008, 12:10 PM

It's too bad that clogged rear drains weren't my problem. At least I was able to verify that they were open, and had they not been that tool acts like it was made for the job.
Rain still floods the wagon, and I pull the driver's A-pillar piece off and can see the water running down the headliner from back towards the mid/rear sunroof area then down the A-pillar area to the floor, then to backseat floor.
I guess maybe the rear drain and the rubber line could be separated, but how the he!! can I get to that!!

I fear the headliner.......

TheDon · #12 02-09-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

I guess maybe the rear drain and the rubber line could be separated, but how the he!! can I get to that!!

I fear the headliner.......

When I pulled the headliner frame out of a w123 sedan its pretty obvious that the rubber connection from the headliner to the metal line in the C pillar was rotted out.

I have a little bit of rust starting on the rear window lip. I need to take care of that.. but its nothing major and will be dealt with once I get the interior done.

JimmyL · #13 02-09-2008, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

When I pulled the headliner frame out of a w123 sedan its pretty obvious that the rubber connection from the headliner to the metal line in the C pillar was rotted out.

I have a little bit of rust starting on the rear window lip. I need to take care of that.. but its nothing major and will be dealt with once I get the interior done.

You mean the sunroof frame??

Does the headliner have to come out to pull the sunroof assy?

TheDon · #14 02-09-2008, 12:24 PM

the sunroof assembly.. as in the sliding portion?

removing the slider is easy.. remove the fabric covered metal plate ( careful not to bend, a 2x4 cut to thickness and width helps)... then unbolt the cable and it comes out through the top

removing the sunroof and headliner frame on the other hand is fun.. For the sedans you have to remove the rear window since that is the only way it will come out. For the wagons.. I'm not sure...

Bama1 · #15 02-09-2008, 03:38 PM

That snake sure is heavy duty and would remove most any blockage...but to be on the safe side, I would only use it after trying everything else first. The .130 mm diameter commercial grade trimmer string which is about the size of this "o" works great for me. Of course, I use it to chase the drain tubes pretty regularly and have not had to force thru caked-up or plugged stuff.