My central locking keeps packing in and I think it's because of moisture getting into the control unit behind the speaker in the driver footwell. Just taken it out again and noticed that what I presume to be a drain tube in the same cavity seems quite loose.
If I move it I can hear the top end of it moving about half way up the A-Pillar (it sounds like half way....but I could be wrong). The bottom is cut at an angle and doesn't seem to have anywhere to attach to.
Can anyone provide a diagram/explanation/anything that will tell me what I need to do?!
Dan
A-Pillar drain pipe???
Moderator: martauto
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ian332isport
- E30 Zone Team Member

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- Location: West Sussex
Dan,
That's one of the sunroof drain tubes. They just drain down into the space below the central locking unit, and the water drains out through small holes in the underside of the sill.
It's possible the drain holes are blocked with gunge, and the water is building up until it gets to the electronics.
The pipe itself does not clip into anything, but it's normally held in place by the plastic cover that normally sits above the central locking unit.
Cheers,
Ian.
That's one of the sunroof drain tubes. They just drain down into the space below the central locking unit, and the water drains out through small holes in the underside of the sill.
It's possible the drain holes are blocked with gunge, and the water is building up until it gets to the electronics.
The pipe itself does not clip into anything, but it's normally held in place by the plastic cover that normally sits above the central locking unit.
Cheers,
Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
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Danstable
- E30 Zone Regular

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Thanks for the reply, I think my car has been butchered coz I don't remember a plastic cover. There's no water pooled in the bottom of the cavity, and it all feels completely rust free down there.
To the best of your knowledge, should the top end of the tube be fixed as it sounds as though any water coming down the A-Pillar would not go down the tube but rather carry on down the inside of the A-Pillar and down onto my control unit?!
To the best of your knowledge, should the top end of the tube be fixed as it sounds as though any water coming down the A-Pillar would not go down the tube but rather carry on down the inside of the A-Pillar and down onto my control unit?!
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ian332isport
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 5380
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: West Sussex
Yes, the top end of the tube should be connected to the metal drain pipe on the sunroof support tray. Unfortunately, it's not very easy to get at. You need to partially peel back the headlining in the front corner to get at it. To do this. you need to remove the sun visors, and the panel they sit in.Danstable wrote:To the best of your knowledge, should the top end of the tube be fixed as it sounds as though any water coming down the A-Pillar would not go down the tube but rather carry on down the inside of the A-Pillar and down onto my control unit?!
Cheers,
Ian.
If it aint broke - Modify it...
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Danstable
- E30 Zone Regular

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- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Sheffield
Bugger! Another job to do. Car got broken into on Friday night, smashed a window and buggered the passenger lock. Didn't get in and there was nothing to nick in it anyway....ironic thing is, the drivers door was completely unlocked anyway due to buggered central locking and driver side barrel!
Ho hum...
Thanks for the advice by the way
Ho hum...
Thanks for the advice by the way
