Not posting this is issues/problem section since I don't know if I have an issue or problem yet. This is more an observation and question.

I was washing my car, and some standing water got on the platform that the wipers sit on. I notice there is a decent sized hole there on the passenger side where the water was, but the water didn't drain through it. Or not at any great speed anyway. I don't have any leaks in the car though. Is that in fact a drain, or is it a vent? When you wash, does water sit there for a bit?

Car is not even two weeks old, can't imagine it would be clogged.

Thanks!

 

Yes, it is a drain. I have pushed a wire through it to open it up. The last time I washed the car I put the water hose nozzle up tight against it and turned it on. This pushed whatever was in it out.

My problem with it getting clogged is this. I park my Mini in the driveway under a large maple tree. This time of year all kinds of junk drop from the tree onto the car. This stuff clogs the drain quickly. It really doesn't matter if the car is new or old. Are you finding the same problem?

 

There's a coincidence... I sometimes park my MINI under our maple too. And yes, that hole has plugged up a time or two. It's easy to unclog, fortunately.

Spridget

 

So it is a drain....thats scary that its clogged already. I don't park under trees. Must be clogged from the factory. I opened the hood to see where drain goes....hard to tell.

I should push a wire through it?

 

It's sort of a dumb place for the hole anyway, every time I wash my car the water just pools around the hole and never even comes close to it...

 

Forcing water down the hole using your garden hose seemed to be the easiest fix for me. When it opens, you see the water disappearing so you know its open!

 

You aren't concerned about water getting in the cabin if its too strong and it breaks the tube loose?

Does anyone know where the hole drains exactly?

 

Actually, I fixed it. I poured water in so it was standing, then stuck a screwdriver in the drain. The water immediately drained. It actually drained behind the front wheel somewhere.

Thanks for the replies.

 

Ive got the same problem, I notice it everytime I wash.....

 

Interesting, as I too have this problem and have from day one.

Jim

 

I'm going to resurrect this thread because I've noticed the same standing water issue in the wiper tray on my '08.

I have a pair of hemostats that I can use to grab larger chunks of debris that get stuck close to the top. Beyond that I've been keeping a three-foot piece of weed-whacker cord in the boot. It's nice and flexible and I don't think it's as prone to damage the drain line as much as say, a piece of baling wire or an E-string from a guitar.

I had to wait for a dry day to test, but I pooled water in the tray, then gently worked the weed-whacker cord into the drain hole.

Without having the car lifted up it's hard to see where the end of the drain line is. I can only see that it runs off the frame in a couple different places behind the fender well.

I'm still worried that one day I'll have a particularly large mass of junk in there and I'll end up pushing the drain line right off.

 

a good stream of water from a hose does the trick for me.
I park my car outside (no garage) and it gets clogged every few months.

 

glue a small piece of nylon screen over the hole with silicon.