Just cleaned my drainage tubes.
Discussion
I have been suffering the seashell effect in the passenger side of my Mk3, after a quick Google it was widely suggested that a trombone brush down the drainage hole might be the cure.
Well a £5 eBay trombone brush was duly purchased so the suggested remedy could be carried out.
Trombone brush delivered yesterday, so this morning i have been out and used it.
The process was very simple.
1. Open hood 3/4 way, used something or someone to support it. I used a 5 ltr oil bottle.
2. Poke the trombone brush down through the square hole in the drainage tray behind the seat. Patients is needed here as you may not find the drainage hole first time. Once you have found the drainage hole, feed the brush down through slowly until it exits under the car just in front of the rear wheel. Due to the drainage tubes having a 1 way rubber flap i would say it would not be advisable to pull the brush back up the drainage tube for fear of pulling the 1 way flap in and getting it stuck open.
3. Repeat step 2 as many times as you fell necessary.
4. Put a small funnel in the drainage tube and flush with water (optional).
That's it job done.
As i said with mine i was suffering from the seashell effect, increased road noise.
I completed all of the above steps and now the problem is cured.
If you are suffering from seashell effect, you may as i did have the 1 way rubber flap at the end of the drainage tube stuck open.
To check this you can do as i did, lie down beside the rear wheel, put you hand under the car and locate the drainage tube exit. Insert you little finger and feel for the flap, mine was about an inch inside the tube and clearly open. Go careful when you insert you finger in the tube as the is a sharp point inside which i cut my finger on several times.
When i first inserted the trombone brush and feed it down the drainage tube it became stuck when it encountered the 1 way flap. A little pressure was enough to push the flap through the correct way and allow the trombone brush to pass through.
After this i inserted my little finger into the tube again and this time i could feel the flap closed in the tube. I flushed it through with water and all is now good,
Carry out the above steps and hopefully you to will cure your seashell problem.
Well a £5 eBay trombone brush was duly purchased so the suggested remedy could be carried out.
Trombone brush delivered yesterday, so this morning i have been out and used it.
The process was very simple.
1. Open hood 3/4 way, used something or someone to support it. I used a 5 ltr oil bottle.
2. Poke the trombone brush down through the square hole in the drainage tray behind the seat. Patients is needed here as you may not find the drainage hole first time. Once you have found the drainage hole, feed the brush down through slowly until it exits under the car just in front of the rear wheel. Due to the drainage tubes having a 1 way rubber flap i would say it would not be advisable to pull the brush back up the drainage tube for fear of pulling the 1 way flap in and getting it stuck open.
3. Repeat step 2 as many times as you fell necessary.
4. Put a small funnel in the drainage tube and flush with water (optional).
That's it job done.
As i said with mine i was suffering from the seashell effect, increased road noise.
I completed all of the above steps and now the problem is cured.
If you are suffering from seashell effect, you may as i did have the 1 way rubber flap at the end of the drainage tube stuck open.
To check this you can do as i did, lie down beside the rear wheel, put you hand under the car and locate the drainage tube exit. Insert you little finger and feel for the flap, mine was about an inch inside the tube and clearly open. Go careful when you insert you finger in the tube as the is a sharp point inside which i cut my finger on several times.
When i first inserted the trombone brush and feed it down the drainage tube it became stuck when it encountered the 1 way flap. A little pressure was enough to push the flap through the correct way and allow the trombone brush to pass through.
After this i inserted my little finger into the tube again and this time i could feel the flap closed in the tube. I flushed it through with water and all is now good,
Carry out the above steps and hopefully you to will cure your seashell problem.
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