Water draining into cowl - gets retained.

stevenmurray · 11-09-2003, 06:14 PM

I did more research on my sloshing problem and I'd need to understand where water entering the cowl is supposed to exit. I recreated the problem by spraying water only on the windshield. Remember the car is nose up on my moderately steep driveway. I sprayed water on the windshield and the left and right(good) side of the car acted differently. On the good side water came out in front of the front mud flap and at the rear of the plastic rocker panel just in front of the rear tire. On the bad side it came out behind the front mud flap and other places but not really at the low point - rear plastic rocker panel in front of rear tire.
When I drove off water was sloshing and came out of a freshly re-opened hole where the one front A-arm locating bolts goes through. Water ran out for 3 solid minutes. Nice solid stream. Actually scarey - where was all this water residing?

I'm taking it to the dealer Tuesday - who knows if the car will rust out if this is not attended to. Water does seem to come out of a slightly imperfect seam by the rear seat. Maybe the sound proofing in the floor is getting soaked.

I used to be able to buy factory manuals 20 years ago - and see what's supposed to happen. Now manual sets are probably $400 or more.

THis was one of the first 2000 outbacks made. Hum.
steve

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SubaH6 · 11-10-2003, 06:36 PM

You may need to take the mud flaps off and and also the inner plastic guard and check that leaves and dirt have not blocked up the drain holes there. Sometimes fine leaves or things like that can block up these drain holes etc. Maybe the previous owner had a tree that they parked it under that had fine leaves or something of that nature that blocked up that area of the car.

It is worth noting for any owner of a Subaru (or for that matter any car) that this area of the car needs to be cleaned out once a year by taking off the mudflap and plastic trim and giving it a good clean out with a hose. I do all my cars this way as dirt and muck seems to get caught in there.

stevenmurray · 11-14-2003, 08:48 AM

The dealer fixed this no charge. I didn't get all the details - some kind of clearance problem around the rocker area or trim. This was an early 2000 bought in Dec 99 - so maybe they worked this out for later built cars.
steve

Rally Medic · 12-02-2003, 09:03 AM

mattgrn · 12-11-2003, 04:01 PM

I too am having the same problem. Unfortuantely I didn't fidn it until I had standing water on the floor of my driverside backseat after a heavy rain. I have tried taking off the front mudflap and cleaning out behind there. Water is still collecting. There are a series of 10 or so plastic plugs along the bottom of the rocker. These were all closed when I found them. I have iopened them and lots of water came out. It seems these are not the regular way water is suppose to come out as they are normally sealed. Did you find out where the water is actually suppose to be exiting? ANybody have any thoughts?

stevenmurray · 12-13-2003, 07:36 PM

The service write-up just said something like clean body drains or chassis drains.

Hey - when I got wind it was a nocharge repair i was more interested in getting out of there before he changed his mind.

I took a peek under the car but didn't notice any changes.

sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe your dealer will fix it for free also??

steve

SubaH6 · 12-15-2003, 11:41 PM

The main thing is to make sure you periodically check and keep the drain holes clear everywhere around the car. Dirt and water get kicked up by the tyres whilst driving and get caught in the drain holes thus blocking them. Once or twice a year, remove the front mudflaps and clean in behind them and the drain holes. Also check the bottom of the door drain holes. These holes are there for a purpose, so don't let them get blocked!

11-09-2003, 06:14 PM	#1
stevenmurray Scooby Newbie Member#: 48030 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NY Vehicle: 2000 Legacy Outback	Water draining into cowl - gets retained. I did more research on my sloshing problem and I'd need to understand where water entering the cowl is supposed to exit. I recreated the problem by spraying water only on the windshield. Remember the car is nose up on my moderately steep driveway. I sprayed water on the windshield and the left and right(good) side of the car acted differently. On the good side water came out in front of the front mud flap and at the rear of the plastic rocker panel just in front of the rear tire. On the bad side it came out behind the front mud flap and other places but not really at the low point - rear plastic rocker panel in front of rear tire. When I drove off water was sloshing and came out of a freshly re-opened hole where the one front A-arm locating bolts goes through. Water ran out for 3 solid minutes. Nice solid stream. Actually scarey - where was all this water residing? I'm taking it to the dealer Tuesday - who knows if the car will rust out if this is not attended to. Water does seem to come out of a slightly imperfect seam by the rear seat. Maybe the sound proofing in the floor is getting soaked. I used to be able to buy factory manuals 20 years ago - and see what's supposed to happen. Now manual sets are probably $400 or more. THis was one of the first 2000 outbacks made. Hum. steve * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-10-2003, 06:36 PM	#2
SubaH6 Scooby Newbie Member#: 38460 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia. Vehicle: 2005 Liberty 3.0R B Obsidian Black	You may need to take the mud flaps off and and also the inner plastic guard and check that leaves and dirt have not blocked up the drain holes there. Sometimes fine leaves or things like that can block up these drain holes etc. Maybe the previous owner had a tree that they parked it under that had fine leaves or something of that nature that blocked up that area of the car. It is worth noting for any owner of a Subaru (or for that matter any car) that this area of the car needs to be cleaned out once a year by taking off the mudflap and plastic trim and giving it a good clean out with a hose. I do all my cars this way as dirt and muck seems to get caught in there.

11-14-2003, 08:48 AM	#3
stevenmurray Scooby Newbie Member#: 48030 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NY Vehicle: 2000 Legacy Outback	The dealer fixed this no charge. I didn't get all the details - some kind of clearance problem around the rocker area or trim. This was an early 2000 bought in Dec 99 - so maybe they worked this out for later built cars. steve

12-02-2003, 09:03 AM	#4
Rally Medic Scooby Specialist Member#: 28249 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Gravel Crew HQ Medic Vehicle: 1998 Outback Sport Dirty with some mud flaps

12-11-2003, 04:01 PM	#5
mattgrn Scooby Newbie Member#: 50367 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: MI Vehicle: 2000 Outback	I too am having the same problem. Unfortuantely I didn't fidn it until I had standing water on the floor of my driverside backseat after a heavy rain. I have tried taking off the front mudflap and cleaning out behind there. Water is still collecting. There are a series of 10 or so plastic plugs along the bottom of the rocker. These were all closed when I found them. I have iopened them and lots of water came out. It seems these are not the regular way water is suppose to come out as they are normally sealed. Did you find out where the water is actually suppose to be exiting? ANybody have any thoughts?

12-13-2003, 07:36 PM	#6
stevenmurray Scooby Newbie Member#: 48030 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NY Vehicle: 2000 Legacy Outback	The service write-up just said something like clean body drains or chassis drains. Hey - when I got wind it was a nocharge repair i was more interested in getting out of there before he changed his mind. I took a peek under the car but didn't notice any changes. sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe your dealer will fix it for free also?? steve

12-15-2003, 11:41 PM	#7
SubaH6 Scooby Newbie Member#: 38460 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia. Vehicle: 2005 Liberty 3.0R B Obsidian Black	The main thing is to make sure you periodically check and keep the drain holes clear everywhere around the car. Dirt and water get kicked up by the tyres whilst driving and get caught in the drain holes thus blocking them. Once or twice a year, remove the front mudflaps and clean in behind them and the drain holes. Also check the bottom of the door drain holes. These holes are there for a purpose, so don't let them get blocked!