plenum drain rubber tube

[david75]

[edit: thread title should of course say "rubber", not "ribber"!]

Today I changed the pollen filter and checked the plenum for water, leaves, etc.

No leaves (I had previously fitted the Jules plenum leaf guard), and all bone dry in spite of rain etc. No sign of any water level mark on the old pollen filter either, so all good so far.

This being the first time since I bought the car that I had been able to get a proper look with covers off, pollen filter removed, etc, I shone the torch down there and saw this.



As you can see, no rubber tube.

Presumably removed by a previous owner. Which is probably why it was so dry. But not ideal because, as we know, the rubber tube is supposed to take the water away under the car and not allow it to get into the gap between the bulkheads.

Anyway, I now have 2 questions:

1. What is the part number for a new rubber plenum drain tube.
Rimmers lists more than one and I don't know which is which. See here - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID001828 several items listed against Part No 9

2. In the photo, I expected not to see anything below the drain hole where the rubber tube would go, but there appears to be something else positioned across the hole below it. Can anyone tell me whether it is supposed to be there, what it is, and whether the rubber tube just bends a bit to go beside/around it? I'd have thought that doing that might affect the drainage of any water.

thank you

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by david75

[edit: thread title should of course say "rubber", not "ribber"!]

Today I changed the pollen filter and checked the plenum for water, leaves, etc.

No leaves (I had previously fitted the Jules plenum leaf guard), and all bone dry in spite of rain etc. No sign of any water level mark on the old pollen filter either, so all good so far.

This being the first time since I bought the car that I had been able to get a proper look with covers off, pollen filter removed, etc, I shone the torch down there and saw this.



As you can see, no rubber tube.

Presumably removed by a previous owner. Which is probably why it was so dry. But not ideal because, as we know, the rubber tube is supposed to take the water away under the car and not allow it to get into the gap between the bulkheads.

Anyway, I now have 2 questions:

1. What is the part number for a new rubber plenum drain tube.
Rimmers lists more than one and I don't know which is which. See here - http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID001828 several items listed against Part No 9

2.

. Can anyone tell me whether it is supposed to be there, what it is, and whether the rubber tube just bends a bit to go beside/around it? I'd have thought that doing that might affect the drainage of any water.

thank you

Hi David
That is the rubber tube lying inside the plenum, looks like someone as been over enthusiastic and pushed it through, seen this a few times at the nano meets, use some long nosed pliers to pull it out, smear it with some grease or fairy liquid and re-state you will need to remove the ECU to get to it though cheers Arctic

[T-Cut]

The tube illustrated in The Rimmer listing is an upper drain tube. The plenum floor tubes are fatter and have a second sealing flange to go around the hole in the lower panel. Here's a photo of both:



On my car, the line of sight through both holes is the ground underneath. Don't know what yours shows but the tube definitely isn't supposed to bend around anything. Is it the under engine panel? I don't have the full size one.

TC

[p2roverman]

I'm sure the tube is missing/displaced on one of my cars. Under these circumstances where does rain water go? I'm not aware of any water getting into the car though it does mist up inside overnight.

[p2roverman]

Originally Posted by p2roverman

I'm sure the tube is missing/displaced on one of my cars.

Further to my last post, are the plenum drain tubes available? I can't find them in Rimmers list (looking at the body section which seems logical).

Or do I ask from a member breaking a car?

[david75]

Originally Posted by Arctic

Hi David
That is the rubber tube lying inside the plenum, looks like someone as been over enthusiastic and pushed it through, seen this a few times at the nano meets, use some long nosed pliers to pull it out, smear it with some grease or fairy liquid and re-state you will need to remove the ECU to get to it though cheers Arctic

That's really helpful. I'll have a go at extracting it! Sounds as if it might be a bit of a job, depending on how bendy the rubber is.

[T-Cut]

Originally Posted by p2roverman

Under these circumstances where does rain water go?

Good question. Nobody knows really but it most likely dribbles under the upper floor panel and disappears between that and the lower floor panel.

TC

[grivas]

Originally Posted by david75

That's really helpful. I'll have a go at extracting it! Sounds as if it might be a bit of a job, depending on how bendy the rubber is.

Don't just grub and pull, get hold it with long thin nosed pliers, at one end and move it along so as to be able to thread it through the bulk head, take your time it will be OK.

[T-Cut]

Don't forget that there are two floor panels to seal with the rubber tube. Refer to the photo. I suspect the lower floor needs tackling from underneath once the upper (plenum floor) hole has been done.

TC

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

Don't forget that there are two floor panels to seal with the rubber tube. Refer to the photo. I suspect the lower floor needs tackling from underneath once the upper (plenum floor) hole has been done.

TC

Hopefully if the top sealing area has a decent coating of silicone mastic around it no water will leak past to cause corrosion below.

As long as the bottom of the tube is through the lower hole, that is.