Trapped water in heater air intake

[pharriso]

If I look through the heater air intake grills (between bonnet & windshield) I can see standing water.

Is there a drain that is blocked? & if yes, where is that drain?

TIA

[billwill]

On mine it is in the corner on the drivers (right) side.

It is a bonded in short metal tube, approx 1/4 inch I think,and there is supposed to be a plastic pipe squished onto it and led down below the floor. I think between the body & chassis.

Poking with a stiff wire might find yours and clear it.

[oldelanman]

No plastic tube in mine, it's about 1/2" dia and leads straight out above the bell housing .....

[Jeff@Jae]

That plenum originally had a rubber grommet/bulb in the drain hole.I think it was from the heater plenum in the 105E Anglia.

[pharriso]

Ok guys, so how do I remove the grill? There's no obvious screws etc

[richardcox_lotus]

From memory I think you just have to "pinch" it - just try & gently lift it from the middle as it is held in place by - I think - 4 prongs.

Richard

[oldelanman]

The grille should just pull out. There are two wire "legs" at each end which may be pushed into little plastic plugs like those used to hold the letters on the boot lid so a straight pull should get it out. Alternatively the "legs" may just go straight into holes in the body and be splayed out slightly to keep the grille in place, in that case you need to bow it upwards in the centre as you lift so the "legs" become vertical and clear the holes in the body. Somewhat easier to do than to explain.

You may find that you can clear the blockage without taking the grille out, either with a piece of wire as Bill suggested or from below - you can feel the outlet on the sloping face of the bulkhead over the bellhousing just about inline with the RHS of the rocker cover.

[pharriso]

You may find that you can clear the blockage without taking the grille out, either with a piece of wire as Bill suggested or from below - you can feel the outlet on the sloping face of the bulkhead over the bellhousing just about inline with the RHS of the rocker cover.

That worked a treat! Poked around with a coat hanger...drip drip... poke some more...whoosh!

Many thanks!

[pharriso]

Happened again due to falling leaves & extreme rainfall; for future reference here is a photo down the heater air intake between the engine bay & windshield looking down from the top from the front, the drain is on the right side of the car from the drivers seat.

[alan.barker]

Hi Phil,
That's a bit light only cleaning the drain once in 11 years lol
Alan

[gjz30075]

Phil, maybe mounting a fine mesh screen to the bottom of the grille would keep out the stuff
that would clog the drain.

[pharriso]

Phil, maybe mounting a fine mesh screen to the bottom of the grille would keep out the stuff
that would clog the drain.

Thanks Greg, have you done this? If so what did you use & can you post a picture?

[lotusfan]

Phil

The MGB has an air inlet in front of the windscreen similar to the Elan. Moss Europe and Mossmotors in US do a stainless mesh as an addition to stop leaves blocking the inlet.

https://mossmotors.com/471-025-screen-a ... t_products

[gjz30075]

Phil, no, I haven't done this.

[pharriso]

Phil

The MGB has an air inlet in front of the windscreen similar to the Elan. Moss Europe and Mossmotors in US do a stainless mesh as an addition to stop leaves blocking the inlet.

https://mossmotors.com/471-025-screen-a ... t_products

What a superb suggestion!

I bought 2 of the MGB meshes from Moss ( $8.99 each) as a test & they are perfect to cut down & fit I used scissors to cut the mesh & attached it to the grill with a few blobs from a Hot Glue Gun.

Here are photographs of a grill with the mesh (Moss part # 471-025) attached:

And re-assembled on the car:

If you were worried about the shininess of the mesh you could spray paint it Matt black before attaching it to the grill.

Bring on the leaves!

Blue Peter badge please.