> Not for the first time, but especially during recent deluges here in the
> northeast (12 inches on one day), has water has finished up in the
> passenger footwell of my wife's 90 Miata. The surprising thing is that,
> at first, all she hears is water sloshing around behind the instrument
> panel cowling (I kid you not).
Was she using the air conditioning? If so, the A/C drain tube was
plugged, and now either it's overflowed, or popped off its nipple. An
easy fix (see miata.net), but better get that carpet dry ASAP or it will
smell for years.
---
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html
Christopher Muto - 27 Oct 2005 20:32 GMT
fwiw, here is a discussion of what lanny is talking about along with a
picture of the ac tube in question...
http://roadster-chat.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=005686
also, the more i thought about this original question, and having been
subject to the same ridiculous volume of rain as the op, i would also
suggest looking at the drain tube and funnel at the end of the rain rail
behind the passenger seat... if that is partially clogged then rain water
could have spilled down the carpet behind the passenger seat and into the
passenger floor. particularly with the amount of rain we had and the rate
of the downpour at times.
>> Not for the first time, but especially during recent deluges here in the
>> northeast (12 inches on one day), has water has finished up in the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> '94C, St. Louis
> http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html
Lanny Chambers - 27 Oct 2005 23:37 GMT
> fwiw, here is a discussion of what lanny is talking about along with a
> picture of the ac tube in question...
> http://roadster-chat.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=print_topic;f=1;t=005686
The sloshing behind the dash was the giveaway. It occurred to me after
posting that the A/C box might also collect water if the wiper plenum
drains were clogged; they empty at the bottom of the fenders, behind the
front wheels.
If your rain rail drains were clogged, the sloshing would be around your
ankles, or in the trunk. Those drains, plus the ones in the front
fenders and sills, are easily checked every time the car is washed.
---
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html
John Bevan - 31 Oct 2005 06:15 GMT
> The sloshing behind the dash was the giveaway. It occurred to me after
> posting that the A/C box might also collect water if the wiper plenum
> drains were clogged; they empty at the bottom of the fenders, behind the
> front wheels.
Thanks to all for helpful input. I've finally got the carpet and
underlay dry. Also, I agree that the water would seem to be
accumulating in the A/C box. However, the wiper plenum drains are
definitely not blocked ( I tested them). Also, the A/C drain hose
appears to be intact. There is a hole in the center console close to
where the the A/C drain hose connects. I'm wondering if this is where
water discharges into the passenger floor.
Where does intake air get into the heater and A/C? If the windshield is
not sealed properly at its base would this allow heavy rain to get in?
Lanny Chambers - 31 Oct 2005 16:42 GMT
> Where does intake air get into the heater and A/C?
The heater intake is under the wiper motor, covered by a plastic grate.
>If the windshield is
> not sealed properly at its base would this allow heavy rain to get in?
We're not ignoring this possibility, it's just that yours would be the
first anyone heard of. It's typically a blockage in the A/C drain,
either in the tube or above it inside the box.

Signature
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html
Christopher Muto - 31 Oct 2005 17:25 GMT
Lanny,
First of all, thank for your insight. It is always appreciated.
I wonder about the way things are connected... perhaps if I can articulate
this clearly you might be able to shed some more light on it... In John's
case the sloshing sound from the dash certainly indicates that the a/c box
had water in it as you identified. This makes me wonder how that might have
become filled... and if it can possibly be overfilled. I mean if a large
amount water flooded the wiper plenum could that result in filling the a/c
box? Is the a/c box caped or open on top. If open then perhaps that just
spilled over into the passenger floor (and also what happened to me though I
thought it came from the window). Also I hear that the heater hoses have
rubber seals around them where they penetrate the firewall and that these
fail over time (but can be fairly easily be replaced from the engine
compartment). Could these be the source of John's leak?
Also, a separate issue is the path of water at the rear. I have a wet
drivers seatbelt after significant rain. I assumed that it was because of a
cracked funnel behind the drivers seat (which I discovered when replacing
the top and temporarily siliconed to death). If the rain rail is working,
and no water is found in the trunk or the floor, then why is the seatbelt
getting wet? That is to ask, where is the water possibly coming from? I see
a hole in the sheet metal below and in front of the plastic funnel behind
the seat and thought that the funnel must not be draining correctly and that
perhaps that hole leads to the seatbelt and perhaps on to the floor (and why
I had suggested it as a possible source of the problem to John)... but I
really don't know.
Thanks again for your help.
>> Where does intake air get into the heater and A/C?
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> first anyone heard of. It's typically a blockage in the A/C drain,
> either in the tube or above it inside the box.