So my son was gifted a used 2013 Pathfinder SL. Once upon a time this was a real nice car. It is still a great car for the price but I have some things I need to fix.
First and foremost.. Both front sunroof drains were clogged with silt (leaves) and water has leaked onto the floor "for several years". The passenger side a-pillar drain hose outlet is visible after you remove the wiper arms and the cowl cover - this is the "outlet". I excised the baffle from the center and it pees like a racehorse. Success in that side.
The driver side a-pillar drain hose empties into an inaccessible void above the LF wheel well... above these holes.
I'm going to buy (and then return) a borescope to confirm this is the right spot- but I know it is.
Assuming this is the correct location and this drain has the same "outlet", is there a tool that can reach inside those holes and steer toward that little baffle to grab and remove it?
I seem to remember seeing a tool that looks like a pincher with 2/3/4? little grabbers that recede into a tube. What's that tool called? A forceps will not work unless I ream one of the holes.
edit: and dang I googled some medieval looking forceps just now now but I don't see the kind of tool I am trying hard to describe
Like this?
https://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-2-in-1-pickup-tool-94162.html
It seems to be something Like this but I think I actually need something that can grab with some dexterity (but strong clamping force). Maybe the ENT surgical alligator hemostat is the right tool...
In reply to stanger_mussle (Supported by GRM undergarments) :
That's exactly what I was thinking about - all of 9 minutes later!!
...but I'm not sure those have the clamping force or dexterity necessary to thread a needle and yank that little plastic filter out.
thank you
In reply to TheRyGuy :
Yes just like that!
Looks like I came to the right place to ask. Thank you
I grew up with my dad having called them "pickle forks".
My standard tool set in this situation:
Rather than trying to find the end from below, can you ream out the line from above to clear it out? A length of nylon line from a weed whacker will often do the trick.
stuart in mn said:
Rather than trying to find the end from below, can you ream out the line from above to clear it out? A length of nylon line from a weed whacker will often do the trick.
On my wife's Miata I used a trombone cleaner, a long flexible thing with a brush at the end.
In reply to stuart in mn :
You're on the right track for sure but I have tried two different gauges of weed whacker cord and also 14 ga copper wire... but it's apparently got a couple inches of compressed silt jammed against that little filter contraption.
It seems pretty dumb to put a filter on the end since it's supposed to let water flow out. What are you filtering for? Don't you want everything to go through? Vw does the same thing, and creates the same issue.
914Driver said:
I figured out that is just a compressed air nozzle not a grabber tool.
My fear is using pressure from the top could push the plastic outlet off the end of the copper (!) drain pipe instead of push the baffle out.
The other one needed a good twist and pull...
That joint is way up behind the the steering wheel in an extremely tight space that would require major disassembly so I'm trying to exhaust other options first.
Amazon hemostat kit will be delivered today.
Solved my 2013 pathfinder plugged sunroof drain with a drill and some surgical hemostats. the driver side drain is concealed behind a sheet metal panel.. but still outside the firewall. Drilled a hole (three actually - two that didn't help) and found the drain baffle which was acting like a plug.
now both a-pillar drains pee like a race horse. Hopefully No more water on the floor inside.
