Your MX5 is a joy to drive, but like any car, it needs regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best. One crucial area that often gets overlooked is the roof drains. These small but vital components play a big role in protecting your car from water damage.
In this article, we’ll walk you through why roof drain maintenance is important, how to clean them effectively, and a modification option for the Mk3 (NC) MX5. Plus, we’ll introduce you to the handy Hood Drain Cleaning Brush—your new best friend for this task.
Why Are Roof Drains Important?
The MX5’s convertible roof is a marvel of design, but it comes with the challenge of managing rainwater. Roof drains are designed to channel water away from the cabin, preventing leaks and water pooling that could lead to rust, electrical issues, or unpleasant odours.
Over time, these drains can become clogged with dirt, leaves, or debris, compromising their effectiveness.
Regular maintenance is therefore essential to avoid these problems and keep your MX5 in tip-top shape.
How to Clean Your MX5 Roof Drains
Cleaning your roof drains isn’t as daunting as it might sound. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you can easily tackle this task at home. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Tools You’ll Need:
- A Hood Drain Cleaning Brush (available here)
- A torch
- A vacuum cleaner for the clean-up
Step 1: Locate the Roof Drains
Start by identifying where the roof drains are. They’re located on either side of the car behind the seat belt towers.
Open the roof slightly to give yourself better access and use a torch to get a clear view.
For further help, these forum articles are a very hand guide:
Step 2: Inspect the Drains
Shine your torch into the drains to check for any visible debris or blockages. Common culprits include leaves, dirt, and even insects. If the blockage is near the surface, you might be able to remove it with your fingers or tweezers, but be gentle to avoid pushing debris further in.
Step 3: Use the Hood Drain Cleaning Brush
This amazingly simple tool was originally designed as a Trombone cleaning brush, but it’s effectiveness at doing the job has meant it has become a firm favourite with MX-5 Owners and makes the job much easier.
Insert the brush gently into the drain and twist it as you push it through. The brush’s bristles will dislodge and remove debris as you work.
Once you’ve pushed the brush all the way through, carefully pull it out the bottom and clean off any debris.
Repeat this process a few times to ensure the drain is fully clear.
Top Tip When Using the Cleaning Brush
Forcing the brush down the drains too hard has the potential to damage the flap inside, or push the bottom off the drain tube, as does pulling the brush back out through the top, so under no circumstances should you pull it back out the top or you will probably break the flaps off the bottom of the hood drain and they will need to be replaced which is a pain and expensive.
Step 4: Test the Drain
After cleaning, pour a small amount of water into the drain to check if it flows through smoothly. If the water drains away quickly, you’re good to go. If not, repeat the cleaning process.
Step 5: Clean Up
Dispose of any debris you’ve removed, and wipe down the area around the drains. Regular maintenance will reduce the amount of debris that accumulates over time.
Modification Option for the Mk3 (NC) MX5
Early Mk3 models suffered from easily blocked hood drains causing water to collect in the cabin, which Mazda later released a fix for.
The cars that were affected were MK3’s up to chassis numbers:
- 203430 in Europe
- 200699 in the US
- 200137 in Australia
Mazda introduced a modification to replace the original hood drains with an updated design that’s less prone to clogging.
The updated design features improved flow dynamics, making them more efficient and less likely to clog.
You can find out more about the Mk3 Hood Drain Modification Kit here
How Often Should You Clean Your Roof Drains?
As a general rule, check and clean them at least twice a year, and more frequently during autumn when leaves are falling.
However, if you park under trees, you may find that you need to do the job more often.
Time to Get Unblocking…
Maintaining your MX5’s roof drains is a simple yet vital part of caring for your beloved 2-seater. By following these steps and using the right tools, like the Hood Drain Cleaning Brush, you can protect your car from water damage and ensure it’s ready for the road—rain or shine.
For MK3 owners, upgrading to the improved hood drains is a smart move that will save you time and hassle in the long run.
So, next time you’re giving your MX5 some TLC, don’t forget about the roof drains. A little effort goes a long way in keeping your car in top condition!