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[Migalot]

Decided to fit a new pollen filter to the car and made the mistake of looking down beneath the filter. It was full of damp crud.

Eventually, after suffering a scraped arm, I managed to clear much of it out, but it still needs good clean.

I checked out OOF's maintainance guides and tried unblocking the drain hole using heavy cable and various other implements. No joy. It seems to be unlike the one on the drivers side and, to the feel, it seems like a blank grommet, which doesn't allow water to escape. Am I missing something?   
 

[Doctor Gollum]

Yup

It's more of a spout with a flappy lid on it that pops out over the chassis rail where the scuttle kicks up and forward from the bulkhead.

It can be popped out, but be sure to refit it once all cleaned out. (it's designed to allow water out whilsr preventing engine fumes into the cabin intake) 

[Migalot]

Aha! Thanks for that.

I guess it can be prised out with a long screwdriver. It's a so-and-so getting a hand down there! 

[Doctor Gollum]

You might be able to get a couple of fingers on it from the engine bay side...

Failing that a garden cane or similar 

[Migalot]

You might be able to get a couple of fingers on it from the engine bay side...

Failing that a garden cane or similar 

Cheers. I'll give it a go. 

[Ant - Petrol Blue Thirty Two]

Hi.  My experience of this in the past.......I made a cleaning implement by straightening out a wire coat hanger and bending one end by an inch or so at 90 degrees.  a little more bending the straight piece to maneauvere it easily into the scuttle cavity and you can prod out all the crud from the exit hole (facing forward) and then slowly and gently flush it out with  a watering can or similar.  Don't let water into the fan intake though about halfway up the cavity and definitely don't use a garden hose at pressure.  When cleared, clean and dry, paint Kurust all over the welding joints in there and other rusting bits and then a good brush thick with with waxoyl the next day.  keep coat hanger for future as an unofficial Omeaga tool - the scuttle prod!   

[Doctor Gollum]

Prod carefully because there's a loom runs over the top of it

[Shackeng]

Puzzled,  as I’m sure my 3.2 pollen filter was on the near side. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Puzzled,  as I’m sure my 3.2 pollen filter was on the near side. 

OSF = other side front

[johnnydog]

I don't use any form of 'pokey' tool - for a blocked drain or routine cleaning, I just pour water into the scuttle above the drain from a watering can (being careful where you pour it of course) whilst massaging the bottom end of the drain bung with my fingers from inside the engine bay), and then the weight of water clears the blockage and flushes any remaining debris out of the scuttle through the rubber drain.  Worst that happens is that you can get a wet sleeve when the blockage and rubber drain clears...

[Doctor Gollum]

Partly depends on what's clogged it. Mice won't wash out. 

[Migalot]

Thanks for all your help, guys!

Finally got the drain plug out (well, actually, SWMBO got it out as she has thinner arms!).

It was totally blocked, but once cleaned it was easy to put back and now all is sweet-smelling again.

For anyone who wants to know what the darn thing looks like, here it is.

[Carfix]

So that is what it looks like.

Luckily I have access to an air compressor so I give the scuttle area a blast of compressed air every month followed by a low pressure water hose.

I have also made a shield from thin plastic sheet which slides over the face of the pollen filter.

The shield protects the filter from water damage and reduces any chance of water getting through to the fan assembly whilst I do the cleaning operation.