Where is the sunroof drain hole located on the old Elantra?
3 Answers
The sunroof drain hole on the old Elantra is located in front of the right-side door. Introduction to the air conditioning drain hole: The air conditioning drain hole is generally located under the co-driver's seat on the car's chassis. A hose is used to drain the water from the air conditioning system to the ground. The engine compartment drain hole is located on both sides of the windshield wiper, allowing rainwater to flow out through the drainage channels on either side of the compartment. The door drain holes are located at the bottom of the door panels, typically with two drain holes per door to prevent rainwater from accumulating if one gets blocked. The exhaust pipe drain hole is hidden beneath the car's chassis exhaust pipe, designed to drain condensation from the exhaust gases. Importance of car drain holes: Many car owners have experienced clogged drain holes in their vehicles. For example, hearing water sloshing inside the doors while driving or finding the car's carpet damp in severe cases—these issues are usually caused by blocked drain holes leading to poor drainage. In serious cases, it can even damage the vehicle's mechanical components and electrical circuits. Therefore, during seasons with frequent rain, it's essential to clean the drain holes promptly and avoid parking under trees or other locations prone to clogging the drain holes.
Having driven an old Elantra for over a decade, I know the sunroof drain holes like the back of my hand. This car has four drain holes, all tucked along both sides of the sunroof rails—the front two are at the roof corners above the windshield, and the rear two near the rear window. Lifting the sunroof cover reveals coin-sized black rubber grommets. I often use a thin wire to clear them from the wheel arch side, where the drain tubes actually exit. Parked under trees in summer, fruit droppings clogged the drains twice, turning the cabin into a fishpond. Now, I lift the sunshade monthly to check the grommets and pour water to test flow. Never use a pressure washer for cleaning—aged rubber tube joints may leak. A bicycle pump hose blowout works best.
When repairing the car, it was found that the sunroof leakage in older Elantra models is often caused by clogged drainage holes. The location is very hidden: after removing the A-pillar trim, you can see two transparent soft tubes extending down from the roof, with a diameter of about 5mm. In the metal grooves at the four corners of the sunroof, there is a hole about the size of a mung bean, which is the drainage outlet. It is recommended that car owners prepare an infusion tube and a syringe for cleaning: use the syringe to suck water and inject it into the sunroof holes, and connect the infusion tube to the end of the drainage pipe. There are duckbill-shaped outlets on the left and right sides of the car's chassis, which are prone to clogging in piles of fallen leaves. After cleaning, pour half a bottle of mineral water to test; if the water flows smoothly, it means the passage is clear. If the rubber tube is aged or cracked, it needs to be replaced entirely, otherwise, it will still leak during rainy days.
