Recently purchased an '01 OBW and whenever we have some considerable rain I can hear water sloshing under the car somewhere. I finally crawled under there after driving the car onto a flat surface, incline and then a decline. I saw water pouring out of what looks like a round hole in the driver side frame rail. What's going on here? How does it get there (not parking in a stream) and should I be concerned with rust? Thanks.

Recently purchased an '01 OBW and whenever we have some considerable rain I can hear water sloshing under the car somewhere. I finally crawled under there after driving the car onto a flat surface, incline and then a decline. I saw water pouring out of what looks like a round hole in the driver side frame rail. What's going on here? How does it get there (not parking in a stream) and should I be concerned with rust? Thanks.

Have you checked the spare tire wheel well? Do you have a Sunroof? You should most definately be concerned with rust! I would focus on where the water is getting in.

When was the last time you made sure all your body drains were free of clogs?

 

nipper

When was the last time you made sure all your body drains were free of clogs?

 

nipper

Spare tire area is dry and I do have a sunroof. Nothing is wet inside the car.

Have not checked any body drains. Where are they located? Definitely concerned about rust, last Subie was an '89 GL that turned into a Fred Flinstone car.

Thanks.

Spare tire area is dry and I do have a sunroof. Nothing is wet inside the car.

Have not checked any body drains. Where are they located? Definitely concerned about rust, last Subie was an '89 GL that turned into a Fred Flinstone car.

Thanks.

I would bet it is leaking through your sunroof. Perform a search here, you will find some valuable advice. Good luck.

I recently had the headliner out of my 02 OBW and there are 6 drain hoses for the sunroof. The ones in the middle of the car and the rear route down the C pillar, join together just behind the rear wheel well and exit the car body, between the rear bumper cover and the body of the car. The fronts go down the A pillar and drain somewhere near the bottom of the front fenders. I would have a hard time believing that they would empty into your frame rails at all. What I see happening is that your frame rail drains are all likely plugged up with dirt and debris that has been thrown back by the front wheels. Pull the front mud flaps and I think you'll find that the frame rails behind them are filling with water that is flung upwards by the tires and is running down behind the mudflaps into the frame rails, or it is getting in from your cowl drains. One thing for sure, you want to get whatever is causing the water to gather in the frame rail sorted out before you have some major structural damage. Good Luck!

Clear out your cowel drains under the hood. Open the doors and clear out all the dirt and leaves from the front fenders. Under each door there are drains. There are drains in the back of the car i think also, but those you need to look for.

 

nipper

Recently purchased an '01 OBW and whenever we have some considerable rain I can hear water sloshing under the car somewhere. I finally crawled under there after driving the car onto a flat surface, incline and then a decline. I saw water pouring out of what looks like a round hole in the driver side frame rail. What's going on here? How does it get there (not parking in a stream) and should I be concerned with rust? Thanks.

 

 

Hi there very interesting situation this has been a problemin legacies and outbacks from 1997-1999 I worked in a dealer and there was no outback or legacies from 2000 and up with this problem I would say that you have a drain issue somewhere, for starters have you had someone look at this problem at all? From there you it should send you in a good direction even though water leaks are a pain to find and follow. good luck man let us know how you make out I know I am curious.

Spare tire area is dry and I do have a sunroof. Nothing is wet inside the car.

Have not checked any body drains. Where are they located? Thanks.

Did you figure out where the drains are located... and how to get to them for cleaning ?

Have same problem and would appreciate any help you might be able to share.

Thank you for your help.

Hmmm maybe THATS where the water in my 05 baja is.

 

I get the sloshing too and have not yet figured out where it is.

 

The car leaves a small puddle in the garage when I park it, so it drains out slowly

The longitudinal roof-rack rails are fastened to the roof with threaded studs.

 

If these get loose (try shaking the rails), water can leak in above the headliner, and might then be channeled down the structure into the sides of the car.

 

Just a thought....

I have a 2000 FSM, it may show the body drains, ill look.

 

Look under the car, and see if there are any dimples, like where the undercoating/primer/pain may have clogged up a drain hole.

 

nipper

Surprisingly i cant find anything in my PDF FSM manual.

 

I hate PDF files, but it was far cheaper then a paper manual.

 

 

nipper