What was found
(CAN) DURING A PREFLIGHT, THE LEFT ELEVATOR DID NOT MOVE WITH THE CONTROL COLUMN INPUT. MAINTENANCE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND ONE OF THE CABLES SNAPPED UNDER THE LAVATORY. SUSPECT THAT A PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED LEAK FROM THE LAVATORY HAD LEAKED ON THE CABLES, AND THE LIQUID (WATER, TOILET CHEMICALS AND HUMAN WASTE) HAD WASHED AWAY THE LUBRICATION FROM THE CABLES, EXPOSING IT TO THE ELEMENTS ALLOWING IT TO CORRODED AND EVENTUALLY BREAK. SIMILAR CORROSION WAS ALSO FOUND ON THE OTHER CABLE FOR THIS ELEVATOR AND ON ONE OF THE RUDDER CABLES, IN THIS SAME AREA UNDER THE LAVATORY. THE CABLES WERE REPLACED AND THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE. (TC NR 20081222004)