So I went out to my car today and noticed a puddle in the Rear Passanger Floorboard!

I can find no moist points anywhere to see where the leak is coming from, the water was brownish and was rusting away the passenger seat mounts. I did have a slightly rained on umbrella in the back seat but there was way more water on the floor than what was on the umbrella.

Any ideas appreciated, I do not want to swim in my car anymore.

Thanks,

-Dan

I suggest using the search function for this. Lotsa info on soggy floors and where water leaks come from. . . under battery tray, window seals, sunroof, etc. . . good luck!

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

which model do you have ?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

He has an '85 300D, if his profile is correct...

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1984 300D, 228k, Light Ivory, Java MB-Tex

Check to see if your front sunroof drains flow free.

Also, have you been running the A/C? The condensate hose over the tranny hump could have finally disintegrated.

Hood hinge drains in addition to the others mentioned.

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1983 CD
1958 Studebaker Packard (being resuscitated)

Yep its a 300D , yes AC has been on, that makes the most since. My sunroof has drained fine for the past while, but ill check out the drain points, its fall and leafs and goo seem to be everywhere.

Thanks guys,

-Dan

__________________
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1985 300D
Clemson Class of 2012
Ceramics and Materials Eng
Go Tigers!

My '85 300D had the same problem on a trip to the Specific Northwest one warm and humid summer. The climate control drain had disintegrated, allowing the condensate water to flow down under the carpeting and puddle in the low spot, the left rear passenger footwell. For the remainder of the trip I took the carpet out, kept a sponge there and bailed out several times a day. When we got home I replaced the drain and the problem went away and has not returned.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Jeremy, if at all possible could you let me know how much this may cost? I would like to do it myself but if my mechanic can do it for a fair price ill let him at it, I have too many assignments going on right now to do it.

Thanks,

-Dan

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*******************************************
1985 300D
Clemson Class of 2012
Ceramics and Materials Eng
Go Tigers!

Free: cut the top off of a 2-liter plastic pop bottle. Move the front seats as far back as they will go. Get down on the floor and reach behind the dash just above floor level. You will find a hole in the carpet that goes through the transmission tunnel. You will probably also find a piece of rotten foam tubing no longer connecting the drain in the climate control air box to that hole. Wedge the pop bottle top into the hole so the drain water goes into the hole and not onto the floor of the car. You're done.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

if its that easy there should be a sticky on this one I'll give it a try over the weekend. I've had a puddle but could never trace it!

There are many threads in this forum on exactly this subject. It pops up every year or so. It's also possible to use a piece of rubber hose for the drain.

Here are a couple of threads. I especially like the first one, since I wrote it.

link w/pix

link

Getting at the location takes a person with long skinny arms. Some folks have gone so far as to remove the front seats to make more room. It helps to be able to have the left hand going in from the driver's footwell and the right hand from the passenger footwell plus two more hands to hold a mirror and a flashlight.

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I did the "garbage disposal - rubber adapter" fix.

Go to your home improvement store of choice, look in the section for garbage disposals. In with the accessories (gaskets, stoppers, etc.) you should find a stepped rubber adapter hose.

Cut off the largest section then spend about an hour trying to get it to slip on the drain hose and down into the tunnel...

You can secure the top with a zip-tie if you choose. You can also seal around the tunnel hole with some duct tape if you choose.

This is one of those 'WTF were Merc engineers thinking' moments...

I used some heater hose for the same fix this summer.

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Well, I think it may be a too little to late. The whole passenger side is almost completely rusted out. The mats are ruined and smell like dog pee. I couldn't find the AC hose to fix the leak. What other carpets do I need to pull to access the drain?

This might be the end of my Merc, I cant afford to fix any rust.


-Dan

__________________
*******************************************
1985 300D
Clemson Class of 2012
Ceramics and Materials Eng
Go Tigers!