Where the F--- is this water comming from?
 

It is raining hard here in NY and once again I have 2" behind the drivers seat. This after I cleaned the drain in the engine compartment and used silicone caulk on all the windows. I have a manual sunroof, Is it possibly leaking through there? If so how can I detect it and repair. Thanks, The veh .is a 85 tdt.

If the drains are clogged up its possible

There should be drains in the sunroof somewhere. My wife's Escort was leaking behind the headliner and collecting on the rear floor. We used high pressure air and blew out the drain holes in the sunroof. No leaks now.

drains
 

I looked for drains but was unable to find any. Anyone know where they are?

I have the same problem.. but water is leaking into the rear passenger floorwell. This is probably coming from the drains under the hood in my car.. but I don't exactly know where they are.

Can someone please post pictures of the drains here? It'd be a great help to all of us, since this isn't the first time people have had these issues. Stupid rain.. :(

On my sedan, the drains are small holes in the sunroof frame integral with the roof. In the rear, these drains are connected to good sized rubber hoses (about 17mm OD) that travel down the inside of the rear pillars and pass through a hole in the body on ahorizontal surface just above the very front of the rear bumper and just inside of the quarter panel surface.

weedwacker line ...stick into drain and push/pull/probe until clear...run water and repeat until flow is good to the ground...repeat yearly.

Leaks Sun Roof
 

1984 300d Turbo
The Sliding Roof Leak, Simple Repair Moved Roof To Rear And
And Check Along The Sliding Rail Where The Water Moves To Front
Drain And Lube 8 In. Rails Front Sides With Mercedes White Grease
At *************** A Small Can For $5.00

Generally, clogged roof drains will manifest themselves with a wet/damaged upper valence (where the sunvisors recess). Water in the back and trunk is probably a rusted out pinch weld that's underneath the lower part of the rear window. THis will allow water that runs under the gasket to drain into the cabin. I know that this is what is causing water to accumulate in the rear floor and trunk of my 300D.

Rust worm.

I had minor leaking into the trunk for years. About 2 months ago, I noticed leaking onto the floor. It was probably going on for some time, but I couldn't see it. So, I finally bit the bullet and replaced the rear window seal. Now, it does not seem to leak a drop. Finally! Hope it stays that way for a while, too.:o :)

I don't think the rear window seal is at fault, for my car, at least. The water seems to be leaking along that "channel" under the carpets (black plastic channel.. a bunch of vacuum lines & wires run through it).. from.. somewhere.

I'm assuming this is leaking from the front, since the front "channel" has water under it, too.. though it didn't manage to flood the front passenger floorboard.. just the rear? I took out the rear seats during a heavy rain.. and didn't see any water under them.. nor under the black "insulation" under them, either.. so it probably isn't the rear window, right?

don't know what model you have, but not necessarily. In my car, the water ran onto a group of wires and vacuum lines. It followed along this bunch behind and under the rear seat, emptying into that same type of black plastic channel. It was not easily visable with the rear seat and pad removed. I had to put my hand between and under the wires/vacuum lines to prove it to myself.

He's talking about a wagon, so the situation must be different. It's probably not coming in the rear window. I've read that a link in the cowl can manifest in the rear footwell. Is that true?

Mine is an 84 300D Euro. Huh.. I'll have to check under the seats again, I suppose. The water *IS* under the black channel.. but not sure if it's coming from the front, or the rear.. :\

in my 84 wagon, i used to get water in various footwells, depending on how the car was parked. it appeared that if i poured water on the floor, i could get the water anywhere in the car by parking uphill, downhill, sideways, etc.

the water was coming in under the hood springs. enough detritus had built up there that it rusted out, and the previous owner fiberglassed it. i caulked it up and used undercoating and it stopped.

because both sides had leaks, i'm not sure if water can move sideways in the car, but it certainly pooled in the rear seat footwells.

david

I've got an '85 TD and had a leak problem. After darn near a year of trying this and that I discovered the boot that wraps around the shaft from the steering wheel to the steering box had splits in it. Siliconed it, being careful not to get the silicone on the metal parts and no more leak. This boot is located under the hood and attaches to the firewall. The shaft runs uphill and would leak even with the car sitting still.:confused: The water was tracking under the black plastic cover over under the drivers side floor mat and ending up in the rear drivers side floor.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Bill

on my
 

62 fintail, there was a hole in the floor that let mucho water inside. filled the rear foot well.

tom w

water woes
 

my '83 300DT had leaks in the rear windshield seal and a rust hole in the driver side hood hinge area. Did you all rule out the sunroof? Headliner water marks? Roof rack bolts leaking? If sunroof still unknown then try eliminating that from the equation by taping off the seams out on the roof with electrical tape - did it on mine to narrow my search. No harm to the paint but will leave a small amount of residue if you leave it on for the winter.

passenger side leaks
 

i worked on a 123 with a rusted out battery tray. the acid also worked thru the shhet metal.

How to fix that leak?
 

How did you patch that hole under the battery tray? I have exactly the same thing and am wondering how to fix.

Oh, it's an '84 300D Turbo Diesel. Named Betsey.

Thanks, Steve.

it's a gaum!
 

i used 16 gauge sheet metal, seam sealer and rivited it on.

I cut it all out and welded in new metal. I have photos somewhere I will post when I get home.

Door gasket/seal
 

My coupe passenger door seal had a few open cuts where it curves with the car body above the striker. Water worked its way in & down, but layed above the door bottom seal & collected to the point of making it over the raised rocker seam that the plastic trim sits on. Filled the rear passenger floor & a good amount of water would spill to the ground when the door was opened. I wouldn't think something like that was possible. Paul - Florida
300CD '84 290,000

Al. screen and loads of 2 part epoxy....figure it can be a bit ugly where the sun don't shine.:D
I did 2 layers and placed the battery on the 2nd layer of epoxy before it hardened...perfect fit and acid resistant to boot.

Sounds like a couple of good plans here. One more question -- it looks like the corrosion goes down through the drain tube as well. Anyone have luck inserting a new tube inside or something? Or does this not matter once the water drains to the tube.