Hood grilles in front of windshield - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

d.delano · #1 04-23-2006, 07:13 PM

Those hood grilles in front of the windshield- where do they drain? My passenger side one is filling up with water and draining into the floor. I can look through the grill and see the water. Apparently wherever it's supposed to be draining is blocked, but I dunno where. Thanks for the help.
Also- where can I get some more of those little plastic peg/clips that hold the grille in place? Lost one of the pegs taking the grille out.

bill murrow · #2 04-23-2006, 08:06 PM

From what I remember they drain out of those 1 1/2" or so boots on the firewall.They're L shaped and are kind of pinched on the ends. Pour some water down the clear one and you'll see where it comes out. Of course open the hood before testing.

Boneyard is where I got my pins. I'll check to see if I have any left.....or, more truthfully, if I can find them.

If so, you're welcome to them.

If you need to clean those drains out use a piece of string trimmer line and not a piece of coat hanger which will scratch the paint leaving you the chance of getting rust.

Cheers,

Bill

d.delano · #3 04-23-2006, 08:28 PM

Thanks. If you get any more I'll gladly pay and send you a SASE, etc. I only need one. Talk about freaking out seeing Lake Michigan in my car, never happened before, but there are a lot of trees shedding debris around here and it plugs up the cowl drains. Why would the firewall drains be any different.

Wes Bender · #4 04-23-2006, 10:13 PM

Those little pins (rivets) are really cheap. $1.10 or $.55 depending upon the type at Perf Prod.. Why not buy them new?

P.E.Haiges · #5 04-23-2006, 11:24 PM

Wes,

Thats "mistake". LOL

P E H

d.delano · #6 04-24-2006, 12:13 AM

Well I don't know. I just need a peg. Guess it makes me look cheep huh.

1983/300CD · #7 04-24-2006, 12:41 PM

Yep, they drain to the firewall hoses. Just ask Phil for "firewall elephant trunks". He just got me a pair so if you need them, he should still have the number around. Funny thing is that the one for the passenger side is red, while the original (gnawed off by an animal) and driver's side are black. Oh well. It still completes the "clean" look under the hood.

A bit of a pain to install, but sillicone spray lets you twist and manipulate until they seat.

dmorrison · #8 04-24-2006, 07:59 PM

300TD replaced the vent girlls and cleaned the wiper motor area

Dave

d.delano · #9 04-24-2006, 09:53 PM

I see some black rubber plugs? inboard on the grille water collection pans. Is this correct? So I suppose the plugs are screens that stop the big debris before they get to some sort of drain tube that exits the firewall? Am I right?
I should say I'm seeing this from the photos from Dave's thread.

dmorrison · #10 04-25-2006, 01:54 AM

On the post I refered you to Page # 1, picture #2 shows the passenger side. the black unit is a "gutter" type set up that leads the water to a drain. Your drain is probably clogged. Also check for rust.

Page 1, Picture #3 shows the center section with the solid cover removed. The donut shaped drain in the lower left corner is the drain for the passenger side and the passenger wiper shaft drain gutter(Page 2 picture #3 shows the drain for the shaft.).

Page 2, Picture 1 shows the driver side again a black "gutter". Picture #2 is the center section. The black drain is shown in the lower right corner. The "gutter" drains to that. Notice the sheet metal dams on either side of the wiper motor. The black section under the motor is the inlet for the AC system. So the drain on the passenger side is blocked. You may be able to clean the area from the passenger side grill. but if your having this problem I would want to take both grills and the cover off, Clean the area completely and check for rust. If found, then POR-15 it.

Inside your engine compartment you will find two 2 inch diameter black rubber tubes on the fire wall, that are about 6 inches long, "hanging" down. The passenger one is just outboard of the mono valve. The driver side is just above where all the vacuum lines go into the cabin, throught the firewall. These are the drains for the cowl vent area. They can be removed and replaced. You will see an outside(engine side) lip and there is one on the inside of the cowl. If the unit is torn, they are available. I repaired mine by spraying on 15-30 coats of "Plastic dip" in the spray can. Works very well.

The small square pegs are available at the dealer. Phil may be able to get them. They do not come with new grills.

Dave

d.delano · #11 04-25-2006, 10:34 AM

Thx Dave for a very comprehensive FYI.