After heavy rain I noticed that my rear passenger floorboard is full of water. I cannot for the life of me figure where it is coming in. Sunroof on the 82 300SD is dry. sidewall carpet under door jamb is dry. carpet on the floor is soaking wet and water is pooled up. Could it be coming from trunk?

I figure if it was the heater core that the front carpet would be wet. Does not seem to smell like antifreeze either. But man, it gets wet.

Any help greatly appreciated.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/search.php?searchid=980864

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The link given to me won't work. I pulled the front floor carpet and it was wet underneath so the water is coming from passenger side under dash. It looks like a heater core or heater hose through firewall. I pray it is not the core. I just can't afford to have a mechanic fix that right now. I understand it is about 8 to 9 hours of labor.

Does anyone have any experience in replacing your own heater core on a w126 300sd??

I need some step by step instructions or any feedback. I will do a search but any help is appreciated. This repair could cost $1000 or more at the mechanic.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

I have also heard a gurgling sound in the dash after I turn the key to warm the glow plugs. I am assuming it is air infiltrating the cooling system via a leak somewhere. I forgot to mention this. This started before seeing all the "water" - may be antifreeze, not sure, in the rear floorboard.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

The mechanic at my dealer checked it out and heater core is not leaking. He says it is wet on the right front corner of the firewall which usually means a sunroof drain or leaking windshield.

Car has original windshield and mechanic poured water down sunroof drains and it came out on bottom of car as it should.

Any tips on finding this leak??

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

Pour water down the side engine cowl drains. Check underneath the battery tray. Make sure the wiper grilles aren't hiding a lake underneath them caused by a plugged up elephant snorkel.

My guess is it's the windshield. Mine leaked exactly like that and doesn't anymore since I replaced the glass and seal.

__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

not unusual at all, really. i was just posting on this last week. i think the gurgling is either the vac pods or the electric pump kicking on.

__________________
1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.

I second that, not unusual at all. Check the cowl drains (in the hood spring pocket area), behind the battery, your windshield seal (some silicone may be sufficient), and all the door jamb rubber boots for the vacuum lines.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Some pictures to aid in your quest.

http://www.**************.com/node/41

Also check this.
http://www.**************.com/node/38

Louis.

__________________
Not always the smartest but certainly not dumb?

Leaks could have more than one cause but my bet is on windshield seals.

Note Murrow's suggestion to chase the drains with weed-eater string to clear them out and not damage the finish.

There's water on my passengers floor! WTF!!

My first major water leak

Water on floor 300D

Motor on

__________________
Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis

Ok, I did some more checking. I removed front passenger carpet. It was wet in front right corner and all the way down the right edge. I turned on the hose pipe from faucet and let it pour down the right corner of the windshield and all water I could see came out the bottom of the car from the drain pipe underneath beside the caster adjuster.

Water is definitely coming in at the front right corner somewhere. Sunroof drains are open and working. It is not the heater core. Not sure about evaporator hose. I am guessing the windshield seal. The car IS 25 years old and has 268k on the clock. It definitely has the original windshield, although it is a little pitted from years of driving, I think it could be reused if I can find a GOOD glass shop.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup

Have you pulled the battery? If the tray is rotten, then there's a real good chance the firewall underneath the tray is, too. There's a seam right there, and when the metal starts to rust, the factory seam-sealer starts to pull back, allowing water to enter the cabin.

Jay.

__________________
On the road, currently:
'83 300D (German spec.) 168k mi. - - Wolfgang (tucked snugly away for the winter!)
'87 300D 375k mi. - finally went over to "The Dark Side"
'87 300TD 225k mi.
Cannondale 66cm CAAD5 w/Campy/Jamis Aurora
Hujsak Custom Fixie/Landshark Track Shark Custom/Ahearne Custom 29'er

I pulled my battery tray two years ago an sanded it down, sealed it with a rust sealant and painted it. I will have to pull the battery again, but I doubt the tray has rusted. It was not swiss cheese when I pulled it the first time. It won't hurt to check though.

__________________
1982 300SD Light Blue
2002 Honda Accord SE
1974 Toro Wheel Horse Tractor
2000 Toyota Tundra Pickup