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  #1  
Old 08-06-2002, 02:35 AM
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Thumbs down I've got a lake in my back seat- HEEELPPP

first off i would like to say i tried to use the search function as i know this thread has been covered MANY times, but using the wording i can think of nothign of use comes up. I found a HUGE puddle of water in my drivers side back seat footwell, it does not appear that any other area is wet, only that. I just noticed it now(mildew set in and started to smell) and the last time it rained was about two-three days ago, so if it was wet anywhere else it may have dried up by now. what are the common areas to look? the car is an 83 300SD. If this thread has been covered before please give me some ideas for how to search for it, or a thread link would be fine! thanks for your help, it's a good thing i know how to swim
Ryan

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  #2  
Old 08-06-2002, 04:09 AM
The Warden's Avatar
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Arrow Lake Daimler strikes again :(

I started a thread a week or two ago called "Want pond to go bye-bye" or something to that effect. Same problem, except mine's mainly on the passenger side.

The weirdest thing is I got a bit of water there last weekend, with no rain in a long time...but I was on a long trip and I think a water bottle leaked.

The place I was told to check was the drains at the back of the engine compartment along the sides. I'd suggest looking at the thread I started for more detail, as I don't remember the specifics myself and will need to review the thread before I actually go and clean out the drains.

Just some thoughts...good luck!
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  #3  
Old 08-06-2002, 08:52 AM
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Ryan,

First thing you'll want to do/check is the area where the fenders meet the windshield the 126's are notorious for collecting stuff in this area. You want to vacuum out all of the leaves, pine needles and crud that has built up in that recess over the years. It's a little harder to do on the driver's side as that is where the brake booster and fuse box reside, but you gotta do it. Once that area is clear of trash, you can see if the drains are plugged, it could be simply the trash preventing water from draining. You might try to carefully clear the drains with a piece of small gauge wire or compressed air.

Other areas to check are the sun roof drains (one each corner) and the rear window seal (any rust around it?).
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  #4  
Old 08-06-2002, 09:53 AM
rebootit
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what Mike said. The drains are very small and mine clog up at least once a year. The first time I did this I had to raise the hood and use a hose to let water run off the windshield and watch exactly what part of the fenders were not draining. Use a coat hanger to poke around for the drains. Once you get all this cleaned out the water should go away. Also inside your wheel wells is a little black box looking thing. This the drain cover and it fills up with road dirt and sand all the time. You will need to flush this out to.
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  #5  
Old 08-06-2002, 12:08 PM
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ok thanks everyone, looks like i have some things to check! thanks
Ryan
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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
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2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.
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  #6  
Old 08-06-2002, 12:55 PM
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i found the problem, it is in the rear driver's sunroof drain. When i pour water in there it leaks out through the rear reading lamp and god knows where else, but it gets the floor very wet. Now, how do i fix a drain i can't even see?????
thanks
Ryan
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96 integra SE....sold
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2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.
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  #7  
Old 08-06-2002, 01:26 PM
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it's finally fixed! turned out to be the drain right behind the right wheel well, the rubber "mud guard" (if you can call it that) was blocking the drain, and as soon as i removed that buckets of water came out! i then tried pouring water in the rail again and it all came out where it's supposed to-on the ground! I've now got my car drying out for another couple hours and will then hit it with yet another bottle of febreeze and hope my smell goes away!
thanks!
Ryan
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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
99 a4 quattro....sold
2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.
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  #8  
Old 08-06-2002, 01:53 PM
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Ryan,

If the footwell fills with water it has a pluggd drain too. There is a rubber plug with a drain hole in it in each footwell for the purpose of draining any fluid that spills or collects in the footwells. While clearing this drain will avoid a small pond from forming it does not address the reason why you get water there to begin with. To address the source of the water leakage you need to follow the instructions above and the instructions in the referenced threads. This is a repeat topic here and you should be able to do a search on water leaks into the car and get a long list of reference material. All point to the hood drains and the sunroof drains, and to the fact that it is important to keep these clear or you will get corrosion as well as mildew damage. Good luck, Jim
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  #9  
Old 08-06-2002, 03:06 PM
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thanks jim, the leak has been fixed and my car is almost happy again(will be happy when it's done drying out). The only immediate concern i now have is that the rear-most drivers seat mounting brackets appear to have surface rust/corrosion, and i know i need to get rid of that asap. Any ideas?? thanks again everyone
Ryan
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83 300SD.......sold
96 integra SE....sold
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2001 IS300.......sold
2002 330i.........current.
2004 highlander limited....current.
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  #10  
Old 08-07-2002, 09:01 PM
240DBenzer
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I had this same problem. I had the rear windshield rubber seal replaced. It ran about $130.00. Now there's no more lake!
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  #11  
Old 08-07-2002, 10:13 PM
rebootit
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surface rust is no big deal. Just use steel wool or 220 grit paper to get it off and hit with some oil. If everything stays dry it will not come back. Just keep the drains open. If you park under lots of oak (Fl swamp oak) trees with those real tiny leaves they clog up fast.
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  #12  
Old 09-02-2002, 07:58 PM
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I read this thread and another on the leak in W123s. I have water in my back passanger floor. It comes down through the channel that carries the vacumn lines and settles in the back floor.
Worked under the hood and found a lot of trash (leaves, etc.) under the hood spring. Cleaned all of that out and found a drain at about the end of the front line on the attached picture. Cleaned that one out and water flows through it to the ground. If I run water slowly into the area it does fine, but if I run it faster and it goes back to the back of the spring area, I get water runinng through the channel. It seems like it is leaking at the back of the area. Three questions:

Is the front line about where the drain is that causes most people problems?
Is there any kind of drain further back in the area where the spring is?
Should/can I put silicon sealant in the back of this area to try to plug up an unwanted leak?

Thanks for any help, want to put new carpet in but not until I solve the water issue.
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I've got a lake in my back seat- HEEELPPP-leak1.jpg  
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  #13  
Old 09-04-2002, 11:25 PM
rebootit
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clarkb,

Remove your battery and then remove the tray. Look for holes rusted in the firewall. I had one little hole about 3/8" from an old acid leak. Cleaned it up, filled it with spray foam and no more water in the car.
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  #14  
Old 09-14-2002, 04:47 PM
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I'm getting water in my rear floorboards on the 300TD. It is not coming from the hinge location. I have already cleaned/sealed everything up in that area. I suspect it is coming from the sunroof drains. Any advice/guidance on making sure the sunroof drains are clean will be appreciated. Also, is it pretty straightforward to replace the sunroof seals?
thanks
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  #15  
Old 09-14-2002, 09:45 PM
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Drain check

Anytime you're cleaning out one of the hinge areas, it would be a very good idea to check that deep dark area using a flashlight. I've five of these cars and found one of them with a small rusted through hole at the back of the spring area.

Regarding holes or rust under the vbattery shelf, rinse out the area once open with a baking soda and water to neutralize any remaining acid and then use one of those rust neutralizing products to stop the nasty thing.

I always spray the area once I've done this with a coat of black spray rubber underseal. Voila, on more problems

Ben

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