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  #1  
Old 01-25-2016, 11:01 PM
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condensation in the trunk?

happened twice already, trunk lid is moist with condensation and carpet is moist.

is this a problem with the trunk seal? it feels soft and rubbery

could it be a drain plug?

anyone had this situation?

thx

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  #2  
Old 01-25-2016, 11:35 PM
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smoke gets in your eyes
 
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Could be a failed rear window seal or corrosion in the window frame letting water into the trunk. The water then condenses on the cold trunk lid.

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  #3  
Old 01-26-2016, 12:17 AM
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I checked under the spare tire and the rubber plug is torn.
Could this be the issue?
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Old 01-26-2016, 07:06 AM
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Uh Oh

Agree with sixto. Found similar on my 300CD a couple of years ago and isolated it to a rusted out rear window seal channel.

Found it by getting into the trunk with a flashlight, closing the lid and had my wife run the hose around the trunk and rear windshield gaskets. Make sure she loves you before you do this.

The repair was not as expensive as I thought it would be. Total was $550. Any competent body shop can rebuild the channel. The following cautions are suggested.

Coupe rear windshields are rare and expensive. Do not attempt to R&R yourself or let the body shop do it. Pay a good auto glass shop to R&R. $100 of the above $350 was for that.

Buy a new gasket. Coupe gaskets are also rare and expensive. Buy a good one and hang the cost. $185 went for a gasket.
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  #5  
Old 01-26-2016, 07:22 AM
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Trevor Hadlington
 
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Water droplets on the trunk lid is condensation ,not water getting in there .Try a couple of dehumidifiers or traps .Roll up some old news papers and put them in the trunk to take the condensation .
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  #6  
Old 01-26-2016, 10:36 AM
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It doesn't happen when it rains.

Usually happens on really cold nights.

Not wetness, but rather moisture around the lid and around the spare tire wood cover.

Also soggy carpet. But divider between trunk and fuel tank is try. And side panels are dry too.
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Old 01-28-2016, 09:20 PM
Smitty
 
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make sure that area around seal is all clean no leaves pine needles gunk etc also check that tail light gaskets and brackets are all secure where they need to be and in good condition check out how to track down moisture in trunk youtube
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Old 01-28-2016, 11:46 PM
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X2 on the tail light gaskets
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  #9  
Old 01-29-2016, 01:25 AM
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Ha! It might be condensation, but PROBABLY NOT, especially if the carpet is wet!

I had this issue with all three of my 240Ds.

The guys have summarized it nicely.
  1. Crawl in the trunk with the flashlight and with your friend/wife on the outside with a garden hose (and the willingness to let you out when need to escape!). That will tell you a lot about where the leaks are, (and whether your friends and wife love you).
  2. Look for rear window seal. It will typically leak around the corners of the window where it drips down into the trunk. If it is this, you will need a new factory window seal and pay a glass shop to R&R, as noted. If you have damage to the seal channel, you might need to do rust repair on it.
  3. Check the trunk seal itself. If it leaks it will be obvious. Again, I recommend a factory seal, they really are the best. You'll need to be careful, make sure it is 'bending' the right way, and you'll need to use glue to cement it down.
  4. Also look at the rear tail light seals. These are also available from the dealership. These are the easiest to replace.

The rear window seal and the trunk seal are both around $170 each.
The tail light seals are around $45-50 each.

If I had to blindly guess, I would say the rear window seal. People always miss that. They don't realize that if it is leaking, it leaks into the TRUNK.

Good luck!

Packman
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Last edited by PackerEdgerton; 01-29-2016 at 10:21 AM.
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  #10  
Old 01-29-2016, 06:34 AM
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I bought some clear silicon and coated the outside of the back window gasket. The cushion of the back seat was damp and moldy. There are drain holes in those vents in the roof pillars and a drain hole in gas fill area. Also got a tooth brush and scrubbed all the crud on the trunk seal and surfaces so water would not hang around. A tray of cat litter in the trunk will absorb moist air on the cheap. Mike
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  #11  
Old 01-29-2016, 09:33 AM
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Very nice!
Thx
Will crawl in the trunk and report back.
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  #12  
Old 02-28-2016, 01:37 PM
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Took out the trunk panel adjacent to fuel tank.

Found that the drain tube for the fuel door was just hanging.

Reconnected now but wondering if that could be the cause of moisture?

Already got new taillight seals and will be installing those any day now.
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  #13  
Old 02-28-2016, 02:24 PM
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Just be sure everything is hunky dory in your marriage before you let your wife lock you in the trunk of your Mercedes .....just saying...
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  #14  
Old 02-29-2016, 05:29 AM
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My car is a 82 300SD.

My problem was the fact the leak was coming in between the different colored blocks in the left and right Light Assemblies. Red/White/Orange. Not sure how they are fused at factory.

It was a bugger to find and last on my "leak list" and not listed so far in this thread, I don't think

While you have you light assembles out, since you ordered seals, mine were good, pour water in your light assemblies like the are buckets and see if they leak water out. Mine dribbled during test and wicked water in sideways when it rained I assume since after I fixed them no more wet trunk.

I used crazy glue and went over the bonds on the outside I think. But you can do as you see fit if they leak.

Once moisture get in trunk it will show on underside of trunk lid the drip on carpet as you have seen.

My trunk has been dry for 4 years and that is all it was I think but I sealed the rear window too that was mentioned here.

Let us know how you make out.

Get crazy glue with a tiny brush in little bottle.

Steve

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