W123 Windshield Seal Leak?
 

My socks are wet this morning because its finally raining here.

I though I might have a leak earlier, but I checked all the drains in the sunroof and the vent area near the wipers and the drains under the hood.

It appears to be leaking into the drivers footwell driping from the lower panel near the parking brake.

Does this sound like the windshield seal?

The previous owner replaced the windshield last year.....


Thanks

John,

I suspect they didn't get the lips on the seal positioned correctly when they replaced the windshield. Not uncommon with shops that don't have lots of MB practice.

Your probably looking at $75.


Michael

I know you said you checked all the drains under the hood, but that is the exact area where my 78 300D leaks when the under hood drain by the hood hinge gets a leaf, or a pine needle, or anything in it.
Maybe check again?

I have the same problem with my TD. I was in the habit of putting my wallet up in the corner of the dash. When I would retrieve my wallet, it would be wet. Water pools up in that corner and some how works it way in. There isn't any air leaking inthat I can hear. My windshield was replaced at some point by a previous owner.

Windshield replacement is the only sub'd out job on my car...

The car never leaked before and leaked horribly - a flood on the passenger's side and damp on the drivers. Shop defended that it was the car, body deteriorated.

I finally viewed the car with the lower panels removed. I watched it drip from the corners of the seal. On the driver's side- I could see water between the glass and rubber sealing... drip drip drip.

Did they replace the seal with the windshield?? You can do a lot with a maglight and a pressure washer(aka car wash).

On the passenger side, you can flood the seal where the a/c lines come through... but with the hood down-no problems.


If you do decide to replace the seal... some people suggest less problems with the factory seals. You can get someone to goo the seal around between the body/rubber. They make products for it, but it's about $50 for a quart. Most glass places will do it for $50.


Michael

samiam4: Yes, he replaced the seal with the windshield - not a shop, but the owner.

rickjordan: I don't see any moisture inside the glass on the dash, referring to the wallet comment.

Old Deis: Which, of the two drains under the hood on the drivers side was the problem?


Thanks for all the comments/ideas!

New Info:

Since the rain hasn't stopped yet, I have another thing to report:

With the car sitting, the only place the water drips from is the hood release.....

Take the lower panel out in the foot well-

Look up in the corner with a flashlight... I'm nearly positive it's the WS seal.

last summer I replaced the rear seal on my 300D. It was a pain in the butt doing it the way I thought it would go. Turns out after looking in the CD that you should have the whole thing assembled (windshield, seal, chrome trim) and using string pull the inner lip into the groove. I didn't actually get around to doing in since I went to the Army, but my parents called the MB dealer and asked who they had do their glass. The guy had the whole thing back together in 30 minutes.

I'll check the WS seal on Saturday.

Thanks!