1985 300 TD wagon -

I have been working on water leaks - for the most part - very successful - fixed leaks under hood hinge springs. Now I have a windshield leak (pretty sure it is a seal problem - changed windshield last October - now leaks) But my most recent discovery is water under the rear seat (passenger side) - not in rear footwell, but under seat - when you pivot seat bottom forward - there is water - after a pretty good rain - this area is higher than footwell - anyone have this happen? Thanks Steve

Check your sunroof drains, especially at the rear. The easiest way to do that is run a hose at each corner of the sunroof and check for water in the back after you do each corner. I believe the rear sunroof drains through tubes that run down the C pillars and exit through the bottom of the rocker panels just ahead of the rear wheels. If you find one of them blocked try pushing a wire up from below and/or using some compressed air at either end to try to blow it clear.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

Do I run water (hose) with sunroof completely closed? (Honest question?) I can see 2 hoses in the back(most) pillar next to hatch - are there other hoses down the middle pillar? Would water from the back hoses cause water to leak at the back seat - not the back seat footwell, under the back seat. Thanks Steve

I've never had the headliner off on my wagon so can't say exactly where the hoses are routed. On a couple of other cars I had the rear sunroof drains went down the C pillars and it makes sense that that would be the case here too. You test for leaks by running a slow but steady stream of water either directly in the drain (if you can see it/ access it) or with the sunroof closed and running a slow steady stream on one corner at a time while you check for leaks. Don't run the water so fast that it pours over the side of the car so you can't see the water from the drains exiting below. If you have a clogged drain or a leak when the sunroff is closed then the hose treatment should be enough to help identify it.

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LRG
1987 300D Turbo 175K
2006 Toyota Prius, efficent but no soul
1985 300 TDT(130K miles of trouble free motoring)now sold

You can't really access the rear drains from the sunroof so get them from the back of the car, pushing the trimmer string up the tube like a roto-rooter. The front drains can be cleaned by looking for the drains in the front corners of the sunroof pan (with the roof open) and poking the trimmer string down the tube.

Sunroof drains on the 123 chassis TD exit the body like this:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

RLeo-
Thanks for the pic! Is that your car? Do you know how water could get under rear seat (middle seat)? This is on the higher portion of the floor that the seat bottom sits on. Thanks again to all.

No, it's just a good side view I found to illustrate my point; Marlene is maroon. However, my son's wagon (Passion Flower) is gold.


Just a guess but, I think a leak in the front area of either of the rear side windows (the fixed ones behind the doors) would allow water to run inside forward over one of the rear wheel house and possibly make it to the area you describe.

Are you sure positive that it wasn't something that was spilled in the backseat of the car?

FWIW, Marlene's drains were all clogged with mud when I bought her but the only place she leaked was at the left front of the cabin, just above the driver's sunvisor.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Just for your info: I found out that water is dripping from sunroof edge. Thanks Steve

Finally found leak under carpet!!!!! 2 rust holes through to hollow framework that runs under body under doors - the one with the rubber drains. Turns out there is a hole at the end of this framework at the wheel well - I ran some water into it - water came out under carpet - passenger side un front passenger seat and near middle pillar between fr/rear doors - both just near where vac lines run.