water puddle under 560 sl

[george mapson]

After running my '87 560 SL for about 15 minutes, then turn it off and park it in the garage I get a water puddle under the car(about under the front seats).Outside temp is about 45-50 and I have have the heat on...not AC. any thoughts on what is hapening here. I know I get water dripping when the AC is on...but when I have the heater going full blast?
Thanks

[cbdo]

First--sure it's water, not coolant or washer fluid?
The only way I know of getting water from an engine that doesn't contain any is condensation from the AC, which might lead one to check the AC clutch. Otherwise, check around for areas where environmental water (rain, carwashing) might pool.

[dmorrison]

A couple of thoughts.

First, your running the heat. Which button is pushed on the AC control?
If you push the EC button then yes the AC compressor is not on. If you press any other button the AC compressor IS on and dehumidifying the air. This could then be water from your evaporator.

Second, put some of the water on you fingers and smell it. Does it have any smell at all. Does it smell like antifreeze? Does it smell like your washer fluid? Or does it not have any smell?

If it smells like antifreeze, your heater box is leaking

If it smells like your washer fluid then you have a leak somewhere in the washer sytem.

If it smells like plain water then refer to the first paragraph and see if you are running the compressor.

Additionally you can have water in the evaporator box that will not drain out the tubes unless the car parked in a certain way, tilted, etc. So it could have just been some water that was sitting in the evaporator box untill you parked it.

If it does smell like antifreeze, make sure its comming from the heater box drain tubes. It coul dbe working its way back from the engine and draining near the firewall.

Dave