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#1
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Good or Bad idea? Drilling a drain hole
I am still struggling with water in the car (passenger rear floor) even after cleaning all the drain holes in the trunk and under the battery. The floor still gets wet when it rains.
I can't afford to change all the seals so I am thinking of pulling the carpet and drilling drainage holes on the floor with multiple coats of rustoleum. Is this a really bad idea? all input is appreciated.
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Ben 1987 190d 2.5Turbo |
#2
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bad idea, need to fix the issue, or good idea if and only if you are going to eventually fix the issue.
any water inside is not good, and holes into the cabin are bad for many reasons, CO2, noise, you will not be able to use any type of covering over footwell
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Ron 2015 Porsche Cayman - Elizabeth 2011 Porsche Cayman - Bond,James Bond Sadly MERCEDESLESS - ALways LOOKING ! 99 E320 THE Queen Mary - SOLD 62 220b - Dolly - Finally my Finny! Sadly SOLD 72 450SL, Pearl-SOLD 16 F350 6.7 Diesel -THOR 19 BMW X5 - Heaven on Wheels 14 38HP John Deere 3038E Tractor -Mean Green 84 300SD, Benjamin -SOLD 71 220 - W115-Libby ( my first love) -SOLD 73 280 - W114 "Organspende" Rest in Peace 81 380 SL - Rest in Peace |
#3
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While it is not a good idea if you do it this way you could be OK...
Drill one hole. Insert a piece or rubber tubing through the hole so that it extends about 2 inches under the car. Seal the hole around the tubing with silicone sealer on both sides of the floor pan. The thought is that while water can drain down from the floor, the tube will prevent most splashes from going through the hole and wetting the floor. Good luck!
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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy" Current Monika '74 450 SL BrownHilda '79 280SL FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee Krystal 2004 Volvo S60 Gone '74 Jeep CJ5 '97 Jeep ZJ Laredo Rudolf ‘86 300SDL Bruno '81 300SD Fritzi '84 BMW '92 Subaru '96 Impala SS '71 Buick GS conv '67 GTO conv '63 Corvair conv '57 Nomad |
#4
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Lift up the carpets and see if there's a drain hole already.
I know in my 123s there is a rubber cap that plugs a drain hole. You can pull it out to drain the floor of water if needed. I actually think the plug has 3 little holes in it too so it doesn't need to be pulled out. If yours has this drain hole and plug, maybe the plug has dirt plugging up the holes. At any rate, I'd like to know if it has them if you don't mind looking and reporting back. I plan to buy a 300SDL in the very near future.
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Chad 2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE 1998 Acura 3.0 CL OBK#44 "Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) SOLD 1985 300TD - Red Dragon 1986 300SDL - Coda 1991 - 300TE 1995 - E320 1985 300CD - Gladys |
#5
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+1. What I'd do is pull the fullsize round rubber drain plugs that exist in the rear footwells, and replace with the ones that have three small holes in them which serve as actual drains (like are in the trunk and already on the car for draining the rockers).
This will serve as a drain with decent closure from the elements. You can get them at the dealer for just a few dollars, and Im sure Phil can source them too. They may be on fastlane.
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Current Diesels: 1981 240D (73K) 1982 300CD (169k) 1985 190D (169k) 1991 350SD (113k) 1991 350SD (206k) 1991 300D (228k) 1993 300SD (291k) 1993 300D 2.5T (338k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k) 1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k) Past Diesels: 1983 300D (228K) 1985 300D (233K) |
#6
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Did you clean the drain holes under the hood hinges?
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1983 CD 1958 Studebaker Packard (being resuscitated) |
#7
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yes. there was about a quarter inch thick layer of dead leaves and pine needles.
i am now wondering if removing all that was enough. i'll have to the do the garden hose test soon to check. where is the water supposed to drain? does the water go behind the fender? i wish i could remove the fender or something to see
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Ben 1987 190d 2.5Turbo |
#8
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Quote:
Does it leak when it rains, even if you're not driving? I was trying to find a leak, did the hose test, nothing. Took it for a drive with sister in the back seat and no carpets. Once i drove through a puddle, water gushed in If it were me, I'd track down the problem or live with it for the time being. Drilling holes might not even solve the problem, because your carpets would probably soak up any water that gets there.
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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold 1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition |
#9
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There could be some rot in one of the nooks and crannies in the firewall that the water is coming in through. That's where my leak is, not immediately noticible until I pulled all of the carpets out one day to clean them and while they were out I was cleaning the engine compartment and noticed a decent stream of water coming into the passenger footwell.
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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15 '06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod) |
#10
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You need to find the leak before the floor rusts. It will be a constant hassle/threat until you stop the leak. If you can't stop the leak, remove the carpet and any padding so that it doesn't hold moisture & cause rust. Treat with a can of POR 15 (small size) if there is any rust now.
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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do. |
#11
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I think it's a bad idea because it doesn't fix the problem, but it's better than having a water puddle in the rear passenger area. There is a drain hole in the front passenger side but not in the rear passanger area. I would drill a very small hole just so that water doesn't collect in inches.
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1983 300 Turbo-"Nora" 1983 240D Auto "Lucia"-slowest on earth-1st love 1985 300 Turbo-Blue Goose-slowly plucking parts http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...ly15/mbsig.jpg |
#12
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The first place to look is at the windshield gasket. Unless it is most unusual it will be leaking like a sieve.
Then you can choose to replace the gasket or clean the crack very well and caulk it with black silicone.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#13
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Quote:
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Charles 1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386 |
#14
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Drilling a hole in the very well protected floor pan introduces a foothold for rust to start. I would not do that.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#15
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Where is the water supposed to drain?
Quote:
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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale** 84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds 00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold) 15 Subaru Outback 43K 11 Subaru Outback 67K 98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now. 30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60 |
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