If the windshield seal is original, I'd put my money there.

I just had a new windshield put in myself, and I asked them for a new seal, which they did NOT do. So that too is on my To Do list.

Gotcha, I'll keep that in mind.

I'm pretty bummed about the water; I don't like dealing with water leaks! (Who does!)

After the brakes/alternator I was planning to give her a pressure wash including the engine bay with a fun afternoon of degreasing. So I'll add in trying to find the leak with the hose, see if I can narrow it down some. Hopefully get to that this weekend.

I'm still betting on the fresh air intakes, will also check behind the battery as I hear that's a semi common spot. I found one of the plug holes in the rear passenger open and a little rusty, but I don't see water coming up from that hole.

Based on where the water is pooling I'm thinking it's coming in from the front of the car- somewhere - leaking on either side of the front (drivers and passenger) and then following the electrical lines back into the rear passenger.

Seems like I had more water in the rear than I did the front, and my WS seal was leaking too.

check sunroof drains to.
also common point of leaks.

Louis

__________________
Not always the smartest but certainly not dumb?

Thanks for the tip, any idea where might those drain out?

Alternator progress:
Removed the pulley from the old alternator and mounted it to the new alternator.

Brakes:
Attempted to free the front rotors from the hub with my new electric impact wrench (350 ft lb supposedly) and it didn't stand a chance. The 10mm hex bit I have though is 3/4" so I did have to convert it to 1/2" for the impact wrench, but I don't think that made much if any difference.

I don't think I'm going to bother trying to get them off with a breaker bar, just going to take them down to a shop with a stronger impact wrench.

Leak:
Did some light weight mods yo.

More water in the car today. It's getting trapped underneath the sound deadening and just sitting there. So I removed essentially all of the drivers front, passenger front and right rear sound deadening. Drivers side passenger and the boot are dry as a bone, so that's good.

Still no idea where it's coming from. Hopefully figure out where the leak is this weekend when I have day light.


Not sure I will have her running by Sunday like I had hoped, but still possible. I put in about 4.5 hours on her tonight.

Tomorrow I shall take pictures during the day- let you all in on the fun.

I have removed many a rotor from the hub by bolting it to a wheel, and using the hex socket on a breaker bar. It works every time......Rich

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

I snapped the head off my 1/2 breaker bar recently =/

Guess I need to go grab another one.

The front ones drain near the back of the front wheels.
The rears drain near the front of the back wheels.

Usually what happens is that the drains in each corner
will rust where they connect to the hose that runs in the
window pillars.
If memory serves they are pretty hard to get to due to
where they are located.
You might be able to get to them once you undo the headliner
in the corners.
Mine were fine so I didn't mess with it to much so I can't remember
exactly how you get to the connections.

Louis

__________________
Not always the smartest but certainly not dumb?

HF, more than likely. BTDT, got stitches to prove it. ;-).

MS has a good video on the sunroof, he can walk you through that. Get ready for sticker-shock on the cost of the seals... That is where another of my leaks popped up, so I decided to just move from OK to CO to deal with it. :-)

Really really hoping it's not the sunroof!

I'll dig up that video and check it out. Hoping finding the leak with the hose this weekend won't be too much trouble.

My guess on the water leak is a failed windshield seal.

I use the combination in the pic to remove calipers. Sears stuff as far as I can remember.

The black swivel is an impact unit.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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83 SD

84 CD

Anyone know what the 3 prong plug is in the first picture? It looks like it connects to the drivers seat.


Any good tests for the WS seals? Just hit it with water and observe where it comes in?

Three prong plug is seat belt warning connection.

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1982 300TDT
1991 190D
2022 Metris

Cut strips of bath towels and stuff tightly between the WS seal and the dash. Hit with a hose or wait for the next rain, pull towel out slowly as you feel the towel for wetness. You'll be able to identify the spot of water entry.

Pull out the EGR computer (behind a cover on front passenger fender), undo connector. If water comes out or there's signs of corrosion on the pins from water damage, that'd short the signals and stop the tach from working.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 167,870 July 2025
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked