Hi Everyone,
I am new to this site and look forward to spending lots of time learning tricks of the trade here :>)
I have a 1996 Mercedes C280(4dr). I was having problems, battery kept going dead after parking it for a week or so. I am not working right now so taking it to a dealer or mechanic is not possible. So! I disconnected the red wire from the terminal after parking it.
Recently after I park it for a few days I find alot of condensation on the "innerside" of the rear window and alot of condesation in the trunk. Everything gets soaked.Even my spare tire gets wet!
If anyone can offer any "insight' on what may be causing this and how I can fix it myself(handy with tools) please, please, please HELP.

Thank You Kindly,
Quincelady

Yeah, I experienced the same problem. I was told that there is a drain plug somewhere in the trunk that may be plugged and causing the condensation... I know the more experienced ones in this forum will be able shed some light.

les

__________________
1980 300sd - Ivory, Tobacco Interior 130,000 miles
2003 Expedition

Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 18,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and weigh only 1.5 tons. - Popular Mechanics, 1949

I can only tell you my experience with my Supra which may or may not apply. My Supra had the EXACT same symptoms you describe. The problem in my case was the gaskets around the tail light assemblies. They had decayed and were leaking. I could see some faint telltail "stain" where the water was leaking in. I took it all apart, cleaned a dried everything, RTV'd the gaskets to the assembly and then put silicone grease on the side that mates to the car. Tightened the bolts and no more leak!!

MP

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Check to make sure the gasket for the trunk is clean and not torn. They usually don't leak even in bad shape UNLESS there is something either under the lip or hanging across the seal, in which case water will drip into the trunk. Rotten leaves, grass clippings, twigs, etc tend to build up in there, and when they fill all the space between the deck lid and the body, water gets in.

Also, make sure the water drain channel down the sides is clear, no piles of pine needles, leaves, etc. If water cannot drain down and out, it will work it's way past the seal eventually, causing a wet trunk.

I've been told that there is also a weather seal around the rear window that can cause trouble, but my damp trunk on the W124 was too much crud under the gasket. Cleaned it all out and it stays dry, now!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for your quick responses(input) . Unfortunately, I have a very sick family member in the hospital. I will work on the gasket first chance I get and I will get back to you all with the "outcome". Let's think positive :>)!
Thanks again, Blessings to all,
Quincelady

Hello again!
I checked the gasket in the trunk area. It's practically new. Another thing I noticed this weekend, there was condensation in the inside of the FRONT Window. Shessssssh! What can it be? Please help if you have any idea/thanks again .
Blesssings,
Melinda
PS If anyone knows of a good/inexpensive mechanic in the NY area( I live in The Bronx) can you please let me know ...thanks!

Look under all the floormats, right down to the steel floor. It sounds like the condensation is a lot of accumulated water trying to evaporate. If you find soaked underpadding, you've found the accumulation. Next step would, of course, be to find the leak. Just a thought...

__________________
1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

You will have to play detective. I have done this a couple of times. You have to be methodical and it is better done in the summer in my opinion but it ain't summer!! What I do is dry out everything as much as possible. This can be quite a chore if it is really wet. Next, try to park the thing where it is covered or use a tarp so it does not get worse before you fix it. Then use the garden hose test to apply water to different areas and see if you can detect where it is leaking. (Don't spray at the car, just simulate rain, or just let the hose pour jently on the car) Get a bright flashlight. Have someone else use the hose while you are inside the car if possible. (Do not get in the trunk!!) It helps a lot if you have a good guess about the general area where it is leaking but water can move around so it can be tricky. I have found leaks at lamp assemblies as I mentioned and also at body seams (Subaru). Also areas around windows that are rusty. Water can leak just about anywhere there is a pinhole or bigger. It will be hard work to find but the payoff is really good - a dry car!!

Mike

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Melinda,
Looks like you got good advise from everyone here.
On my car I removed the back seat. and the shelf tray at the back window.
Someone sprayed water on the rear windshield and almost immediately water was dribbling in.
So in my case, playing detective worked. I had a bad window seal. Of course my vehicle is much older.
Sometimes when you buy a car used from a dealer they shampoo the rugs seats and everything else. It may be possible that things are still wet months later and need a drying out.
Take out everything you can, floor mats, trunk mats, spare tire, look under the rugs ….Wipe everything down ….feel for wetness….to locate a leak. Break out the wet/dry shop-vac. Do all the rugs this may help getting out any moisture. Suck out any leaves pine needles ….in the drain channels under the hood etc as Peter had mentioned. You’ll have a clean car and you may find a leak !

Be sure and check the drains under the hood, near the hinges. These areas quickly fill with water when clogged. Water should easily run off the windshield and out the drains.

If clogged don't use something that can scratch the paint which will cause long-term rust problems, instead use something soft like a chopstick or plastic stick.

There should not be any leaves/debris in these areas. Use a shop Vac with a narrow attachment to completely clean the area. If clogged it can take some time to get all the accumulated leaves and crap out. The drains are more easily found and cleaned when lifting the engine hood fully vertical.

If your car has an exposed rubber gasket, especially on the rear window, lift and edge and see if it snaps back. If it falls slowly the gasket is bad or is almost ready to be replaced.

In the trunks of these cars, down in the left and right sides, under the plastic inner liner are flaps for air to move out of the car. These flaps are often torn, or simply rotten. Water can collect in the sides of the trunk and will allow water to collect and condense upwards and into the trunk and then on the rear window.

The gaskets around the trunks are vertical for a reason: They channel water around and down.

If you are wondering whether your trunk gasket is sealing properly, use the dollar bill test: Take a bill and close the trunk on it. If the bill slides easily out your trunk needs to bee adjusted either at the latch and/or the hinge. It is rare that the hinge needs to be adjusted. (BTW, is is a great way to test a refrigerator door gasket).

The sunroof has drains in the corners. Do a search on this site using the words: sunroof drain

There are many threads on this topic.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

HI Everbody,
I certainly do appreciate all the people who have taken the time to help me out. Thank you very much!
I took the car to an auto body shop. The guy look at the trunk and said that it didn't seemed alined on both sides. He literally took the hood of the trunk and shifted it with his "muscle power". I thought he was going to lift the car off the floor... haha. It lined up perfectly. Now I am waiting "to see" . I took everything out of the trunk. I noticed the there was water in the lower left hand corner of the trunk, beneath the left tail light. Also, condensation in the left tail light. He said it may have been dripping down from right to left since the opening in the space on the right side of the trunk lid was larger. I have to check it out today. I will get back to you all with an update. I don't have an inside garage and it's getting cold in NYC so it's not easy to work on the car. But I'll try my best.

Blessings,
Melinda

If you have condensation INSIDE the taillight, look for water inside it on the bottom row of lamps (remove inside cover and remove the lamps). If there is water in there, the lamp housing is cracked and the water you are getting in the trunk is spilling out of the lamp sockets when the taillight fills up.

Usually blows brake lamp bulbs when this happens.

I had to replace both taillight assemblies on the Volvo for this reason.

If the decklid was crooked, there is a fair chance the car bot bumped in the rear somewhere along the line, and you may want to remove the taillight to check for a damaged gasket, too.

Peter

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Hello Again,
I have removed the left tail light housing and cleaned the moisture in it. Betw. that and the "manly" alignment of the trunk hood things look great today. Yesterday it poured here. When I checked the the left lamp housing and the inside of the trunk(today) they were DRY! So far, so good.
Many Thanks to Everyone.
Quincelady

Quincelady,
How is your family member doing? Great I hope.

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84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

HI Paul,
Thank you for asking. He is not doing well at all. At this point in time I(we) are praying that God be merciful and take him peacefully home. I am grateful for the love we keep.

May you and yours have a Wonderful Thanksgiving,
Quincelady