There's water on my passengers floor! WTF!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PanzerSD · #1 09-16-2006, 02:04 AM

As if I hadn't had a bad enough day, it's been raining for the last three days, and when I got into my car today to go home from work, my rubber floor mat on the passengers side was FULL OF WATER! what gives??

any common problems with that?

sixto · #2 09-16-2006, 03:22 AM

The drain hose from the evaporator hose to under the car is probably kinked or clogged. Moisture the AC system pulls from cabin air collects and overflows onto the passenger footwell.

Quick fix is to look for a ~1/2" hose around the passenger side of the transmission tunnel and try to clear it by poking. Don't be directly under the hose

It might be better to get into the evaporator case and give it a proper cleaning... or as much of a cleaning as you can give it without taking the car apart.

I hope you've been using AC otherwise you have a bad heater core or a leaky windshield gasket.

Sixto
93 300SD

bgkast · #3 09-16-2006, 03:24 AM

Doesn't sound to me like this is AC related. I would try clearing the sunroof drain lines.

airbus · #4 09-16-2006, 08:10 AM

Three days of rain and water inside sounds more like the windshield gasket. (common problem with W123's). A leaky sunroof (or clogged drain) would probably flood the rear of the car. Easy fix is (ouch, some of us don't want to hear this now...) drill a small hole at the lowest point of the foot pan to drain the water.

bgkast · #5 09-16-2006, 02:03 PM

Depends on if the car was parked was parked nose or tail up on a small hill where the water would end up. I don't recall hearing of a W123 windshield seal leaking water into the cab, but it is definitely possible. You would also probably see water on the dash board then as well.

Also check behind the battery and under the battery tray for rust. Leaky batteries can rust this area out and cause water leaks in the passenger side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbus

Easy fix is (ouch, some of us don't want to hear this now...) drill a small hole at the lowest point of the foot pan to drain the water.

Not sure I would call that a fix.

bill murrow · #6 09-16-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

Depends on if the car was parked was parked nose or tail up on a small hill where the water would end up. I don't recall hearing of a W123 windshield seal leaking water into the cab, but it is definitely possible. You would also probably see water on the dash board then as well.

Also check behind the battery and under the battery tray for rust. Leaky batteries can rust this area out and cause water leaks o the passenger side.

A/C condensation line would leak on drivers side. Trust me , you can rule that out.

I would look at the windshield gasket. If original, most likely the culprit. Test by pulling into a dry spot and pouring water in specific areas to determine if thats it.

If sunroof drain pan is leaking you'll see the headliner by the visor or down the a pillar showing signs of it i.e. water stains, etc. Could be that too.

Another spot is the drain wells that are located deep in the pockets where your hood hinges are. If they're stopped up/rusted through it'll leak there. Please use string trimmer line to poke the drains open. Metal will scratch the paint leaving you wide open for rust issues later. Oh....same goes for stopped up sunroof drains.

Third spot will be behind your battery. If all of the above seems ok, remove the battery and see if there are holes there. They'll have to be patched if there are. Already covered but while I'm at it.....

Lots of info here on cabin water leaks but I'm not one to yell use the search. Quicker to ask then search. Ask me how I know about water leaks and searching.

Cheers,

Bill

EDIT: Do NOT drill into the floor pan!!!!!!

Bama1 · #7 09-16-2006, 03:26 PM

Don't dally or you will be sorry! Anyone who has put off doing this fix the right way have regretted it!

First thing, get it out of the rain if possible. Vaccuum out all the water with a strong wet or dry vac. Replace the Windshield and rear windshield seals ... vaccuum it out again and place a canned dehumidifier/dessicant/absorber to pull out as much moisture as possible.

Don't forget to check under the vinyl panels in the trunk. Water can get between the vinyl and the floorpans and stink it up as well as create rust faster than a chinese bicycle.

Motor on

PanzerSD · #8 09-16-2006, 03:52 PM

Well, first off, I have a 116 car.

Secondly, this ONLY happens when it's raining. When I was the car I don't get this, I think it's water that is gathering in the cavity between the firewall on the engine side and the passenger compartment.

thirdly, My sunroof seals TIGHT and I check my drains every spring. and they're clear. (my front drains drain behind fenders and my rears come out from the air flaps on the C pillars.

When I have the car parked for a while I assume the water gathers somewhere, and when I get into the car, the floor mat (thank god it's rubber) is full of water, and when I turn DEF on, you can hear water hitting the "squirrel cage" on the heater blower.

since this is my daily driver, I can't really afford to lay the car up for any more than a weekend (which is half passed already) ...

I hope it's as simple as a drain tube...

PanzerSD · #9 09-16-2006, 03:56 PM

Also, I suppose, while on the topic of WATER it's Raining HARD here, and when I'm driving, and I go thru ANY puddle I can hear my Alternator squealing. I know that's old belts...I can do that, along with most other things. BUT I've had some crippling battery charge issues since it's been raining.

With my alternator getting wet like that, if it's not charging while it's wet, is that a sign of a faulty alternator? can most "in tune" alternators withstand some water?

Like this is nuts, I havn't seen rain like this for at least 15 years.. frankly, it's rather depressing..

JimmyL · #10 09-16-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got_The_Benz

Also, I suppose, while on the topic of WATER it's Raining HARD here, and when I'm driving, and I go thru ANY puddle I can hear my Alternator squealing. I know that's old belts...I can do that, along with most other things. BUT I've had some crippling battery charge issues since it's been raining.

With my alternator getting wet like that, if it's not charging while it's wet, is that a sign of a faulty alternator? can most "in tune" alternators withstand some water?

It usually isn't the fact of the alternator getting wet and not working, it is the belt slipping because it is wet, and the alt not turning enough to charge the battery.
Your results may vary......

lakerat · #11 12-25-2016, 01:03 PM

I have water on both passenger floor pans, can not figure out where the water is coming from. The drivers side passenger pan water is coming from under coating puncture under the car but passenger side floor pan I have no clue because the under coating under car on that side is perfect? Thanks for any help

cornemuse · #12 12-26-2016, 11:51 AM

Yeah, I get a huge amount of condensation on (inside of) windshield after heavy rains. Dosent happen often tho, (southern Calif), car facing uphill. Trunk fills when facing downhill (300cd)

zu! · #13 12-26-2016, 05:21 PM

I have a thread on my water woes here. Basically, in my case, it was the drain at the front side (behind the wheel well) that filled with crud. And water was seeping in through a crack (like yours).

Could it be the same thing on yours?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

gastropodus · #14 12-26-2016, 08:03 PM

This "water in the passenger footwell" problem is, sadly, a problem that I am well familiar with. Some years I manage to stay on top of keeping the drains clear, and some years not... here is what is most likely going on, if your car is like mine. I'm going to go out on a limb and propose that the 116 is probably similar to the 123 when this problem shows up.

There are actually TWO drains to worry about under the front hood on each side. One is in the hood hinge pocket, and is the one most people tend to focus on. Failure to clean that one out leads to rust issues of the pocket, and structurally weakens the hood hinge system. There is another drain below that hood hinge pocket opening, which the hood hinge pocket drains INTO. You can see that second drain opening easily on the driver's side (left side). There is an identical opening on the passenger side, but unfortunately it is under the battery tray. The typical scenario is that at some point the lower drain (the one on the top inner surface of the wheel housing) plugs up with leaf debris on the passenger side, and then water pools up at the firewall. Being near the battery, the water picks up acidity from battery spills or runoff, and this causes a pinhole leak to develop in the firewall. This provides the entry point for water to run down the inside surface of the firewall, and show up as a pool in the footwell.

I find that late in the fall I generally need to plan to remove the battery for 15 minutes, and clear out all the drains with a garden hose. I start with the upper drains in the hinge pockets, and work my way down to the lower drain in the fender that feeds the tube going down to the bottom of the car. Once the water is swirling merrily down through both drain openings on each side I find that water no longer pools up. I sponge out the footwells and then I'm good for another year.

Hope this helps.

Kurt

optimusprime · #15 12-27-2016, 08:20 AM

Panzer it would be good to know just what car your talking about .I was looking to find out in your profile .Just spoted it just now what car your have. .Afer you have looked in all the places that members have told you about .I would look at the membrain thats stuck on to the rear of the door, before the door card .It covers all the holes in the door to stop water draining in to the foot wells .I know i left one off after regulator replacment and i was flooded out ..