I'm getting water leakage in the trunk from somewhere. Last year, the right rear tail light seal was the culprit so I put some Prestone Power Steering Stop Leak fluid on it to rejuvenate it (as I did with my sunroof seal) and it fixed the problem. I also did the same with the trunk seal, took it off, cleaned it, cleaned leaves out of the recessed area and put it back on.

This year I'm getting water in again, the left tail light is not leaking and I can't find the source of the leak. Short of me getting in the trunk while someone hoses it down (which it might come to), a friend of mine noted that the rubber trunk stops were toast. Maybe that's affecting the spot where the trunk is stopping, making it go too low (since there's no rubber there for it to hit, it just hits the metal protrusions the rubber is supposed to be on) or something, I don't know.

Any suggestions?

1991 300d 210k

To tell if it's making contact where it should be:

Clean the trunk lid meticuously where it *should* contact
Clean the seal
Put a light coating of oil on the seal(not silicone lube-that stuff takes forever to clean up)
Close and reopen the trunk.

You will easily see where it lands.


To check squish clearances lightly oil one surface, apply playdoh, close &reopen, then measure thickness.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Even so, would this condition of not having the proper rubber grommets on the metal flanges cause water to get into the trunk?

The only way to find out is to find out if the trunk seals okay without them-by checking for contact.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

With my W123 cars, it helps a lot if you park angled slightly uphill, like my driveway. When level, the water in the trunk gutter barely drains or even has to flow slightly uphill. Not the best design, but body designers strive for smooth lines and looks more than functionality, unless you think the late 1950's tail wings helped. Ditto for the rear lamp assembly with its thick rubber gasket. The rubber drains in the side pockets get plugged easily so will build a pool of water if you don't watch them. I am tempted to remove them and leave a bigger hole, but fear getting exhaust fumes into the cabin.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

No, no, no. I don't buy it, that "you have to park with your car angled upward". BAD INFO!!! The real problem is your gasket or something else. Even if you take your gasket off and put some silicone on the ridge where the gasket sits, you can fix that problem.

You are fussing about something I didn't say. I only said "it helps", not "you have to".

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

I have a W201 that was repainted and it leaks, I think around the trunk badges, since the gasket is good, and the water is always collected in the pocket on the back side of the lid.

Someone told me its the grommets that go around the little pins that secure the badges leaking.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

I had water in the right side wheel well and light assembly after rain for a long while now. Trunk gasket is newish. I finally replaced the trunk stops and no more water in trunk! I was about to post this on another MB site, and randomly saw your post.

Here's why they can cause leaks:

Attached Thumbnails

   

Also a place that causes water in the trunk is the rear window seal.
The front window seal will leak too a common problem in these cars for water leaking behind dash down to the front floors.
I cleaned out seals with Acetone taped around all my window seals and chrome, used Window Urethane in every seam to seal it until I get the time to do a window seal replacement, but no leaks for now.
Window Urethane is a real durable caulk (just my opinion)

I'm not sure about your year/model but a majority of the trunk leaks I've read about here have pointed to the rear window seal as the main culprit.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I think the leaky rear window seal may be more of a problem with the W123s (OP has a W124). At least I've only ever heard the complaint from W123 owners.

Like another W124 owner in theis thread, I also was getting leaking into the right side of the trunk. I replaced the trunk seal and the trunk stops, and no more issues. One nice thing about having the seal and the stops off the car is you can clean out the gutters and drains real well. You'll be amazed how much stuff is under that black plastic piece next to the tail lamp (the one that the lower trunk stop sits on).

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There is also a drain that goes from the fuel fill down to the ground. Water gets in if the drain is disconnected from the spout. I suggest fixing the leak by whatever means necessary. The PO let water get to the point where holes rusted in the bottom. S little problem turned into a cluster......headache. I'm talking to shops now because my friend that could and would fix it is out of the business.

Anyone know of a middle TN bodyman that doesn't think his charges should be up there with a surgeon?

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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.