Musty smell

[Hairy1305]

Hahaha, yeah, know the smell well!

OK, have found water, in the rear nearside footwell. I've dried it out, removed the carpet and checked the scuttle panels, which channel water properly.

From the chap at W123 world:

"Wet rear carpets indicate either a leaking Sunroof ( Which you have said it's not), check if water is running along the central locking pipes/ covers into the rear from the front foot-wells. Often there are leaks behind the bonnet springs ( if the drain cavity is blocked) water runs into the front wells and down into the rear. Or possibly a major rear screen leak. Only way to check that is to remove the back seats, which I'll do tomorrow."

Next time it rains, I will sit in the back of the car and see where the water comes from, but slowly thinking rear screen leak.

Again, thanks.

 

[jdrrco]

Hahaha, yeah, know the smell well!

OK, have found water, in the rear nearside footwell. I've dried it out, removed the carpet and checked the scuttle panels, which channel water properly.

From the chap at W123 world:

"Wet rear carpets indicate either a leaking Sunroof ( Which you have said it's not), check if water is running along the central locking pipes/ covers into the rear from the front foot-wells. Often there are leaks behind the bonnet springs ( if the drain cavity is blocked) water runs into the front wells and down into the rear. Or possibly a major rear screen leak. Only way to check that is to remove the back seats, which I'll do tomorrow."

Next time it rains, I will sit in the back of the car and see where the water comes from, but slowly thinking rear screen leak.

Again, thanks.

...or do a smoke test, a la Edd China

 

[grober]

...or do a smoke test, a la Edd China

While ok for frameless window seals - not sure about hidden lower body leaks?

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[Hairy1305]

I have to admit, this was the best idea yet, as we really did have a storm last night and I woke up to have a full rear nearside footwell. So I mopped it up, went to golf, where I then became a fascimile of my car, and returned to find it wet again. So I put a hose pipe on, with not much pressure, so I could localise the flow.

Rear window split was an option: No. No leaks.
Sunroof opened and put water int eh channnels: drained as expected.
Front offside scuttle cover: Not overly.
Front nearside scuttle cover: Lots.
Nearside gutter: No.
Offside gutter: No.

So, using the "smoke test", I think it's blocked under the scuttle covers.

Now, is there a diagram for removing these in order I can clean them?

...or do a smoke test, a la Edd China

 

[Hairy1305]

Hmmm, digging into the front end a bit deeper, seems there's a bit of corrosion - Having this looked at next week.

 

[grober]

you might find this usefull

Mercedes Benz EPC 123.043 Chassis Information Everything Benz

or

Mercedes Benz EPC 123.243 Chassis Information Everything Benz

and this

Mercedes-Benz W123 Technical Articles

and maybe

Cleaning, Servicing and Repairing W123 Water Drains and Surrounding Area - On Demand Video | Product | MercedesSource.com

mercedessource Product - Learn how to do this on a regular 6 month basis or you could suffer some serious consequences DO NOT neglect your W123 hood hinge and firewall corner drains. The problems plugged drains can create arre many and the 123 sedans, coupes and wagons are more prone to front...

mercedessource.com

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[Hairy1305]

Cheers Grober. However, taking it all apart and doing some more "smoke testing", I've unearthed the issue and it isn't the greatest of news, as it is corrosion.

The scuttle trays were clean and free of detritus. I then looked inside the bonnet and there's channel where the spring goes, and there's a drain hole there too. So I cleaned these out, and they were filthy. Thinking I had gotten away with it, I then tested again and it still poured through. I took the under dash trays off and looked further and had the wife go inside to film it: "Like a waterfall" she says. I get in and see there's about a half inch square hole in the side.of the bulkhead. So it's not going to be an easy fabrication, but It's a job I'll get done (I can't do something so delicate!).

Here are the photo's, just for reference. Car now got a cover on, so we can at least stop the puddles accumulating, and we can go from there.

There's a little funnel inside that literally was guiding it into the footwell! So, wings off repair and lets see what other naties we find.

 

[grober]

On a happier note the surrounding area [hinges etc] looks sound- hopefully the rust is localised to a few areas and can be replaced with sound metal patches. With these older models you really have to remove all the trim/carpets etc and get down to bare metal to locate corrosion leaks- good luck.

 

[Hairy1305]

On a happier note the surrounding area [hinges etc] looks sound- hopefully the rust is localised to a few areas and can be replaced with sound metal patches. With these older models you really have to remove all the trim/carpets etc and get down to bare metal to locate corrosion leaks- good luck.

Thanks Grober, yes, I am pleased it's not worse. Once the rain stops, I'll be removing all seats and trim to check everywhere. I was going to swan around in her for a month or so before I started, so I'll just start a little earlier.

Cheers

 

[MariuszCze]

Thanks Grober, yes, I am pleased it's not worse. Once the rain stops, I'll be removing all seats and trim to check everywhere. I was going to swan around in her for a month or so before I started, so I'll just start a little earlier.

Cheers

Afternoon.
What I have found when investigating water ingress to back floor mat, was that low level seal was missing, one that closes the gap between bottom part of door and sill. Now it is a struggle to get it fixed. I've managed to get the rubber, but can not really fix it in place without metal trim that you need to insert into the rubber and than clip on.
Nightmare. Will need to try and fabricate something similar.