SLK.......Condensation in boot

[knockerblip]

We have recently bought a 2 year old, 30k miles SLK. I was puzzled by damp in the boot and suspected a leak but now I can see it is condensation. The underside of the boot lid is constantly wet when there is moisture in the atmosphere (which is more often than not). This moisture in turn drips onto the boot mat/carpet.
Question is......is this a common problem and something you just put up with or is it something more sinister??

 

[jaymanek]

sounds like you have a leak... you need to sort it before your pse pump blows up... just do a search on here for "SLK PSE" and im sure you will have fun reading...

 

[DansSlk]

If the car is 2 years old then its a 171 and it does not have a PSE unit.

Check the seals look good and also check the drain tubes from the rear window to the fixed part of the moving plastic tray, if you feel up to it then remove the trim and check the lower section of the hoses also.

 

[jaymanek]

ahh sorry i just read damp boot = PSE... didnt realise it was a R171

 

[DansSlk]

ahh sorry i just read damp boot = PSE... didnt realise it was a R171

No worries

 

[knockerblip]

Thanks guys for your interest......................The condensation is on the underside of the bootlid......are you of the opinion that a leak of some sort allows water to enter the boot and then condenses on the cold lid surface or is it possible that condensation is a feature of this model. I have also found that the interior of the windows mists up overnight but have just thought this is maybe what convertibles do!!

 

[television]

As your car does not have a sealed cab/boot , any dampness in the cab will condense onto the boot lid due to the temp difference from inside to outside.

Do feel the carpets passenger side to make sure that there are no leaks from the heater box

 

[Barryh]

Thanks guys for your interest......................The condensation is on the underside of the bootlid......are you of the opinion that a leak of some sort allows water to enter the boot and then condenses on the cold lid surface or is it possible that condensation is a feature of this model. I have also found that the interior of the windows mists up overnight but have just thought this is maybe what convertibles do!!

I have the exact same problem on our 53 plate.It is due to lack of use or no long runs hence the A/c is not getting all the damp air out of the car.My wife drives it normally 2 miles a day.When I use it on long journeys it is fine.I Have had seals replaced etc.No change.It only happens on those cold damp days also.

Barry

 

[pammy]

Have you any warranty on the car? I had this on my 170 - long story - but suffice to say all the seals were replaced and the catch re-alinged. But yes it does condense on the boot lid as that is on contact with the cold air.

 

[knockerblip]

Thanks for that input Barry.................Our SLK dosen't even do 2miles a day!! more like 5 miles a week. Interesting to note you experience the same problem.

 

[television]

Thanks for that input Barry.................Our SLK dosen't even do 2miles a day!! more like 5 miles a week. Interesting to note you experience the same problem.

It has too on the laws of physics

 

[knockerblip]

It has too on the laws of physics

Ok then............applying the same law of physics why do I not experience the same problem with my 'E' class

 

[DansSlk]

Mine is hardly ever used and it spends about half of its time outside, so far (touching wood here) it has not suffered the issue you describe and i have not seen it on any other 171's.

I believe you have a leak somewhere and Malcolm's right it can be anywhere in the cockpit and you are seeing the effects, if your going to check the heater box drain then check both sides since it has twin drains it might be worth lowering the under dash because the drains have a lot of clearance between themselves and the carpet so a leak will not always make itself known in the carpet.

Common seal problems are the A & B pillar seals collapsing and the vertical seals either side of the rear windscreen also collapsing and letting water run down the roof mechanism.

 

[BTB 500]

I also agree it sounds like a water ingress problem. I started getting heavy condensation on the winscreen of my Sharan. Sure the aircon cleared it on a reasonable trip, but there should never have been that amount of moisture in the car in the first place (it was a faulty windscreen seal ... it was only after heavy rain that the carpet in the passenger footwell was obviously damp).

 

[television]

Ok then............applying the same law of physics why do I not experience the same problem with my 'E' class

The E class has a sealed separate boot, the SLK and the SL do not, and warm air from the cab will condense on any cold metal panel, in this case the boot.

This can be made worse by the occupants having wet clothes on in the cab, or if there is any leaks in the front

 

[television]

To explain this better, a shed with a tin roof, that is frozen with ice on the outside, will not sweat on the inside until the inside temp on the inside is higher than that on the outside, so if you warm the cab of the SLK the warm air will condense on the boot lid, as the boot and the cab are all one.

I did 5 threads on this last year, and there no result other than the above

 

[portzy]

Strange. Mine lives outside, albeit under a car port, and the one thing I never get is condensation on the inside of the boot lid. I have had probs in the pastwith water ingress via the seals though.

I'd be tempted to hose down the back end of the roof/boot area for a good five minutes or so, leather it all off, then check inside for leaks.

Portzy.

EDIT. Having re-read your post again, it could be that the condensation is a result of the dampness that is already there. i.e. the damp in the carpet is the start of it and the boot lid condensation is the end result. Pity I dont have a picture of the parts of the seals to check, I used to have.

 

[Colin_b]

We have recently bought a 2 year old, 30k miles SLK. I was puzzled by damp in the boot and suspected a leak but now I can see it is condensation. The underside of the boot lid is constantly wet when there is moisture in the atmosphere (which is more often than not). This moisture in turn drips onto the boot mat/carpet.
Question is......is this a common problem and something you just put up with or is it something more sinister??

I've a 2007 SLK, and I live in Cumbria (think lots of rain) - boot and interior are watertight. I'd check for leaks or blocked drain pipes...

 

[Colin_b]

Might be worth checking the heater air filter is OK, if its clogged, that can cause dampness...

 

[pammy]

To explain this better, a shed with a tin roof, that is frozen with ice on the outside, will not sweat on the inside until the inside temp on the inside is higher than that on the outside, so if you warm the cab of the SLK the warm air will condense on the boot lid, as the boot and the cab are all one.

I did 5 threads on this last year, and there no result other than the above

Apols malcolm but I disagree. My boot is bone dry no matter how damp it might be in the cabin. When it got wet it was because the boot catch was out of alignment meaning the seals weren't true so water got in causing the boot to be very damp albeit on a temporary basis until the seals were replaced and the catch realigned. Since then it's back to bone dry as it should be.