Water Ingress: Rear Door W196

[MickyP64]

Does anyone have instructions for removing the rear interior door panels on a W169 A-Class (I think these have been emailed to various forum members on request), or alternatively does anyone have experience of the following issue:

I’m having a problem with water getting in on the rear passenger side door whenever it rains heavily - the water doesn’t actually get into the car itself, it just seems to sit inside the rubber door seal. I’ve gone all over the door with a hosepipe in order to find where the water is getting in and my suspicion is that it’s getting in through the rubber along the bottom exterior part of the window (the bit that sits against the window when winding up and down). I think the water gets in here, then runs down the inside of the door and just sits there until the door is opened, spilling out onto the road - apparently this is quite a common problem with Land Rovers too.

I want to remove the panel in order check the situation out first before I take the car to my dealer to get it sorted. I’m thinking of adding this to the list of other problems I’m having with the car: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/153178-rust-diy-dealer.html

 

[Ben947]

hello,
I have MB E220, i have the same problem but inside the bootlid and by the type bay. the boot itself is dry.

is this also a common fault?
did you find a solution for your problem??

 

[MickyP64]

Hello Ben

I’m sure I read a thread somewhere here that someone else was here was having a similar problem to you; with water inside the boot lid…I can’t remember what model car though….do a search maybe it’ll turn up.

I see you have a thread posted so I’m sure someone here will be able to offer more useful help and advice than me – are there any drains associated with that area of the car that might be blocked? I once had water in the battery compartment of my car and it turned out to be a blocked drain under the windshield in the engine bay – quite common on my car I believe.

The doors on my car - in my case I’ve managed to establish that the water isn’t getting in through the door itself.

I think the issue with my car is entirely different – I think it’s something to do with water running along the lower edge rubber of the rear triangle window on the A Class, and somehow getting in between the two (inner and outer) rubber door seals. I was intending to check my theory out with a hose pipe but haven’t had the time...maybe you could try something similar with your car.

Strange thing is my problem hasn’t happened in a while even with all the rain we’ve been having...It was always happening on the LHS rear door, but I’ve also had it once on the RHS - I’ve become convinced that it’s a combination of rain, wind direction and the direction in which the rear of the car is facing! I guess it’s just one more example of the peculiarities that the A Class suffers from (one other member here is having the same problem with their A Class) and since the water doesn’t actually get inside the car itself I’ve not worried too much…I just need to remember to stand back when I open the rear doors in case my feet get soaked .

Good luck, I hope you find a solution to your water ingress…all very frustrating.

 

[Nm1966]

I had this exact same problem. After heavy rain open the rear door and you get a load of water pouring out onto your foot - not getting any water in the cabin though! I was lucky enough to have this fixed under a warranty but all it was was the door seal had split about halfway up the door pillar - new seal sorted it right out! N