Water leak

[n/a]

Hello everyone

I thought I'd share my recent experience trying to track down a really bad water leak in my 230 SL. Every time I washed the car or it rained, there would be an immediate pool of water in the driver's side footwell (RHD car). At first I thought it was door rubbers but they could not have been responsible for the high volume of water coming in. It seems that at some time in the past the car had a minor accident on the front guard (fender). This was duly repaired but in doing so they blocked the drain hole on the inner guard - the section that bolts off to install an aerial. The water had no place to exit and eventually rusted through the sill and the floor next to the accelerator pedal. This was subsequently repaired with a stainless steel plate welded into the floor but the drain hole problem was never addressed and the water just pouring through the rusted sill and onto the floor. This has been a long term problem as the underfelt was completely rotten beneath the carpet. I suspect that the previous owner's solution was to simply avoid driving in the rain. I've booked the car in for proper rust repairs and hopefully this will be the end of the story - for the time being. As there are bubbles appearing beneath where one of the wiper shafts exits the body, I'll have this attended to as well.
Mark


1965 230 SL

[rwmastel]

Mark,

Hi.  Here's some water leak/drain info.  I was suprised to hear of your water source.  When reading it, I assumed it would be the infamous cracked (or missing!) heater box drain hoses.  There are two rubber hoses that run from the bottom of the heater box to the firewall, one left and one right.  These drain water that enters that box through the large cowl vent.  You should double check those hoses as well.  Regarding your wiper issue, I believe there should be a space between the cowl vent and the base of the windshield where water can drain from around the base of the wiper arm posts.  There is no actual "drain" for this area, but the water runs through a gap, into the heater box, and out through the previously mentioned hoses.  I hope this helps somebody.

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

[n/a]

Rodd
Thanks for the info. Actually I checked those drain hoses from the cowl vent early in my investigations and they were fine. The driver's side drains off much slower than the passenger side for some reason although the rubber is soft and pliable and does not leak internally.
Mark

1965 230 SL

[hands_aus]

Hey MarkR,
Is that bolt off inner guard section accessible from the wheel arch or from the inside of the car?
I would like to check mine out because I recently had some work done on my car and they took it for a test drive in the rain and when I checked it at home, there was the drivers side (RHD) floor and carpet soaked. It doesn't happen when I wash the car.
Also the vent drains are clear on my car. I checked.
I have treated the rust areas with converter and will have it removed eventually. It is not dangerous just there.

Bob(Brisbane,Australia)

[n/a]

Bob

The inner guard is accesible from outside. Just turn the steering wheel on full right lock and you'll be able to get in and undo the half dozen bolts holding the panel on. You might have to look closely for them as mine were hidden under a thick coat of rubberised rust proofing. Unfortunately my access panel was tacked on with a weld for some unknown reason so I twisted it a bit getting it off. Anyway, you'll be able to tell fairly quickly if it's wet in there. Interestingly, when I removed the inside trim panel adjacent to the accelerator, it was dry as a bone behind it.
Mark

1965 230 SL

[Ben]

I plan to take off these inner gaurds to investigfate. If there is a problem I'd like to know about it sooner than later. I do also have plenty of ruberised undersealer to remove.

Does anyone know if you can buy these guards new and if so what the part # is ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi, Ben
Herewith guard part #s.
My 230sl came without and I haven't got round to fitting them yet!!
They are priced at euro 82.46 each but in UK one was double the price!!
113 884 0135  left
113 884 0235  right
110 884 0098  rubber seal around guard x2
914128 005202 bolt x12
009021 006208 washer x12

naj
'Kloines Scheisserle'
65 230SL
68 280SL

[Ben]

Thanks Naj......once again !  

Can you tell me what is visible when these covers are not in place. I'd like to remedy any rust and if there's none I'd like to apply some protection !

I dont appear to have any drain holes in this area BTW ?

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.