1982 W107 SL with leaks

[steve-oh]

Hi - new to this whole thig so apologies if my question sounds stupid...

I have a 1982 280 SL which has a tendency to leak when it rains. Seems to come in from somewhere above the front foot well/ pedals. A friend mentioned that it could be coming form the air vents but I have no idea. It happens when the car is stationary in the rain, nothing suggests it's coming up from the wet road.

Could be a regular problem so I thought I'd ask? Any ideas on the best way to check where it's coming in, other than start taking it apart and testing with a hose???

Steve-oh

 

[television]

Hello Steve and welcome to the forum, its quite possible that the leak is from debris in the heat air box and it needs cleaning out, along with the drain tube

 

[steve-oh]

Thanks Malcolm, will try that. Don't suppose you know the best place to get a Haynes manual for old models such as mine...?!!!

Steve

 

[television]

Myros on the forum knows these things inside out, if he does not see the thread, I will PM him

 

[Myros]

Malcolm stop flattering me

it will go to my head.

I think e-bay might be your only option for Haynes manual. Other ones to look at are the Peter Russek type ones, and the " Jetzt helfe ich mir selbst" German ones. I know they are in german, but I have some for my 202, and I have to say the quality is better than Haynes. You could also get the MB SL Cd with all the info on. It's ina PDF format, and doesn't cover the 500, just the US released versions, but it's better than nothing. I believe the info is also on the great big WIS Cd that covers all MB models, but I don't have that and can't confirm it. ( someone else will, I'm sure)

The leak could be from the door seals as well, as the water can wend its way in via the top of the sill and into your footwell.

The only way to find out is the watering can/food dye/ hosepipe methos which we mention a lot. Strip out the carpets, and have a someone play a water stream over the car, very slowly , from the ground upwards. You stay in the car and see if you can spot at what time the water starts to come in and from where. Or use Veg dye and change the colours with each can-ful. You can then see at what height you need to start investigating.

 

[steve-oh]

Thanks Myros - I think I'll go the CD route...

 

[television]

Very little unless it is a CD dedicated to this car, most of the info was on micro fisch and not transfered over