Flood Disaster 1998 C240

[The Hammer]

Help! Got in the car this morning after torrential overnight rain to find running water down from the back of the passenger glove compartment if I cornered hard, a gurgling sound of water trapped somewhere behind/underneath it and a small lake in the passenger footwell. The leak seems to have stopped the heater working properly and also interfered with the SRS indicator which flashed on and off all the way to work and back. Where on earth has the leak come from and how serious is the damage likely to be? Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[anyweb]

do you have a sunroof ? it could have blocked drain pipes

cheers
anyweb

 

[The Hammer]

do you have a sunroof ? it could have blocked drain pipes

cheers
anyweb

No Afraid not.

 

[anyweb]

ok then pop open the bonnet and ensure that the drainage holes are clear of leaves/debris, make sure you unclip the two clips to open the bonnet fully then use a torch to view the holes/debris.

a spray hose should clear any blockage,

if this isnt the issue then tell us more about your car/car state.

cheers
anyweb

 

[Chas]

Help! Got in the car this morning after torrential overnight rain to find running water down from the back of the passenger glove compartment if I cornered hard, a gurgling sound of water trapped somewhere behind/underneath it and a small lake in the passenger footwell. The leak seems to have stopped the heater working properly and also interfered with the SRS indicator which flashed on and off all the way to work and back. Where on earth has the leak come from and how serious is the damage likely to be? Thanks for any help you can give me.

It sounds like blocked drains. Check with a hose and see if it drains away ok
Do you park your car near trees? They cause debris to build up and block drain channels, especially at this time of year, its the seeds off the trees. The water has probably got into the wiring (been there ). The MB dealer can dry it out for you/remove carpets, and check drains.

Try clearing drains, and drying out the carpet yourself, put the heater on full(if its working) and go for a longish drive(not in the rain obviously). This might stop any crosswire electrical probs.

 

[The Hammer]

ok then pop open the bonnet and ensure that the drainage holes are clear of leaves/debris, make sure you unclip the two clips to open the bonnet fully then use a torch to view the holes/debris.

a spray hose should clear any blockage,

if this isnt the issue then tell us more about your car/car state.

cheers
anyweb

Cheers Anyweb---I'll see what's happened tomorrow hopefully and let you know. The car's in v. good condition with full MB history 94k. Hope it stays that way, but not a great start to MB ownership. I've only had it a couple of weeks. Drives like a dream though.

 

[The Hammer]

It sounds like blocked drains. Check with a hose and see if it drains away ok
Do you park your car near trees? They cause debris to build up and block drain channels, especially at this time of year, its the seeds off the trees. The water has probably got into the wiring (been there ). The MB dealer can dry it out for you/remove carpets, and check drains.

Try clearing drains, and drying out the carpet yourself, put the heater on full(if its working) and go for a longish drive(not in the rain obviously). This might stop any crosswire electrical probs.

Thanks-----Just hope the heater starts working again. At the moment it's intermittent.

 

[Iain the gadget]

Try pulling out the centre of the plastic bungs on the sills below the 'A' posts.
I did this with mine and my local resevoir is now back to full capacity!

 

[The Hammer]

Have found the main drains all blocked with debris including a stone! Water still trapped somewhere as it's only coming out very slowly when I took bungs out - filthy black too so it's been there some time. Am cleaning out whole system this week and hopefully heater will be ok as well and everything will then be sorted.

 

[anyweb]

ah good stuff, make sure to get them cleaned so water flows freely through them

got a photo of where they were blocked so others can learn ?

cheers
anyweb

 

[Chas]

Have found the main drains all blocked with debris including a stone! Water still trapped somewhere as it's only coming out very slowly when I took bungs out - filthy black too so it's been there some time. Am cleaning out whole system this week and hopefully heater will be ok as well and everything will then be sorted.

Good job, give her a good run in dry weather with heater on full.

 

[The Hammer]

Aaaagh! The problem turned out to be a large screw which had found its way into the system (no idea where from) and was completely blocking the drain so that water was blowing out through the heater whenever it was used, as well as overflowing down the back of the glove compartment. The filter in the heater was covered in fungus and I think legionnaires disease beckoned! Result--a blown heater motor and a bill for £407 to clear the system,dry the carpets and fit a new heater motor and a new cabin filter! The independant specialist said he'd never come across anything like it and I was very unlucky. No kidding.....