R230 boot carpet wet, but don't think it's leaking..

[Conor]

Hi team..

So, after making the repair to the seals, earlier in the year I have been monitoring the boot situation in the SL as we get colder and damper weather.

I am glad to report that the carpet isn't getting wet in the usual places following rain etc. But I do have this odd situation, which also happened last winter too, but I thought it was due to the leak which has been fixed.

Look at the suspended floor part to the right, you can see where the finger marks are. It's all wet there, and getting a bit mildewy. I've been noticing it getting progressively wetter over the past few weeks, but i'm not sure where it's coming from.

Everything around it is dry, it seems like just the floor. The boot separator is in the closed position and all dry, along with the side carpets etc.

Part of me thinks (hopes!) it might just be the cold, damp weather and a lot of condensation etc collecting there. I can't see how it would be dripping in there, but it's also weird nothing else is wet. It's worth noting that the interior of the car has a tendency to get a bit damp too but I use a desiccant bag, which keeps it bone dry - they are amazing, to be frank!

I think what I am going to do now is bring the floor into the house, dry it out by the rad and then reinstall it with a desiccant bag and see how things go.

Any thoughts or observations on this, other than the innocuous stirrer and serviette

 

[flowrider]

Have you checked around the bootlid brake light?

 

[Conor]

Have you checked around the bootlid brake light?

Just had a look and that is dry. Thankfully, as I changed it last year, so should be sealed alright.

The area circled in red is damp whereas the rest is dry. Now it's not sopping, but certainly indicates some ingress (especially considering the contrast to surrounding area).

I am thinking that perhaps the drain pipe above the area might have a bit of a leak on it. Perhaps I should cable tie a cloth around it to see if the cloth gets damp instead of the carpet. I could guess that it's condensation or leak from elsewhere running down the outside of pipe too. I would say definitely a leak of some kind as it doesn't appear to be happening on the other side.

The fun never ends.

 

[Blobcat]

Just had a look and that is dry. Thankfully, as I changed it last year, so should be sealed alright.

The area circled in red is damp whereas the rest is dry. Now it's not sopping, but certainly indicates some ingress (especially considering the contrast to surrounding area).

I am thinking that perhaps the drain pipe above the area might have a bit of a leak on it. Perhaps I should cable tie a cloth around it to see if the cloth gets damp instead of the carpet. I could guess that it's condensation or leak from elsewhere running down the outside of pipe too. I would say definitely a leak of some kind as it doesn't appear to be happening on the other side.

The fun never ends.

View attachment 72554

I’d take the drain apart and check that it’s clear and running freely

 

[Conor]

I’d take the drain apart and check that it’s clear and running freely

Good shout that.

 

[Timeandleisure]

Cat litter in socks work well too... can put them into those nooks and crannies...

 

[SL63 Mark]

There's a rubber drain tube above the damp patch, it's about 20mm in diameter, like a concertina rubber flex tube. it is worth checking to see this has not separated and is still suspended correctly from it's fastener. It can leak if it is blocked, so worth putting a piece of strimmer wire through it.

There is one on both sides.

 

[SL63 Mark]

The drain tube is right above the red circle in your photo in post #3. That would be my prime suspect.

 

[peterws1957]

It's not going to be condensation Conor if it's that wet and in an isolated spot. As others have said try the drains first. As far as damp in the interior is concerned I can recommend Damp Kontrol crystals in their specific plastic box. I use 4 in cars and even in a garage they collect a lot of water.

 

[Mr Greedy]

Don't put random cloths in to try and see if they get damp.
Use blue shop towel (tissue).
Lay it everywhere. Hold it in place with some sewing pins pushed into the carpet. Check it regularly. If there are any leaks or water, it will show up dark blue and you can't fail to miss it.
If you look and the shop towel is sopping wet, you waited too long to look

 

[SL63 Mark]

If you look and the shop towel is sopping wet, you waited too long to look

I fear this may be the case, judging by the mould.

 

[Conor]

I fear this may be the case, judging by the mould.

That was before I realised there was an issue - I am on it now.

Thanks for all the feedback folks, yes I agree that the likely cause is the drain hose, which is my current area of focus.