Water in Boot Lid (inc video)

[dano]

Hi,

I've been looking around the forum for other post similar to this problem.
It seems unique, so I have taken a video

http://www.eclipse.co.uk/dano/merc/clk320boot.avi

Basically the problem is that rain water somehow gathers inside the boot lid. The cavity for the rear light cluster acts as a water container.

As soon as the boot is popped the water trickles out and when the boot is opened the flood gates pour!

When I look at rubber seals around the boot they seem bone dry. No idea how the water is getting inside...

Any ideas?

People have suggested "scuttle drain holes" for water leaks in front interior.
Is there something similar for the rear?

Many thanks,

-- Dano

 

[anyweb]

wow that really IS a flood !

I'm looking forward to hearing what the cause is

good video documentation of the problem by the way

cheers
anyweb

 

[Dosco]

Hi,

I've been looking around the forum for other post similar to this problem.
It seems unique, so I have taken a video

http://www.eclipse.co.uk/dano/merc/clk320boot.avi

Basically the problem is that rain water somehow gathers inside the boot lid. The cavity for the rear light cluster acts as a water container.

As soon as the boot is popped the water trickles out and when the boot is opened the flood gates pour!

When I look at rubber seals around the boot they seem bone dry. No idea how the water is getting inside...

Any ideas?

People have suggested "scuttle drain holes" for water leaks in front interior.
Is there something similar for the rear?

Many thanks,

-- Dano

I have found two causes on my E240. The first was the seal between the rear lens cluster and the boot lid and the second and by far the worst was the two captive nuts that the rear number plate 'frame' uses to fix it to the boot lid.

The water capillaries down the two screws and into the inside of the boot lid.

If you remove the boot lid liner by lifting with a small screwdriver the plastic pins in the centre of the large diameter plastic rivets/retainers, slide the warning triangle fixing to one side (not sure if it left or right) and it will lift away. Then remove hinge covers again remove the plastic 'rivets' and pull out the covers you should then be able to lift away, well it might fall away as you are working upwards!

Then check out the inside of the lid you should see the two captive nuts and the screws protruding through, mine had tell tale water 'runways' or stains, use a small torch to check out the rear light clusters, again it is possible to see stains left by the water.

After removing the number plate - with a hair drier to free the adhesive tape used to fix the plate to the number plate surround/frame I cleaned it all up and ran a circle of non-setting mastic around each captive nut, enough to allow the number plate frame to bed into it when I refitted it and tightened the screws. I did something similar when I had removed the rear boot mounted light clusters. by the way the two screws were rusty so I replaced them after coating the retained nuts and screws with white grease.

Hope this is helpful

 

[television]

On the 209365 the stamping for the rear lock left a birr thks could let water in

 

[dano]

Dosco, thanks for that - a good level of detail for me

When I close the boot shut there is a very brief but distinct rattle, as if some part of the number plate or frame is loose. This stacks up with your advice. I'll take a look this weekend.

On the 209365 the stamping for the rear lock left
a birr thks could let water in

Television, I'm afraid I don't follow your post, sorry can you re-word it please?
How do I know if my car is a 209365, is this some kind of model code?

Thanks,

-- Dan

 

[BlackC55]

The boot lid handle where the number plate lights are mounted is the most likely place other than the clusters.

 

[television]

Television, I'm afraid I don't follow your post, sorry can you re-word it please?
How do I know if my car is a 209365, is this some kind of model code?

Thanks,

-- Dan

The number is the VIN chassis number at the bottom of the windscreen or log book

The stamping thats the hole where the lock goes through was badly stamped leaving rough edges on the hole allowing water to enter the boot lid

 

[dano]

The boot lid handle where the number plate lights are mounted is the most likely place other than the clusters.

Thanks, I'll take a look at that area too. Great to get some responses so quick.

The penny just dropped with me about these W codes... the first six of mine is WDB 208 365

 

[television]

Thanks, I'll take a look at that area too. Great to get some responses so quick.

The penny just dropped with me about these W codes... the first six of mine is WDB 208 365

Well thats the one with the faulty hole for the lock

 

[dano]

Well thats the one with the faulty hole for the lock

Thanks Malcolm, I think I'll start here because of all the possible root causes, this sounds like the easiest to fix.

In all this wet weather I'm running out of dry towels to leave in the boot. As luck would have it, the water drains right into CD changer... lovely

Thanks again Malcolm and all others who have posted, much appreciated.

 

[dano]

Sorry to dig this one up again. Now we are getting heavy rain again (ok more continuous rain) my boot lid is again becoming a watering hole.

I've done some work repairing the seals on the rear light clusters, but I can see, thanks to Malcolm's advice that the boot lock is indeed the main source of incoming water.

Has anyone ever managed to fix this? What does it involve?

I am conscious that that plugging the gap between the punched hole and the lock may stop the boot from operating.

Also if this is a known manufacturing error (known at least by Malcolm) will Mercedes fix it under warranty?

Best regards,

-- Dano

 

[anyweb]

i'd contact mercedes first and see what they say,

if they wont help then remove the lock and use silicon glue to create a watertight seal around the lock hole, then re-fit the lock and hope it worked

cheers
anyweb

 

[television]

Sorry to dig this one up again. Now we are getting heavy rain again (ok more continuous rain) my boot lid is again becoming a watering hole.

I've done some work repairing the seals on the rear light clusters, but I can see, thanks to Malcolm's advice that the boot lock is indeed the main source of incoming water.

Has anyone ever managed to fix this? What does it involve?

I am conscious that that plugging the gap between the punched hole and the lock may stop the boot from operating.

Also if this is a known manufacturing error (known at least by Malcolm) will Mercedes fix it under warranty?

Best regards,

-- Dano

Most of these leaks are caused by poor stampings leaving a burr around the hole with the burr removed a little Dum Dum around the lock and re fitted would seal it for good

 

[dano]

Almost a year later I got this fixed. Took the car to MD in Manchester and had a new boot lid seal fitted.

This did not fix the leak first time, like almost everything I have had done at MD Manchester I had to take it back, saying "try again please"

They adjusted the boot lid itself, i guess at the hinge, so that the lid now sits slightly lower when closed. This has made the seal good.