Moisture in trunk

[Tito]

Hi guys,

I've got a problem in the trunk, there's a lot of moisture in the trunk. When I open mij trunk the water just pours out te 2 holes on both end of the trunklid. There are waterdrops everywhere on the top of the trunk, (above the feultank, underside of the lid). I think it's a continious circle, Water leaks out the holes, evaporates and condenses again. When I open the lid it pours down again. I was thinking of making some tubing on the holes, and let the water drop out underneath the car. Problem is when the trunk is closed, those holes wil not let water out on the oudside (above the taillights) and leak into the trunk again, When i open the trunk the tubing wil work and take the water away from the trunk.

It's very annoying, and it wil eventualy cause rust.

I'm from the netherland, so excuse my bad english.

Rico

[bahf]

Hello,
I found a similar problem when I first go my 280 se.  I found that the gas filler area, inside the trunk, has a hose that drains the water that comes in from the filler door.  It is under the trunk liner and attached to the bottom of the fuel filler area.  That hose apparently shrank with age and pulled out of the drain hole area where it exits the trunk through the trunk wall, (a very hard to see area without good lighting), which let all water run into the trunk wheel well area, causing great moisture buildup in the trunk.   I just replaced the old hose with a length of similar diameter hosing .
Another possible cause for you  (and one I still must fix in addition to the above problem I had) could be the rear window seal.
Good luck, Alan

[flutes]

Rico three other things to look for:

- the trunk seal itself
- rear windscreen seal
- seals around tail lights

[Janse]

My car has drain holes in the trunk. Strange if that is not standard on all the cars since they are not very water tight. Since the windows are not glued you will always have some water getting through. I actually had the same problem when I got my car, but it was an easy fix as leaves had plugged the draintube from the gas filler area as Flutes talked about, and leaves had covered the drain holes in the trunk.

[Hemersam]

bahf: I'm having considerable water buildup in the front section of the passenger-side wheelwell area (not the rear section). You mentioned the water from the fuel filler flap area exits through a drain hole in the trunk wall. Precisely where is that drain hole located? Anyone have a picture?
Hemersam

[Hemersam]

Update: I need someone experienced in this area to confirm (or comment further) on what I have found concerning the leak in my passenger-side trunk wheelwell ('78 280SE US model). The seal on the tail light assembly has been replaced and there is no water in that area. I poured water into the fuel filler area and it drained out the bottom of the car completed and quickly--no problem there. So, it seems the only other possibility is the  rear window seal is leaking. Am I likely correct or is there another possibility I'm overlooking? Appreciate any advice and perspective.
Hemersam

[TJ 450]

I would remove the trunk liner on that side, leave it out and observe. It could still be leaking at the fuel filler area, but it's hard to say. Sometimes leaks can be hard to pinpoint.

I wouldn't rule out the central locking actuator pin/bushing either. My W126 leaks there.

Also, I don't have a picture of the drain hole, but it is a hose exiting on the inner side of the right hand well under the car.

Tim

[Hemersam]

Add this one to the "library."  The water was leaking through one of the bumper bolts; the bushing (or whatever you call it) had more-or-less disintegrated and water would leak inside the fender, run down and then along a "channel" into the wheelwell. Viola. With the rainstorms forecast for tomorrow, I'll see if that worked.
Hemersam

[Hemersam]

Correction: "Voila," not Viola (as any musician could tell you).
Hemersam
P.S. Yes, my mother was an English teacher. Hence . . .