Dritschel

2004 S430 4Matic tail light stays on and kills battery. I checked and there was water under the rear passenger seat. I removed and recharged the battery. Then I completely dried out and the light still stays on. Any idea what I can try next.

As far as the water getting in. I was in a small accident, where I was side swiped by anothe driver. About $2,700 worth of damage. The rear driver side door was replaced and rear driver side corner panel repairs and painted. Wondering if this could have been source of the water.
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Thanks

tusabes

No the source of the water is likely from the engine compartment reed valve , water travels in a metal trough to the back SAM shorting it out

Check your reservoir under the passenger side wiper area to see if it's full of water . If it is your reed valve is clogged

Comprehenive insurance will cover water damage

tusabes

Here's the area to check



If there's water in there use a long screwdriver or chopstick to unclog the valve at the bottom

Dritschel

The car was normally in the garage, but I left it out in the rain for a few days. I don't think it was raining during the day, the night that I noticed the light on, jumped and moved into the garage. The next morning, I checked this vent (had googled, and saw this as possible cause), but there wasn't any water in it. There was a little debris in the little funnel, at the bottom, but coat hanger easily went in, so didn't seem clogged.

I spoke to the insurance company, and they said that, if it's a clogged vent, it's considered a maintenance issue and not covered.

How do I know it's not water leaking in from rear driver's side?

Thanks

rik881

So nice to have the insurance company cover your back. Whenever you need them they always invent some excuse not to pay.

Seems water must have entered through this repaired door. Did you see water on the floor? Check if you can find a leak where they worked.

There is a light in the footwell. Behind this light there is a fusebox. If water gets there all kinds of strange things happen.

tusabes

Your insurer has a duty to investigate and have a professional determine the cause of the water damage. They can't just deny you based on possibility it was lack of maintenance

Make them have it professionally evaluated at their cost. It's not your job to determine how the water damage occurred. If they refuse to investigate contact your states department of insurance or a bad faith indurance attorney

Dritschel

Ok,

I called the place that did the body work, and they are going to take a look at it later in the week.

It's strange that everything seems to be working. The only issues are that the driver side tail light stays on and the pre safe message comes on.

Dritschel

Here is an update.

I took the car to a self service car wash, on Sunday, and used the high pressure wand to blast all parts of the car that the body shop touched (i.e. rear driver side door, replaced with used and same side corner panel). No water got inside. Checked again on Monday and still dry. Parked on driveway, in the open, last night. Made sure all windows closed, sunroof closed, drain in cowling completely cleared (though had stopped at a Mercedes dealer, and they checked the vin # for the car and said mine doesn't have this issue). Came out this morning, after it rained all night. There was a puddle of water behind passenger front seat and a small puddle on top of the mat, below rear seat (still had the seat removed from the car at this point). Felt all around the interior of the car, and nothing was wet. No moisture on any window or sunroof. No water under front passenger side carpet. Just a puddle on the rear passenger side floor and on seat mat. Car was parked Oman angle toward rear passenger side.

Since, I assume the electronics, under rear seat probably got wet, left the battery disconnected and had towed back to body shop.

G.AMG

I'm guessing it could be a door seal issue, you said the door was replaced. It's probably a small leak that you cannot detect right away but after hours of sitting in the rain it builds up. i would pull the carpet at the rear as there is probably way more water than you think under there.

wallyp

You are saying "tail light" - is it possible that the rear fog light is on instead? Or, does your car have the European parking light system where one side stays on when the turn signal lever is left in one of the turn positions?

Dritschel

Sounds like it could be the rear fog lamp. How do you turn it on and off? The light switch is in the 0 position, with the option set, that auto turns on and off the lights. The front fog lights are not on.

G.AMG

It sounds like a short to me, pull rear carpet and make sure everything is completely dry.

Dritschel

I can't understand how, in one night, this much water could get in, and some on top of the rear seat mat. With signs of water around any window, door, trunk or sun roof.

G.AMG

Try pulling off the rear vanity mirror on that side, sometimes water leaks out of there.

Dritschel

It's at the body shop, so can't do it now. Though I felt all around the ceiling of the car and didn't feel any moisture.

Dritschel

Here is the quarter panel, before the repair. Mabe the punctured something, when repairing.

Dritschel

Another view.

Dritschel

Another pic.

Dritschel

Noticed this, when they put on toe truck. Not sure if body shop did this to straighten axle.

G.AMG

Is that plastic?

Dritschel

The axle pic? That's metal.

Dritschel

The body shop says that there are leaves stuffed in this section, and it is causing the water to come into the car. This is not the cowling with the grid on top of it. So, would this section of the car, if stuffed with leaves cause water to get into the car?

Thanks

Dritschel

Another photo, with the windshield wipers and plastic cover removed.

G.AMG

I'm not sure if any water actually drains in those locations. Get a vacuum and suck all that crap out. I also think you have either a door seal issue or sunroof issue. The best way to detect the problem is with smoke.

Dritschel

If it were a door seal issue, the door that was replaced (think they tranfered the inneards of the damaged door to the "new" door) was rear driver side door. If water came in from it, could it come over the hump and pool on the rear passenger side?