My son's 2004 CLK 500 coupe was parked outside under trees ( kept in the shade)during a heavy rain storm (2"++). There was a wet area on the driver's side floor......and the car didn't even turn over. The car was flat bedded to his local shop(Boston area). The shop determined that there was a blocked drain(tree debris) under the hood at the base of the A pillar ( he meticulously cleans under the hood at every wash). The engine management computer got wet and fried....and possibly ancillary damage to other electrical components. Is there a lesson to be learned???

What should be changed/checked besides the engine management computer.

Thanks in advance,
Mike P
SL65,SL600,560SL,560SL,E300D,240D........2015 SL65 at VPC/delivery next week

 

The lesson is to clean your drains at least once a year - more if under a tree. Cleaning generally under the hood won't do that. Some of the drains can be pulled off and cleaned. They have gentle elbows that collect wet leaves. Otherwise if they cannot be removed, force something down them and flush with a hose.

 

The fuse box/ecu box lid must not have been closed well. It should be pretty much waterproof.

 

Gurus:

The insurance adjuster looked at the CLK yesterday........he wants to total it!!! There is an option to buy it back as a salvage........the car has about 110K miles and has been well maintained. Is it worth fixing???

Thoughts????

Mike P
SL65,SL600,560SL,560SL,E300D,240D........2015 SL65 delivery on Friday

 

I would fix it, but that's just me - I have SDS to do my own diagnostics, which would be a requirement if you are replacing the ECU.

 

I would think the price is a factor here too..