HELP! My son hosed down interior of car
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
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From: Raleigh, NC
E320 Wagon, '03 BMW 5 Wagon
HELP! My son hosed down interior of car
I should have known better than leave my 3 year old son alone with a garden hose. He decided to do Mommy a favor and wash the INSIDE of her '98 E320 Wagon !!!! He used the hose full blast for 3-4 minutes and jetted water across the console, radio, climate control, etc. There was 2-3" of water in all 4 wheel wells.
Yikes !!
So after some disciplinary action....
I immediately disconnected the battery. The radio was doing a LCD illumination video game and a deep bass popping sound was eminating from the speakers. Grabbed the shop vac. Vacuumed all the fronts of the electronics, speedo cluster all the possible water from the floor. Pulled the wood panel off the shifter and vacuumed that clean.
Then I pulled the front dash speaker/side-vent grilles. Speaker cones were damp but not saturated.
Have subsequently vacuumed the carpets 4 times more.
I could not figure out how to remove the radio, climate control or speedo cluster so they are still in place.
I have all doors open and a fan running in the back and one running in the front.
There was water under the battery in the rear passenger compartment under the seat, but not high enough to reach the fuse panel or the central locking vacuum pump. Vacuumed it all up.
My plan is to let the fans run for 2 days before returning battery power.
Did I miss anything?
Any suggestions ?
Time for a new car ??
Yikes !!
So after some disciplinary action....
I immediately disconnected the battery. The radio was doing a LCD illumination video game and a deep bass popping sound was eminating from the speakers. Grabbed the shop vac. Vacuumed all the fronts of the electronics, speedo cluster all the possible water from the floor. Pulled the wood panel off the shifter and vacuumed that clean.
Then I pulled the front dash speaker/side-vent grilles. Speaker cones were damp but not saturated.
Have subsequently vacuumed the carpets 4 times more.
I could not figure out how to remove the radio, climate control or speedo cluster so they are still in place.
I have all doors open and a fan running in the back and one running in the front.
There was water under the battery in the rear passenger compartment under the seat, but not high enough to reach the fuse panel or the central locking vacuum pump. Vacuumed it all up.
My plan is to let the fans run for 2 days before returning battery power.
Did I miss anything?
Any suggestions ?
Time for a new car ??
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 272
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From: Michigan
SL600 r230, SL600 r129, SL500 r230, ML320, C280 Sport, R170 450SL, 190e 2.3 16V (2)
When mine was around 6 decided to clean one of our cars. Comet and scrub brush.
Good Luck! Maybe wait for more than 2 days to get all the moisture out of everything.
Good Luck! Maybe wait for more than 2 days to get all the moisture out of everything.
Last edited by waybomb; Sep 21, 2009 at 09:56 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
You remove the dash
cluster with mb hooks and you remove the radio and climate control with mb radio keys that slip into the slots below the auto buttons on the cc and same place on the radio.
Get some crc maf cleaner and spray it down the pen hole in the shifter that is at the base of the slide for the shifter. Look in the owners manual for stuck in park to see the spot.
Then keep airing everything out.
Get a big dehumidifier and put it in the car.
Give it fans and that for several days ie more than 2.
Before you even think about lighting it up.
Get some crc maf cleaner and spray it down the pen hole in the shifter that is at the base of the slide for the shifter. Look in the owners manual for stuck in park to see the spot.
Then keep airing everything out.
Get a big dehumidifier and put it in the car.
Give it fans and that for several days ie more than 2.
Before you even think about lighting it up.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
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From: Raleigh, NC
E320 Wagon, '03 BMW 5 Wagon
Feedback
Thanks for the feedback gents.
I ran fans all night. But it rained !!!
I read the owners manual and I cannot seem find any reference to how to get the shifter out of park (override)
Does anyone know ?
I ran fans all night. But it rained !!!
I read the owners manual and I cannot seem find any reference to how to get the shifter out of park (override)
Does anyone know ?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,564
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From: SoCal
98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
There are four body drain plugs (rubber grommets) located near the jack points on the underside of the car. You might check them with a chopstick (or similar) to see if they are plugged. They are mostly for water from the outside but a 3yr old doesn't always aim so good.
I did a search of my online copy of OM and found no references to 'stuck in park' or similar. You might try doing a search on this site or benzworld_dot_org for those terms and also check the DIY's on benzworld_dot_org for references to TCM replacement.
Re: Pen trick. OK, see post below -- "HELP! Stuck in Park". I don't think we have that hole on a 98. Illustration shows a different shifter gate.
Keep drying even after you think it is dry. Your enemy is mildew.
I did a search of my online copy of OM and found no references to 'stuck in park' or similar. You might try doing a search on this site or benzworld_dot_org for those terms and also check the DIY's on benzworld_dot_org for references to TCM replacement.
Re: Pen trick. OK, see post below -- "HELP! Stuck in Park". I don't think we have that hole on a 98. Illustration shows a different shifter gate.
Keep drying even after you think it is dry. Your enemy is mildew.
Last edited by RichardM98; Sep 22, 2009 at 11:32 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
Like Ohlord stated.... you NEED to dry that thing out. Get a solid de-humidifier, something like they use for homes when they flood due to a pipe break or something, and let that thing run for a few days. Your best bet is to let everything dry out as best as possible.
Worst case, hopefully you have comprehensive coverage as they may apply, based upon the policy wording.
Good Luck!!!!
Worst case, hopefully you have comprehensive coverage as they may apply, based upon the policy wording.
Good Luck!!!!
sux for you...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
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From: Raleigh, NC
E320 Wagon, '03 BMW 5 Wagon
Progress ....
Tues night update ....
This AM I placed a dehumidifier and a box fan in the interior to the car.
I made a tea of Tri-sodium phospate (TSP) and OxyClean and some organic soap in a spray bottle, and applied to the carpets to head off any mildew problems. Soaked the carpets down and let sit for an hour. Shop vac-ed again. After about 2 hours the small of dampness was gone and the carpets were really starting to dry out. The dehumidifier creates a lot of heat that is helping the progress significantly.
I will keep the dehumidifier in place until Sat and power-up the starship and see if we are successful or going to need to go car shopping !
This AM I placed a dehumidifier and a box fan in the interior to the car.
I made a tea of Tri-sodium phospate (TSP) and OxyClean and some organic soap in a spray bottle, and applied to the carpets to head off any mildew problems. Soaked the carpets down and let sit for an hour. Shop vac-ed again. After about 2 hours the small of dampness was gone and the carpets were really starting to dry out. The dehumidifier creates a lot of heat that is helping the progress significantly.
I will keep the dehumidifier in place until Sat and power-up the starship and see if we are successful or going to need to go car shopping !
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 488
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From: Michigan
W203-4M W163
Right on--put a few dehumidifiers in there ASAP--that will get it dried out quickly. If you can get your hands on a crawlspace dehumidifier unit, that would be better--industrial strength, very fast, and thorough.
Like Ohlord stated.... you NEED to dry that thing out. Get a solid de-humidifier, something like they use for homes when they flood due to a pipe break or something, and let that thing run for a few days. Your best bet is to let everything dry out as best as possible.
Worst case, hopefully you have comprehensive coverage as they may apply, based upon the policy wording.
Good Luck!!!!
Worst case, hopefully you have comprehensive coverage as they may apply, based upon the policy wording.
Good Luck!!!!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
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From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
That's awful.
Hopefully you're in a decent enough financial position. If it were me I'd most definitely go lurking for a new car..... Unless the car is just a "beater" to you or something.... Which in that case I'd still be paranoid of mildew/future problems.
All the best to ya.
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From: Columbia, SC
E300
I like where you are going with this parts car thing...
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From: COSTA MESA
99' E320 4MATIC ESTATE / 92' 190E 2.6
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Let's not
pronounce it dead. Clean water and he cleaned it out quickly is going to be not more than a good shampooing.Worst case, new radio if it does not work,new climate control module same thing,new shift module if it is toast. The rest is all drying it out and pray.
I hope
I hope
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 379
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From: middle o' ma
15 AMG S63 4-matic coupe
you can get chemical dessicants and put them in a funnel and into a jar as well.
camper retailers frequently will have them.
that way you can leave the car closed up as they work.
good luck, ran me ~$900 when #1 son left the sun roof open.
camper retailers frequently will have them.
that way you can leave the car closed up as they work.
good luck, ran me ~$900 when #1 son left the sun roof open.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 51
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From: Central Florida
2013 Ford C Max Energi, 2013 Cadillac SRX
As Michakaveli noted, believe it or not, this sort of thing might be covered by your insurance company. The company I work for has covered far more unusual things! We've covered engines where the insured put regular gas in their diesel engine and drove it until it stopped! I'd be calling!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 38
From: middle o' ma
15 AMG S63 4-matic coupe
I second the contact with your insurer.
I advised my agent that we might have be making a claim pending further investigation.
If you don't notify them within a few days you lose a lot of options.
I advised my agent that we might have be making a claim pending further investigation.
If you don't notify them within a few days you lose a lot of options.
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From: Blasting off!
CLS63 Designo Edition, Hyundai Genesis 3.8 , Veloster Turbo, CLS500(Sold), E320 (SMOKED) R500 (Sold)
This will make my memory book so when I have kids, I can avoid this.
Hope for the best man. Get it dry.
Hope for the best man. Get it dry.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
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From: Raleigh, NC
E320 Wagon, '03 BMW 5 Wagon
Final Update
Thanks to all for their helpful postings, and to the omnivores that wanted to part my car out !!!
Fired up the wagon this weekend and all is well. We have a slight musty smell occasionally, but we are running one of those air purifiers (Ozone) in there and that seems to be helping.
Insurance does cover it by the way.
If the smell prevails I will seek out a new front/rear carpetset and install it.
Any ideas on where to get one? Thoughts on having some carpet cut to size at the local carpet shop instead ??
Fired up the wagon this weekend and all is well. We have a slight musty smell occasionally, but we are running one of those air purifiers (Ozone) in there and that seems to be helping.
Insurance does cover it by the way.
If the smell prevails I will seek out a new front/rear carpetset and install it.
Any ideas on where to get one? Thoughts on having some carpet cut to size at the local carpet shop instead ??
