Water in boot
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 420CDI
Water in boot
Hi all,
A couple of years ago, we had major water leak in the boot of our GL. SAM unit had to be replaced. And car was "sealed" by MB main dealer.
Two days ago, similar issue, disconnected battery, removed SAM, gave it clean with toothpicks, ear buds and some brake cleaner as there was "rust" and oxidisation of components and connectors between SMDs and chip pins, dried with hear dryer.
There was a mounting point above the air vent and I have reallocated SAM above it now. Can post a photo if anyone wants.
Also, I have been thinking on sealing the SAM board same way as it was done on Smart with leaking front windscreen, need to contact my Smart specialist in UK for that one to see what he used.
So far, so good. However, water is being pushed somewhere above rear wheel arches where 3rd row of seats are, it is moist to touch on both sides of the boot.
Just wondering if anyone know what is next thing that has to be sealed there.
All other seams in the boot have already been sealed, as I have inspected those yesterday.
Many Thanks
A couple of years ago, we had major water leak in the boot of our GL. SAM unit had to be replaced. And car was "sealed" by MB main dealer.
Two days ago, similar issue, disconnected battery, removed SAM, gave it clean with toothpicks, ear buds and some brake cleaner as there was "rust" and oxidisation of components and connectors between SMDs and chip pins, dried with hear dryer.
There was a mounting point above the air vent and I have reallocated SAM above it now. Can post a photo if anyone wants.
Also, I have been thinking on sealing the SAM board same way as it was done on Smart with leaking front windscreen, need to contact my Smart specialist in UK for that one to see what he used.
So far, so good. However, water is being pushed somewhere above rear wheel arches where 3rd row of seats are, it is moist to touch on both sides of the boot.
Just wondering if anyone know what is next thing that has to be sealed there.
All other seams in the boot have already been sealed, as I have inspected those yesterday.
Many Thanks
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 420CDI
Ok, it took me a while last Saturday, but finally got it done.
Prep:
- Disconect the battery first for about 30 minutes or so.
- Unplug all cables from SAM unit
- take the whole unit out, it is mounted by 3 plastic nuts
Work:
Above the air vent where SAM is positioned, there are couple of empty fixings on our GL. So I used the whole bracket with SAM unit, put a rubber bung on that fitting point and used one of those plastic nuts that was used to fix SAM bracket originally. You have to bend the rear middle mounting point upwards enough, so the whole unit can rest on air vent cover. It can be advisable to put some gaffa tape on the air vent cover joint, to reinforce the structure, mine actually fell off.
Once loosely mounted at the top, you can put a cable tie through the left mounting point of the bracket and there is small hole on the bodywork. Do not tighten it up yet. Also, put some gaffa tape (duck tape for all non British) over that mounting point so it doesn't rattle against metal. Now fix all in the final position and tighten up top point with plastic nut and then the cable tie. Plug all cables back in.
At least it won't get dipped in the puddle any more.
I shall post photos after I get home from work.
Prep:
- Disconect the battery first for about 30 minutes or so.
- Unplug all cables from SAM unit
- take the whole unit out, it is mounted by 3 plastic nuts
Work:
Above the air vent where SAM is positioned, there are couple of empty fixings on our GL. So I used the whole bracket with SAM unit, put a rubber bung on that fitting point and used one of those plastic nuts that was used to fix SAM bracket originally. You have to bend the rear middle mounting point upwards enough, so the whole unit can rest on air vent cover. It can be advisable to put some gaffa tape on the air vent cover joint, to reinforce the structure, mine actually fell off.
Once loosely mounted at the top, you can put a cable tie through the left mounting point of the bracket and there is small hole on the bodywork. Do not tighten it up yet. Also, put some gaffa tape (duck tape for all non British) over that mounting point so it doesn't rattle against metal. Now fix all in the final position and tighten up top point with plastic nut and then the cable tie. Plug all cables back in.
At least it won't get dipped in the puddle any more.
I shall post photos after I get home from work.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
I think I remember reading (have never personally checked it out, though) that on some cars the tail light assembly is not sealed as well as it should be and lead to leaks in that right, rear compartment. You might be able to verify this by spraying the area with a hose (to mimic a hard rain) while observing the area.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 420CDI
I did that. I have kitchen towel struck below light assembly on both sided for that purpose. It is dry as it could be. Water was under SAM unit and all that lining was soaked. It took me a while to dry it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Well, crap, I was hoping the tail light assembly seal would solve it!
Could there be a crack in a panel weld, or something? Maybe in the floor? Can you put more paper towels on the "walls" of the area? That way you can at least see the direction the water is coming from. If only the floor gets wet, then you know it's somewhere below the towels.
Another possibility (I deal with leaks quite often as I work with boats) is that a wire harness that enters this area is carrying the water from somewhere else.
I'm making some general statements/ideas here so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. I am new to this vehicle and only have a basic idea of where the SAM is located. If I'm understand you correctly, it's in the "hole" that's where the subwoofer is located - the aft, starboard "hole" that you need to use a quarter (or some other flat tool) to open the latch?
"somewhere above rear wheel arches" Or are you saying the wetness is in the interior of the car?
Could there be a crack in a panel weld, or something? Maybe in the floor? Can you put more paper towels on the "walls" of the area? That way you can at least see the direction the water is coming from. If only the floor gets wet, then you know it's somewhere below the towels.
Another possibility (I deal with leaks quite often as I work with boats) is that a wire harness that enters this area is carrying the water from somewhere else.
I'm making some general statements/ideas here so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. I am new to this vehicle and only have a basic idea of where the SAM is located. If I'm understand you correctly, it's in the "hole" that's where the subwoofer is located - the aft, starboard "hole" that you need to use a quarter (or some other flat tool) to open the latch?
"somewhere above rear wheel arches" Or are you saying the wetness is in the interior of the car?
Last edited by DennisG01; Oct 20, 2015 at 09:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
GL 420CDI
I have checked all "cracks" and those have been sealed about 2 years ago by MB dealer in Switzerland.
No water below spare wheel at all, so that was a good start as all other computers are located in there....
this was supposed to be "an off road vehicle" to replace G-Wagen...
Now, when you open boot, on the left side there is compartment for first aid kit behind the cover, and on the righ hand side "a hole". You can take that box with first aid kit out, and then you have another hole
Inside of both of those hole, you can see air vents that are supposed to be one way only, for releaseing air when you slam the door.
From there you can see the enfing of wheel arches, and it is there where it's wet. All water ends at the bottom of those holes. Now, the problem being, on the right side, SAM unit is mounted righ at the bottom, below that one way vent.SAM unit is packed inside some crap plactic case and is not water sealed either. Bad idea and enginering, and no proper testing.
Unfortunately, I cannot see more, as that would require taking all firrings where third row of seats are. Maybe I can get car on the ramp and take fittings at the bottom of the car and then do a "light" test at night with my son in the boot...
PS
no idea of where subwoofer is mounted, we do not have one
No water below spare wheel at all, so that was a good start as all other computers are located in there....
this was supposed to be "an off road vehicle" to replace G-Wagen...
Now, when you open boot, on the left side there is compartment for first aid kit behind the cover, and on the righ hand side "a hole". You can take that box with first aid kit out, and then you have another hole
Inside of both of those hole, you can see air vents that are supposed to be one way only, for releaseing air when you slam the door.From there you can see the enfing of wheel arches, and it is there where it's wet. All water ends at the bottom of those holes. Now, the problem being, on the right side, SAM unit is mounted righ at the bottom, below that one way vent.SAM unit is packed inside some crap plactic case and is not water sealed either. Bad idea and enginering, and no proper testing.
Unfortunately, I cannot see more, as that would require taking all firrings where third row of seats are. Maybe I can get car on the ramp and take fittings at the bottom of the car and then do a "light" test at night with my son in the boot...
PS
no idea of where subwoofer is mounted, we do not have one
Last edited by babaroga; Oct 21, 2015 at 05:51 AM.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Gotcha. That's the place (compartment) that I was thinking of, but I wasn't positive. Obviously water has to come from somewhere. Can it be from road splash as you drive? Can it be from rain? Can it be coming in somewhere else and traveling to that compartment (water likes to travel!). All I can say is that I would attack this the same way I attach boat leaks - mimic rain with a hose and observe... put more paper towels in key areas... it's gotta be coming in somewhere and if you can at least narrow it down (top, bottom, wire bundles, etc), it will help.
The light test is a good idea, too. You could also try just dropping a light (all around light) into that compartment and closing the cover.
For reference, the subwoofer is directly behind that starboard side compartment cover. The same compartment that houses the SAM. The Sub is about level with the floor in the way it is mounted.
The light test is a good idea, too. You could also try just dropping a light (all around light) into that compartment and closing the cover.
For reference, the subwoofer is directly behind that starboard side compartment cover. The same compartment that houses the SAM. The Sub is about level with the floor in the way it is mounted.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 2
2006 GL500
I've just discovered that water has been leaking into my First Aid compartment every time it rains, and my First Aid kit is now a soggy mess. The water is dripping into the plastic compartment from above, near the open end of the compartment. I can't find any obvious entry point for the water, but I had presumed that it was coming in through a dodgy rear window seal or something like that. Noting the thread above, it sounds like there may be other possible entry points for the water. Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 792
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
I've just discovered that water has been leaking into my First Aid compartment every time it rains, and my First Aid kit is now a soggy mess. The water is dripping into the plastic compartment from above, near the open end of the compartment. I can't find any obvious entry point for the water, but I had presumed that it was coming in through a dodgy rear window seal or something like that. Noting the thread above, it sounds like there may be other possible entry points for the water. Has anyone else had this issue? Thanks
