Well, the answer is "e" - none of the above. When the tailgate was replaced, the rubber cover for the wiring harness was cut, then zip tied back together. So it was scooping up water running into the top body gap and letting it into the tailgate. The wiper stalk didn't leak at all. Nor did the window seal.
Good news is my new wiper motor seems to have made the leap to hyperspace aka the new old tailgate. And I live in CA where it doesn't rain much. No idea how to get that boot replaced. Does the tailgate need to come off? Thanks, Karl On Dec 22, 2016 5:30 AM, "MG via Mercedes" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > Never seen water get into a tailgate from the lens seals. At least not on > my TD. Could be that weird water up there in Washington. > > I've changed my thoughts. The foremost probable is the wiper shaft seal. > Should be easy to check. Just take the trim piece out, run a hose over the > tailgate glass and have someone watch the shaft area inside to see if it > leaks. Not too difficult a change though you do have to take out the whole > carpet panel to get the wiper motor out. Get all the plastic parts at the > shaft while you are at it. The one piece that has the four prongs on it and > holds the whole seal in has a tendency to break the prongs off rather > easily if it is the original. > > Manfred > > Andrew Strasfogel wrote: > >> Did he rule out the taillight lens seals? >> >> On Wed, Dec 21, 2016 at 10:13 PM, MG via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >> wrote: >> >> I can see it being the window seal or the wiper nozzle seal possibly the >>> tailgate seal itself at the top. The wiper shaft goes through the glass >>> and >>> could cause it but you would notice the carpet on the door is wet so if >>> that's it it is easy to diagnose but in that case I would think you would >>> have more water in the third seat footwell then the tailgate itself. I >>> think the top of the carpet there is pretty tight against the tailgate >>> itself or at least it is on mine that there shouldn't be significant >>> water >>> getting under it. >>> >>> Manfred >>> >>> >>> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2016 20:36:38 -0800 >>> >>>> From: Karl Wittnebel <atypical...@gmail.com> >>>> >>>> >>>> I sent this a few days ago, but it never went out. >>>> >>>> The tailgate on my 85 Wagon is filling with water when it rains. A new >>>> behavior. Is it usually the window seal, the wiper nozzle seal, the >>>> wiper >>>> stalk seal, or the main door gasket? Some water in the footwell of the >>>> 3rd >>>> seat also. >>>> >>>> I guess the first step is reinstall the glass. The door gasket looks >>>> good, >>>> but perhaps I could tighten the latch position a bit. >>>> >>>> Thanks. >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >>> >>> >> > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
