Hi everyone been a long time. I have a 2005 Limited that had a tree fall on it. I took it to get 3 estimates and OMG....was about $4300....needed a new roof, front and back glass, a zillion dings all over the hood and a bit of painting. Well unfortunately I could
not come up with that kind of money quickly so she sat for 2 months in a very HOT AND HUMID spring and early summer here in VA(has been unseasonably wet this year&#128546. Now I had cardboard over the back glass(the front was ok but shattered when they tried to take it out to fix the roof), wood over the cardboard, my car cover AND a tarp. Now normally I would have opened the car up while I was at work but the weather was so iffy during the day I was afraid to chance it and it always seemed to rain when I was home....soooo anyway....when I took everything off the car to take it to the mechanic I had a freakin science experiment in my car....it actually made me cry😞🥺. In the process of at least wiping it all down so I wasn’t sitting in all that mold I noticed that the passenger side floorboard was SOAKED and didn’t know why(the gentleman that fixed my car explained about the drains under the hood and cleaned them out for me!! Thank god so that problem is solved). When I left I turned on the radio and it was a little staticky so I turned it off...when I tried to turn it back on NOTHING and I mean NOTHING, now I was scared so I started checking things.....that is when I noticed I didn’t have AC, VENT, HEAT or RADIO!! 😭😭. I thought that after being in the shop for a few weeks and drying out that it would work but tried when I got the car back and nothing. I have hazards, seat heaters, spoiler works, rear defrost works and all other lights that I can tell. I also checked all the fuses in the distribution box that seemed like it would correspond with the problems and all the fuses are good. I was missing my baby and now that I have her back I am afraid to drive it because of no vent or defrost ( still crazy hot and humid down here). If anyone could please help me get my baby back on the road or at the very least give me a place to start checking things I would soooo appreciate it!!

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS LONG CRAZY POST BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I COULD!!

If anyone has any tips on how to remove mold/mildew stains out of my interior I would appreciate that as well. I have read a lot of things on what to do but would rather get my info from all of you awesome folks that drive the same car I do.

Also going to see if I can post a video of the tree on the car so you understand why I had to keep her covered!

 

When the cowl vents get plugged, and rain water backs up in the cowl area, the water enters through the air inlet in the cowl area. That water gets both into the blower motor and resistor pack. It's likely the blower motor bearings are rusted, so it will not turn. Most certainly the resistor pack that controls the blower motor speed is shorted out and bad.

The water will leak down on the passenger side to the electronics under the floor carpet. It's very common that the stereo amp connector plugs get wet. They will corrode and short out.

I'm sorry to say, I expect you will need to replace the blower motor, resistor pack, and likely the stereo amp and the connectors. The fuses that power the motor and radio/amp may be blown.

 

I hate to say it, but I've worked in electronic repair since 1982. Water damaged electronics belong not in a repair shop, but the trash bin.

You need new modules, amp, etc. You then must deal with the corrosion on all the plugs and connectors - yuk. I am not saying you can't get the car going, but this will be very labor intensive.

 

Thank you gentleman so very much for all the information......looks like I am going to have to print out the service manual....ugh.....4300 pages is a lot to print....do y’all have any suggestions which parts I should print out 1st? I would go out and try to start lookin at things but it has already been raining for 4 hrs....looks like another 5+ inches AGAIN!

Oh and any suggestions on where to get parts?

 

parts :
NEEDSWINGS.COM
FCPEURO.COM
EEUROPARTS.COM
ROCKAUTO.COM
CAR-PART.COM

 

No need to print the Service Manual, just download and save the PDF to your computer and print out the relevant pages if you need to.

 

Your best bet to find an affordable stereo amplifier is a used one on ebay. Check the connectors that plug into the existing amp to see if they are badly corroded. If so, you should look for an amp that has the connectors included with wire pigtails that can be spliced into the existing wires. If the connectors are not badly corroded you can use a spray can of electronic contact cleaner and a small brush to clean the pins in the connectors.

Replacement blower motors and control module/resistor packs are found many places like ebay, Rockauto, Amazon. The Mercedes SLK320 uses the same parts.

 

You guys are just amazing for all of the information that you shared with me!! I cannot express how grateful I am!! I will keep you posted on my progress as soon as all this damn rain!!


If you guys don’t mind.....1 last question.......any suggestions on how to get mold/mildew stains out of the interior....door panels and such


THANKS AGAIN!!

 

My personal opinion is white distilled vinegar is an excellent way to get rid of mold. For bad mold spray it on full strength and let it sit for a while to kill the mold before wiping it off. I've also used a 50/50 mix with water. Yes it smells, but that smell will go away after a while.

 

Hi there everyone,
Well I have finally fixed my baby...replaced both the blower motor resistor AND the blower motor and she seems to be running just fine....thank god. Now I have to admit that I messed up and left the car uncovered for a week and the drains got plugged up again....ugh.....I was able to clean the 1 on the passenger side and the 1 on the drivers side is draining but very slowly.....my question is.....how many drains are under the cowl, where are they and how do I clean them....do they go straight down or curved.....used some balding wire but was very gentle because I have read the posts about not puncturing or dislodging them. Any help from all of you amazing people would be great!!!