Sloshing sounds in the cabin of Mercedes-Benz CLS should not be ignored. If the noise is due to accumulation of water somewhere, it can lead to unwanted bacteria growth like mold or mildew, which can cause musty odor in your vehicle.
Мерседес-Бенц CLS – (Агия / Shutterstock)
The most common causes of sloshing sound in Mercedes-Benz CLS are clogged evaporator condensate drain, low coolant, air in coolant system, clogged door drain, and clogged windshield drain.
1. Забит слив испарителя.
When you turn on the air conditioning system in your CLS, moisture develops along the evaporator coil and then drips down into a condensate drain pan, which then drips under the vehicle. If the drain is clogged or is not draining properly, water will accumulate in the pan and make sloshing sound when the vehicle is moving.
Риск роста плесени
The stagnant water in the evaporator condensate pan becomes a perfect breeding ground for mold growth and can also cause the water to leak on the floorboard of your Mercedes-Benz CLS. When the AC is in operation, air passes through the evaporator area and if there is mold growth, the air from the AC vents will smell bad. Inhaling these unpleasant musty odors is not only irritating, breathing the airborne microscopic mold spores can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals; such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, nausea, and skin rash.
Симптомы забитого дренажа
If the moisture/water is accumulating in the condensate pan due to clogged drain, you may hear a sloshing water sound coming from behind the dashboard and is especially noticeable when making turns and when braking. If left unchecked, the interior of your CLS may develop bad moldy smell especially when you turn on the AC. Another symptom is damp floorboard; if too much water accumulates in the pan, it can overspill into the interior of your vehicle.
Как прочистить канализацию
Самый простой способ прочистить слив конденсата в CLS — использовать сжатый воздух. Найдите сливную трубку испарителя под автомобилем и продуйте сжатым воздухом отверстие трубки. Грязная заплесневелая вода может вытечь, как только вы продуете сжатым воздухом, поэтому наденьте защитные очки и держите лицо подальше от дренажной трубки.
Если у вас нет сжатого воздуха, вы можете попробовать прочистить слив, вставив гибкую проволоку в отверстие трубки. Хорошенько покачайте его, чтобы ослабить запекшуюся грязь и грязь в канализации.
2. Низкий уровень охлаждающей жидкости
Low coolant level in CLS can cause sloshing sound from behind the dashboard when the engine is running. The sound is most prominent right after you start the vehicle.
Why low coolant causes sloshing sound in CLS
The heating system in CLS uses warm coolant/antifreeze from the engine block to heat the interior of the vehicle. The warm coolant is pumped through the heater core located behind the dashboard. When you turn on the heating, air gets blown through the heater core, warming the air in the cabin. When the coolant level is low, air bubbles may form in the system which can cause sloshing sound from the heater core.
Проверьте уровень охлаждающей жидкости в вашем автомобиле. Если уровень низкий, долейте немного охлаждающей жидкости в бачок охлаждающей жидкости, пока он не наполнится до рекомендуемого уровня. Если уровень охлаждающей жидкости снова падает после нескольких дней или недель езды, возможно, в системе охлаждения имеется утечка.
3. Воздух в системе охлаждения
Even if the coolant level is normal in CLS, air pockets can still form in the cooling system due to a leak (for example, when the radiator cap does not seal properly), and may cause sloshing sound from the heater core behind the dashboard.
Негерметичная крышка радиатора является одной из частых причин утечки воздуха в систему охлаждения.
If the sloshing sound in your CLS is noticeable when you start the engine or when idling (vehicle is stationary), the culprit is most probably air pockets in the heater core.
Is it safe to drive CLS with sloshing sound from the heater core?
Since sloshing sound from the heater core indicates air pockets in the cooling system of CLS, it can cause the engine to work at higher than normal operating temperatures. To prevent engine damage, it is recommended to bleed the air from the cooling system.
4. Засор дверного стока
The doors on Mercedes-Benz CLS are not waterproof, water can enter inside the doors from the window seals when its raining or when going through a carwash. The water then flows out of the vehicle from the drain holes at the bottom of the doors. Over time, dirt and debris can build up and clog the drains. If you hear sloshing sound when the vehicle is moving, especially when braking or accelerating, it could be due to clogged door drains.
Как проверить, не забит ли слив в дверце
Checking for clogged door drain is easy. Park your CLS in a quiet place. Open the doors and sway each door back and forth quickly. If you hear sloshing sound, it indicates water accumulation inside the door due to clogged drain.
Как прочистить слив в двери
In most cases, you do not need to open the door panel to unclog the drains in your CLS. Locate the drain holes under the door and blow compressed air in each hole. If you do not have access to compressed air, you can insert flexible wire inside the holes and give it a good wiggle. Dirty water will gush out of the holes, so keep your face away from under the drains.
5. Забит дренаж лобового стекла.
If you hear sloshing sound from the front of your CLS or from behind the dashboard when the vehicle is moving, it could be due to clogged windshield drain in the cowl/firewall area.
If too much water accumulates in the cowl area of CLS, it can leak into the vehicle interior and cause mustiness and fungal growth in upholstery and carpets. If this happens a lot, the floorboard will rust through from the inside. In the worst case, damage to control units is also conceivable.
Осмотрите область капота
Если вы подозреваете, что причиной хлюпающего звука является забитый слив ветрового стекла, разберите компоненты капота и осмотрите участок на предмет скопления воды. Удалите всю грязь и мусор, которые могут засорить слив.
Заключение
There are many reasons why your Mercedes-Benz CLS makes water sloshing sound. When looking for the reason, you should start with the most obvious causes that are easy to diagnose: clogged evaporator drain, and clogged door drain.
В любом случае, неспециалистам рекомендуется посетить мастерскую. Профессиональный механик может быстро диагностировать проблему с хлюпающим звуком.