Grommet check

[ADVAW8S]

I was on Facebook and someone mentioned the underbody grommets are put in incorrectly. They have a tendency with little pressure to fall out. When wading water egress is possible. Worth checking and correcting if need be.

 

[YellowLab]

This is a little scary - finding out grommets are not installed correctly from Facebook. Very glad folks are finding issues and posting fixes but something like this is block and tackle Quality Control....

 

[DCPU]

I was on Facebook and someone mentioned the underbody grommets are put in incorrectly. They have a tendency with little pressure to fall out. When wading water egress is possible. Worth checking and correcting if need be.

I'm not sure that's how I understood the issue.

The grommets are installed correctly for wading where the larger flange is underneath the vehicle and will better resist upwards pressure.

The issue seems to be that the inner flange is perhaps too small (or not fitted correctly) such that it is easy to push them out from under the seat.

I'm not sure if they are a standard size, but it may be better to replace with ones that have two large flanges but they can be a bugger to get in and lay flat, especially when there is a blind side.

 

[Ever Pragmatic]

We’ve had our one wading a few times to “ahem” maximum wading depths of 800mm and had no observable water ingress. In addition, in heavy weather with road spray and puddles at speed, again no issue.. I did add silicone to the sump plugs just in case. Mine was a mid December build and my only water related moan is the wiper motor gets loud after prolonged use.

This said, I’ll keep checking for water.

 

[bakepl]

I was on Facebook and someone mentioned the underbody grommets are put in incorrectly. They have a tendency with little pressure to fall out. When wading water egress is possible. Worth checking and correcting if need be.

Interesting... just 'lost' the exact grommet whilst fitting a busbar over it (busbar to service the ctek smartpass consumable out). Hardly touched it and now somewhere in a subframe I can't get to. The hole is 25 x35mm and seems it's the only grommet of that size that I can find in the vehicle. Wonder if the dealer has one...

 

[Woodley]

I was on Facebook and someone mentioned the underbody grommets are put in incorrectly. They have a tendency with little pressure to fall out. When wading water egress is possible. Worth checking and correcting if need be.

Just checked under the seat and yep, missing the same grommet as well. Can see the pavement under the vehicle

 

[Bobby Mac]

Just checked under the seat and yep, missing the same grommet as well. Can see the pavement under the vehicle

Just checked mine - build Jan 23 - looks like someone has checked it as it has been marked - it’s as solid as - just felt it, (gingerly at first) with my fingers - it feels like you’d need a screwdriver to dislodge it.

 

[Mitchell300]

Same here, Jan 2023 build 2 seat utility, grommet in front of CTEK still in place. One behind auxiliary battery missing. Checked my photos and don’t think it was ever there when I’ve had the vehicle. Gaffer tape fix for now !

 

[Jean Mercier]

As I am a stupid guy who wants to know if wat people say is true, I pushed gently on the grommet, really gently, and oops ...gone.
But I am also very patient, and found it back: I have quite long and small fingers, therefore putting my little finger in the middle hole of the lower part of the tank protection, I was lucky to feel the grommet! And with the help of an iron wire I pushed the grommet to one side (side of my thumb on the picture below, and again with my little finger I could get it out!

@DCPU is right: the grommets are placed in the right way as to resist water pressure, but to be honest this is quite poor design, not fool proof (the fool being me ) !

After looking at the protection plate of the petrol tank, I am even not sure that I would be able to place the grommet back if I dismount it. I think (but am not sure) that I should have to dismount the tank too.
I placed it back the wrong way.

What one could do (even those who lost the grommet) is putting some metal plate that holds down the grommet or holds down some other piece of rubber as a replacement.

I repeat: poor design, I am not the only fool on the world!

 

[CountyV8]

It seems to be a Mercedes part

 

[Jean Mercier]

It seems to be a Mercedes part

Very well seen, I didn't notice, but indeed:
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/diagram?c=MB201810&ssd=$*KwGHs6KyzNrf2uH39uulkd_L6-zyg4yBgJKUm930yJDDlonfmY6SmZbe0ZeOkYPZ08-AgJGel8fQk9bA3JmW3tmXjpGAqrHcmZbQ3JeOkYfft9yZlsXRl46RgM6fAAAAAD-dZ8s=$&number=A0069893085

[EDITED] Google this "A 000 998 07 90"

 

[CB]

A million miles of testing and it never fell out?

 

[CountyV8]

Very well seen, I didn't notice, but indeed:
https://partsouq.com/en/catalog/genuine/diagram?c=MB201810&ssd=$*KwGHs6KyzNrf2uH39uulkd_L6-zyg4yBgJKUm930yJDDlonfmY6SmZbe0ZeOkYPZ08-AgJGel8fQk9bA3JmW3tmXjpGAqrHcmZbQ3JeOkYfft9yZlsXRl46RgM6fAAAAAD-dZ8s=$&number=A0069893085

[EDITED] Google this "A 000 998 07 90"

We have a smart car too Jean

 

[DCPU]

Interesting... just 'lost' the exact grommet whilst fitting a busbar over it (busbar to service the ctek smartpass consumable out).

You're going to post some photos of this, aren't you?

 

[bakepl]

You're going to post some photos of this, aren't you?

Exact same as Jean's.. thanks for the image Jean . Spoke to my dealer, felt a tad embarrassed to see if it could be ordered 25mm x 35mm (but I really barely touched it).. and to my surprise he's already ordered a bag of them to arrive shortly. A popular part it would seem.

 

[Ever Pragmatic]

As I am a stupid guy who wants to know if wat people say is true, I pushed gently on the grommet, really gently, and oops ...gone.
But I am also very patient, and found it back: I have quite long and small fingers, therefore putting my little finger in the middle hole of the lower part of the tank protection, I was lucky to feel the grommet! And with the help of an iron wire I pushed the grommet to one side (side of my thumb on the picture below, and again with my little finger I could get it out!
View attachment 7825499

@DCPU is right: the grommets are placed in the right way as to resist water pressure, but to be honest this is quite poor design, not fool proof (the fool being me ) !
View attachment 7825500

After looking at the protection plate of the petrol tank, I am even not sure that I would be able to place the grommet back if I dismount it. I think (but am not sure) that I should have to dismount the tank too.
I placed it back the wrong way.
View attachment 7825501

What one could do (even those who lost the grommet) is putting some metal plate that holds down the grommet or holds down some other piece of rubber as a replacement.

I repeat: poor design, I am not the only fool on the world!

Jean, I’ve just been out and done exactly the same and managed to fish it out with a pair of snipe nosed pliers. It was easy to remount and I’m considering gaffering it down. This will stop it being pushed up, or down and be semi permanent. Unless I’m missing something, do you think this is an effective work around?

 

[Jean Mercier]

Jean, I’ve just been out and done exactly the same and managed to fish it out with a pair of snipe nosed pliers. It was easy to remount and I’m considering gaffering it down. This will stop it being pushed up, or down and be semi permanent. Unless I’m missing something, do you think this is an effective work around?

Man, don't forget English isn't my mother tongue, what does "gaffering" mean?
I am NOT an expert, I am like most of us playing, experimenting, trying, ... therefore not an expert

 

[bakepl]

Man, don't forget English isn't my mother tongue, what does "gaffering" mean?
I am NOT an expert, I am like most of us playing, experimenting, trying, ... therefore not an expert

Recovered mine relatively easy with 'gaffer'/'duct' tape and I'll use same to secure it in place. Thanks again Jean for 'taking one for the team' as they say.. you're a champion!!

 

[bakepl]

Grommet back in place and unlikely it will be pushed through again... busbar from Smartpass consumable in place on top. (yes it's a somewhat large busbar but had it spare)

 

[DCPU]

See

Exact same as Jean's.. thanks for the image Jean .

was referring to ..."busbar to service the ctek smartpass consumable out”.

Edit: Now I see it - why not a small fusebox?