LoganK

So recently I have noticed that after a fairly heavy rain, a small puddle of water will collect on top of my passenger side floor mat. I have searched the threads on this and this morning I removed the kickpanel to view the firewall. There weren't any apparent holes/gaps in the firewall or matting that I could see. I also read about the drain for water underneath the car on the passenger side could be clogged with leaves, I poured water down and water appeared to exit from several different points under the car. Could this be my problem? Any ideas? Where my t-top seal meets the pillar seal water occasionally will slowly drip in there, but I have a hard time believing that it could end up pooling in the floorboard just by that. All suggestions are welcomed!

Thanks guys

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

Sounds like your Heater Core has busted, which is the typical cause of water in the floorboard on that side. To fix that you have 2 choices...Replace or bypass, but with Winter coming up....Bypass isn't much of an option unless you don't drive it in the winter months.

LoganK

If this was the case, would I still be able to have heat? Because the heater still blows pretty hot air? Also it appears that the pooling water doesn't contain any trace of antifreeze?

AutoRoc

iTrader: (1)

Mine does this. I have no inner wheelwell liner.

I also hacked my firewall up to fit my A/W intercooler.i thought it was the missing fenderliner. Visually, there is a huge gap in the back of the wheelwell, maybe for freshair to the HVAC? I plugged thay with foam and it stopped the air draft definately. I still get a bit of water though... Still searching.

Wheel liner is important though! Right above the hole for the wire harness, look for the big gap above that.

I may have also cut into the cowl area and that's my problem... Not sure..

Ron U.S.M.C.

Dry the spot as well as you can then top of your radiator and fill the overflow tank to exactly the cold line (when the car is completely cold.) Then check it after you drive it for awhile.( when its completely cold) with the heater on all the way .If the spot gets wetter and the coolant level drops than that would be the heater core leaking.
I can't think of anywhere that you would have pure water in. Closes thing to it would be washer fluid.

((Mike))

iTrader: (1)

Smell the water. Does it smell like coolant? Is it a little slimy? The heater core was the first thing that came to my mind too.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

There are only 2 possible sources of water. Cooling system & rain and if it is just a small leak then yes, you can still get hot air from the vents.

Actually there MIGHT be 1 other possible source.....Condensation from the AC condenser. I don't see how the condensation could get in there (clogged drip hose? disconnected/split drain hose?) but if it did, you should be able to narrow that possibility down to it only happening when the AC is switched on.

dlinger

iTrader: (4)

I'm chasing the problem with our t-tops too. It is dripping into trim next to window (A pillar ??) and on down to floor.

LoganK

Well that might explain my very gradual coolant loss over time haha, besides the extremely small amount that drips on the block. It hasn't rained for 2 days, and just tonight I pulled my floormat up and felt, and sure enough, it was somewhat damp. I looked on the bottom side of the floor mat and there was water, with a possible tinge of green, not for sure though. I am going to experiment with a garden hose tomorrow to see if it is a seal leak, or the heater core. If it is the heater core, I will probably just bypass, because I don't drive it in the winter anyways, and I hear it's a bear to replace! So I assume to bypass the heater core, I just disconnect the inlet and outlet hose from the heater box, get some sort of a fitting and connect the two coolant lines?

FlyDoc

it is not the heater core.
unfortunately you have a rusted out fresh air intake. with the inner finder liner out, you can see the drain, it is about 1-2" from the bottom, so over time leaves and dirt build up hold moisture, and the rest is history.

freestylzz

I had the same problem with my car back in '96 when I first bought it. Brought it home and after a rainy day I'd find a puddle of water in the passenger side floor.

My dad and I checked the passenger side t-top weatherstripping at the time and though it looked good all around, he suggested we take some black silicone caulking and caulk all around the bottom inside of the weatherstripping where it meets the metal body. Guess what? It did the trick!

Think about it dude, why would it be your heater core like some other people are suggesting? You already mentioned it only happens on a rainy day.

If your still having this problem, check the t-top weatherstripping. You may wanna caulk it up like we did.

Maverick H1L

iTrader: (8)

The cowl is leaking.

You need to make sure there isn't a pile of trash in the bottom of the cowl that will prevent water from draining out of it.

Also make sure there isn't any trash piled up at the back of the wheelhouse between it and the firewall, which will also lead to a rust hole.

If severe enough, there will be a hole at the back of the wheel well just above where the flat section with the X is.

Pull out a couple of the retainer pins on the sound damper padding under the carpet and pull the padding out of the way. I'd bet you have a rust hole under the recirculating door like I did.

The primary problem is that our cars are old. And so is the body seam sealer, which is now hard and cracked. All of those cracks let in water, which creates rust, which creates holes. You will need to find a way to remove the old seam sealer from the cowl and replace it (which, I might add, is NOT as easy as it seems due to the fact that the access is so poor).

phasevariance

Next time it rains, hang out in the car. I'll bet it's coming from passenger window molding or a ttop. (that is if you are not driving the car).

If you don't see a drip, it might be coming from the cowl or near the wiring harness at the fender.

It's important to seal leaks. It will eventually start rusting if neglected.

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

This is the best way that I can find a leak when rebuilding a car. I've gotten pass side floor puddles from holes in the floor, gaps in the window weather-strip, cracked window "filler" rubber, rust hole in the windshield channel, bad T-Bar seal, rust hole in the cowl, and bad T-Top Drip-edge. We are ALL just guessing; only you can sit in the car to watch where it comes from !

Example; It can't be leaking from the wheel well or a hole in the floor if the car is sitting still and a puddle is forming.

P.S. Once a carpet & padding are wet enough to show a little puddle,... it's wet and it will stay wet for a LONG time unless significant effort is made to dry it completely.