I bought the car about a year ago (91 RS) and the carpet on the drivers side was soaked. Even with the summer heat where I live, it never did dry out. The heater core isn't leaking, and it isn't leaking anywhere in the car near there. Did the pad's just retain a lot of water? It was driven during the winter by the PO and I just don't see how it held that much water before I pulled the carpet out.

Any ideas?

 

No idea about the water, but I'd recommend that you pull the carpet up and hit it with a hair dryer or heat gun to thoroughly dry it. If not, the dampness will encourage rot.

JamesC

 

why would you name a post "Soaked Passenger Carpet" when its the drivers side?

are you sure its water and not something else? i'd make sure of that before you heat it

 

Maybe they left a window down during Spring. I would remove the carpet clean it and check the sheet metal behind it. Carpet has a molded rubber backing that could retain moisture between it and sheet metal which could lead to rusting.

I usually take my carpet out every 5 years and use the power washer on it. People at the car wash look at me funny but it gets it clean. After it's then been washed I use a carpet shampooer to pull as much water out as possible and let it dry in the driveway and then re-install it.

To pull back the carpet to check you'll have to unbolt the seat at least and remove it.

Oh Passenger Side is heat core leak normally. Driverside doesn't have any fluids over there unless something is dripping out of an air vent to my knowledge.

 

Yeah, my bad. I meant passenger side but obviously didn't pay attention. The heater works fine, and I have no water issues there anymore. The carpet isn't in the car anymore because it was nasty. I have a build thread here somewhere.....but its been so long since I have done any real work to the car. I am guessing wet shoes from the snow....or a spring rain. It didn't rust through the floorboard, but it did leave a little surface rust that was killed with a passion.