Man the pumps...she's taking on water!

[whistlingwind]

OK, my 2006 is not quite sinking, but there's a puddle in the drivers side footwell.

Today I noticed the drivers side floor mat was soaking wet. I pulled it up and found quite a lot of water -- several cups worth.
It's been raining hard here in NorCal, so I assume there's a leak someplace. But the headliner is dry, and my Runner does not have a sunroof.

I sure could use some tips on tracking down the leak. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks
WhistlingWind

 

[gm350reratliff]

I'm guessing that the windsheild is leaking and the water is running down the firewall ending up in the floorboard area. Pull out the door sill plate, kick panel and as much carpet as you can. Park it outside when it is raining or have someone spray a garden hose around the windsheild area while you sit inside to watch for signs of leakage.

 

[03v8sportt4r]

Also check around the cabin air filter vent or fresh air vent outside to make sure the drains arent clogged. Pull your cabin air filter and check to see if it is wet. Have you had the front winshield replaced? keep us posted.

 

[DRC]

Assuming its not the windshield…

It’s possible that water got into your blower motor assembly. There is a direct opening between the fresh air intake and the outside. If water gets in there it will collect in the bottom of the blower motor assembly and in the evaporator tank that is located under your radio. It’s possible that trapped water could leak onto the drivers side. However it usually leaks onto the passenger side.

As 03v8sportt4r suggested remove the cabin air filter and check for water around there. Get your hand inside the housing and check for moisture.

To check the evaporator drain line, the easiest thing to do is to turn your fan on high, pop the hood and put your hand under the drain line. You will see a little rubber tube sticking out the firewall on your passenger side, you should feel air blowing out of it.

I would also pull back the carpet and see where it’s wettest. Check to see if water could be coming from near the evaporator tank.

This has happened to us twice so fare. Once on our 04 Sienna and just a few months ago on my 08 4runner. In both cases water got into the motor housing somehow and leaked out. On both the Sienna and 4runner it soaked the passenger side carpet but its possible it could leak to the drivers side so its worth checking.

 

[007Tacoma]

Wet Passenger Floor - No. It isn't the sunroof drain or the condensate line.

I hate to dig up old threads, but I figured I would post here before I started creating my own thread and getting yelled about not using the search function...

:hiding:

Here is the gist of what is going on:
Step 1) Add my 2003 4Runner to a car wash or a rain storm
Step 2) Have AC on with recirculation on - no problem.
Step 3) Turn Recirculation off
Step 4) Watch water come out of the blower motor housing and all over the floor.
Step 5) Get soaking wet passenger floor board
Step 6) Remove glove box
Step 7) Observe water all over cabin air filter behind glove box

Okay. So that is the over-simplified version. My wife and I were able to duplicate the problem with a hose in our driveway. It appears that water gets into the fresh air intake of the A/C system. It then fills up the blower housing until it starts to leak out on the floor. You can imagine how much damage this has done.

Oh yeah - the REALLY wonderful part. I bought this 4Runner from the previous owner with water stains all over the passenger floor board. That's right. He had this problem too, and he made no mention of it when he sold it to me.

So, did you guys ever find the answer to your problem? I ask because I sure could use a fix for this.

:rain:

 

[Marc P]

He said drivers floor was wet...if it was from the a/c it would be on the passenger side..

Does your rig have a sunroof? My sunroof tubes got clogged and had the same effect. Otherwise it is probably the windshield.

 

[007Tacoma]

He said drivers floor was wet...if it was from the a/c it would be on the passenger side..

Does your rig have a sunroof? My sunroof tubes got clogged and had the same effect. Otherwise it is probably the windshield.

Mine is on the passenger side. you can pour water on the windshield and watch the cabin filter get wet.

 

[blkexp98]

Was there any resolution to this?

I am having the problem too and have looked at the sunroof vents and they appear to be clear. The black line I think is the AC drain that leads from the center of the dash out through the pass firewall doesnt appear to be leaking. I havent run a line through it yet but I dont see any staining. The deal about the water coming in the fresh air intake is interesting and could be the issue. Where is this intake at? (hopefully it wasnt obvious hwell

I only notice it about the day after driving in the rain. I dont tend to be a puddle dodger so its very possible I could splash some in if its exposed. What is the fix for this? Some sort of dorade box addon?

I dont know how yall have been checking the carpet as mine is glued down really good to the point it about has to be cut free. Is there some kind of trick im missing? With that said I havent been able to pinpoint the leak under the carpet but can definitely smell it for a few days after the rain. It doesnt seem wet enough to where I can feel it on the surface.