Wet driver's side floor (under mat)

[kenm09]

Ok, so I have looked all over the internet searching for others with a similar problem, and had some success but nothing has worked. My 4runner smells musty, and after pulling the floormat up on the driver's side, I noticed a wet spot on the backside of the mat where my foot would rest while driving. Ended up pulling the carpet up, to find that the padding was soaked. Here are few things I have tried...

1. Hole in the floor mat - NO HOLE.

2. Leaking sunroof - Cleared all drains with plastic weedwacker string. Poured water with car on angles (all drains work and no water sits).

3. Leak in drains below windshield/under hood. - Completely cleared them out on both sides. Found a lot of debris from previous owner (leaves, etc.) but cleared them out nonetheless. While doing this, I never notice water coming in the driver's side.

4. Grommet from firewall - Just checked after rainstorm and it was dry.

Anyone have any insight?! Maybe another drain I need to look at? I'm getting desperate here.

 

[gaterose]

Leaky roof rack?

Mine was wet there before I resealed the holes with silicone after installing my new rack.

 

[kenm09]

But why would it just affect the driver's side padding?

 

[gaterose]

If only the front driver's side foot is leaking, that's where water would pool and likely not dry out for some time after the rest has had time to dry.

 

[ChaosStarter]

A LOT of interior floor leaks in the front come from that hose that you checked on the firewall. That hose is the drain from the A/C system after the condensation process happens. The problem is that debris (leaves, dirt, etc) gets in the way of the water that's supposed to drain out to the street. Easiest thing to do is to get some pressurized air and blow it up the tube. I've seen a gallon of water come out of those tubes after you blow out the debris.

 

[pat_304]

I had a similar issue on the passenger side of land cruiser due to leak in the seal on the upper right side of the wind shield. Water ran from there unseen and it dripped out below the glove box. Might be worth a look.

 

[BROOKLYN]

I have the same problem, please keep me posted I been going nuts trying to figure this out. I took all the steps you guys previous mentioned it's raining now so I'm curious to go out and see

 

[97hb]

Under the dash behind the pedals is a coolant pipe for the heater core. Check your radiator and if its low that is probably your problem. Leaking heater core or connection. AC drain is on the pass side. Sit on a flat surface idling with the ac on high for about 10min. You should see condensation dripping under the 4runner, if not that is your problem. Could also be sunroof but looks like you ruled that out.

 

[kenm09]

Under the dash behind the pedals is a coolant pipe for the heater core. Check your radiator and if its low that is probably your problem. Leaking heater core or connection. AC drain is on the pass side. Sit on a flat surface idling with the ac on high for about 10min. You should see condensation dripping under the 4runner, if not that is your problem. Could also be sunroof but looks like you ruled that out.

AC drain same on both V6 and V8 models?

 

[Roadking]

Just an idea...did you check the drain holes in the bottom of the (driver) doors?

 

[kenm09]

Just an idea...did you check the drain holes in the bottom of the (driver) doors?

I'm assuming these are those about 1/2" square"ish" openings wedged underneath/between the door and step? This is where it drained from pouring water down below the windshield. If this is what you are referring to, I cleaned these out very well.

 

[BROOKLYN]

Guys I keep on going through all these steps over and over and expecting a different result but it's not happening (insanity). I can't find the leak anyway. There is a wet spot directly in the middle of the left front floor mat.
The top by the pedals is dry and by the seat is dry and by the door sill and door is dry. It's coming from under the carpet cause the insulation is moist and the all weather mat is dry. The ac drained well and the sunroof drains as well. The left rear sunroof is leaking very little like a drop almost unnoticeable and no water marks on the headliner.
The truck smells really bad and it makes my wife vomit literally. Anyone have suggestion I'm ready to call it quits . I had a Toyota A tech look at it today, we soaked the truck, left it out on the rain no leaks. I drove it home an hour and a half no leak no signs, now it's been sitting and it's soaked under there still no traces what's going on
Please help

 

[cabowally]

You aren't replacing your catheter on the proper schedule.

Liberty Medical is constantly telling me at 1am that those need to be maintained and that Medicare takes care of it.



p.s. Roll up sheets of paper towel. Line the parameter of the top, left, right and bottom sides of the driver side carpet UNDER the carpet. Then place a very large aluminum foil cooking pan directly in the middle of where you think the moisture is accumulating (or tin foil or plastic wrap).

Do whatever it is you do that makes you think its doing it.

Wait for whatever period of time it needs to DO IT.

Is the water catching device on top of the carpet wet? If not:

Pull the carpet up and look to see if any of the paper towel is. If so, trace from there.

If not, then get under the car and shine a flashlight up from the bottom and have someone check for holes.

Gotta say, I'm not real impressed with a mechanic that diagnoses something like this by "soaking." If it was coming from the the roof, your nut sack would be wet. If it was coming from windows or window/door seals you'd see it.

So, assuming you aren't driving home piss drunk and, well, pissing while passed out in the front seat, and aren't getting rained on inside the car, then I have to go with underneath, through the firewall or from under the dash.

Unless of course you have an angry cat.









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[BROOKLYN]

Thanks I'll try it, the funny thing is that it only happens a little while after it rains and its been raining and the carpet today was damped not soaked. my next step was to remove the carpet (I have to wash it anyway) and hope it rains. Im sure I can use that advice even with the carpet removed right.

 

[ghostridr]

Take a hoes and spray it in/around door seals, check to see if their are leaks coming in. Repeat above steps for engine firewall, undercarriage, etc...

See if that works.

 

[BROOKLYN]

Take a hoes and spray it in/around door seals, check to see if their are leaks coming in. Repeat above steps for engine firewall, undercarriage, etc...

See if that works.

Did that repeatedly nothing, it's weird cause you don't see moisture immediately it rain last night heavy after about an you started feel the carpet damp

 

[dadigab]

This could take a long time but using an oscillating lawn sprinkler and very very high quality masking tape (designed to get wet if not you will hate me for all the tape residue) And even some plastic. Make sure sprinkler will cause leak first and foremost. Also will it leak just sitting in driveway? It maybe leaking from wet road spray or wind driven rain from driving. Start at highest point such as roof rack carefully mask off that area. Do not cover anything that could possibly leak like the the two long rubber strips that go front to back along roof edge if leak stops your rack is to blame if leak continues mask off the rubber strips then the gap on rear hatch onto sunroof/ windshield mask glass to paint not just rubber strip around windshield then door gaps, hood gaps getting the point. check for leaks at every step if it takes 20 mins. for leak the first to develop, run every test for 20 mins. YES absolutely this method sucks but it does work to isolate your leak.

Getting rid of smell is easy enough you must remove wet or got wet jute (carpet padding) you can get more at lots of places junkyards upholstery shops etc... most of the smell is in there. Carefully spray BACKSIDE of clean dry carpet with Clorox clean up.

I do the suspect water is come from far away place like the roof or cargo area (water flows to lowest point possible) since it takes so long to show up on floor.

There are also leak profe$$ionals out there who can find it in minutes if you can find one of these pros in your area.

 

[BROOKLYN]

This could take a long time but using an oscillating lawn sprinkler and very very high quality masking tape (designed to get wet if not you will hate me for all the tape residue) And even some plastic. Make sure sprinkler will cause leak first and foremost. Also will it leak just sitting in driveway? It maybe leaking from wet road spray or wind driven rain from driving. Start at highest point such as roof rack carefully mask off that area. Do not cover anything that could possibly leak like the the two long rubber strips that go front to back along roof edge if leak stops your rack is to blame if leak continues mask off the rubber strips then the gap on rear hatch onto sunroof/ windshield mask glass to paint not just rubber strip around windshield then door gaps, hood gaps getting the point. check for leaks at every step if it takes 20 mins. for leak the first to develop, run every test for 20 mins. YES absolutely this method sucks but it does work to isolate your leak.
I agree with your reason I think it's somewhere far away and it takes time to travel and the l/f floor is the lowest point especially that my truck is lifted and the back sits a little higher. I'm getting close I can feel it
Getting rid of smell is easy enough you must remove wet or got wet jute (carpet padding) you can get more at lots of places junkyards upholstery shops etc... most of the smell is in there. Carefully spray BACKSIDE of clean dry carpet with Clorox clean up.

I do the suspect water is come from far away place like the roof or cargo area (water flows to lowest point possible) since it takes so long to show up on floor.

There are also leak profe$$ionals out there who can find it in minutes if you can find one of these pros in your area.

Thanks for he advice, its probably the most creative advice I received and I'm actually on my way to home depot to buy tape. I'm going to try it thank god I'm free this weekend cause its gonna take awhile

 

[dadigab]

you might want to try auto parts store for tape it must be top quality water resistant tape or YOU WILL HATE ME

 

[BROOKLYN]

you might want to try auto parts store for tape it must be top quality water resistant tape or YOU WILL HATE ME

Will do, but all this time I was so convinced that it came from the front that I never thought of the rear but it makes sense since it takes awhile to get to the l/f floor and my truck is lifted and the rear is higher