Wet Floorboards on Driver's Side?

[levee-11]

Hello,
I was cleaning my 4Runner the other day, and lifted up my WeatherTech floor-mats, and noticed it was moderately damp on the carpet. I had no idea where to begin. From what I've heard it could be a clogged A/C drain pipe, but this can't be it because I haven't used the A/C for several months. Another thing I heard is it could be my sun roof drain holes clogged, but I doubt this as it hasn't rained in a while (although I did smell some mildew like the water had been there awhile) but I still doubt this judging by how clean the Runner is, and the environment it's kept in. Another thing I've heard is that water can run through the firewall if you have wires running through, which I do, but I ran the wires through the stock grommet, so I don't think that's the problem. Lastly I heard it could be my weather-stripping or some seal, but I also don't suspect this as the wetness is not near the door, more in the middle of the foot well, and the door jams are never really wet when driving in the rain.

This is what I think happened, and I want to know what you guys think: I've dried out my carpets over the past few days, and it hit me that I rest my dead pedal when I'm driving, and the WeatherTechs come just barely up to the dead pedal, so I'm thinking the wetness from my foot when it rains gets on the dead pedal, and runs down it, and underneath the floor-mat, and since it hasn't rained in a while, and the dead pedal is sloped, the water has made its way to settle in the middle of the foot well (The lowest part of the foot well), and it can't evaporate because of the WeatherTechs.

Let me know what you guys think, I'm really hoping you guys think my theory is correct, or to hear what other things I should check, or if any of you had the same problem. Thanks!

 

[douglas]

The fact that it evaporated after a few days is a good sign, it's not coolant from a leaking heater core. Though that leaked on the passenger side in my case. Your theory is probably correct if it isn't wet mostly by the door. I'd suggest letting it air out every so often if that is happening though

 

[phattyduck]

AC drain is on the passenger side, not an issue in this case.

Check:
- Sunroof drain (if equipped)
- Harness boot between brake booster and inner fender (water pours DIRECTLY over this in the rain)
- Inner door plastic seal (rain can make it in to the plastic, down and out inside the door if not sealed and routed correctly)

And as for the rain/boot issue... It wouldn't be much if it was just rain. The water is much more likely to stay on your boots and run down on top of the mats. Pay attention to foot position in the future though, and keep it down flat on the mat for a while to get any drips off before putting your foot up on the dead pedal.

-Charlie

 

[WeakSauz]

Have you by chance recently done the "pinch weld mod" to fit larger tires?

Sometimes when folks cut too deep on the pinch weld before pounding it back, it allows water in, as the wheels are splashing it directly up into the pinch weld area.

Just a random thought!

 

[VernySanders]

AC drain is on the passenger side, not an issue in this case.

Check:
- Sunroof drain (if equipped)
- Harness boot between brake booster and inner fender (water pours DIRECTLY over this in the rain)
- Inner door plastic seal (rain can make it in to the plastic, down and out inside the door if not sealed and routed correctly)

And as for the rain/boot issue... It wouldn't be much if it was just rain. The water is much more likely to stay on your boots and run down on top of the mats. Pay attention to foot position in the future though, and keep it down flat on the mat for a while to get any drips off before putting your foot up on the dead pedal.

-Charlie

its the boot where the harness runs through the firewall like you said. Anytime someone trys to wire anything aftermarket, usually sound systems, they run the wire through here and even if that wire is no longer there usually the hole it left behind in that boot is. I have weathertechs and this happened to me for the first year i had the truck. I fixed it once I applied silicone this boot. Aftermarket sound system amp positive wire was the culprit from the P.O.

 

[levee-11]

Have you by chance recently done the "pinch weld mod" to fit larger tires?



Sometimes when folks cut too deep on the pinch weld before pounding it back, it allows water in, as the wheels are splashing it directly up into the pinch weld area.



Just a random thought!

Nope haven’t done that, but may have to in the future


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[levee-11]

Update: I've looked over everything, and I mean every thing. Nothing is standing out as the problem. I've narrowed it down to only this: water is coming through the floor. I'm almost sure of it. Does anybody know where water could be getting through the floor? I can feel a dip towards the center, and from what I can find online it looks like some sort of rubber gasket. Help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[brillo_76]

Update: I've looked over everything, and I mean every thing. Nothing is standing out as the problem. I've narrowed it down to only this: water is coming through the floor. I'm almost sure of it. Does anybody know where water could be getting through the floor? I can feel a dip towards the center, and from what I can find online it looks like some sort of rubber gasket. Help would be greatly appreciated!!!

How about the garden hose check. See if you can get it to leak with a garden hose to find the area of the leak. I havent seen a floor rot through yet. However, I am sure they can. Or if the floor was damaged underneath anywhere letting the water in.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

 

[yotamonkey]

I had water coming in on the drivers side and it was because the previous owner had run a amp power wire through a grommet on the firewall but didn't plug it properly. I removed the wire and re-seated the grommet and it has been fine since then.

 

[Wedgy]

A while back bamadruski posted a fix for the grommet by siliconing a flashing above the grommet in the corner where the hood meets the fender, this way it won't pour down onto the wires/firewall.

Found it ! ( the google search for the forum is great )

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/265500-fixed-firewall-grommet-leak-driver%92s-side.html

 

[LoneStarr]

I had water coming in on the drivers side and it was because the previous owner had run a amp power wire through a grommet on the firewall but didn't plug it properly. I removed the wire and re-seated the grommet and it has been fine since then.

Had this same issue with the 4runner I just purchased.

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[seen20]

I would put some silicone where you have the wires running through the stock grommet and see if that helps. I was havin the same issue and couldnt for the life of me figure out where the water was coming in but that fixed it.

 

[4runner206]

Not sure if it helps but I had a failed body seam on the driver side behind the cowl, you could see it after the cowl was removed, it might be worth it to check in there.

 

[brillo_76]

Not sure if it helps but I had a failed body seam on the driver side behind the cowl, you could see it after the cowl was removed, it might be worth it to check in there.

Quite the possibility. As the rockers can rot out. I could see the body seam rust and creep back.

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[4runner206]

A while back bamadruski posted a fix for the grommet by siliconing a flashing above the grommet in the corner where the hood meets the fender, this way it won't pour down onto the wires/firewall.

Found it ! ( the google search for the forum is great )

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/265500-fixed-firewall-grommet-leak-driver%92s-side.html

Damn! Pictures are gone from that