Lexus RX 2004-09 :: Water Under Carpet Come In From A Or B Pillars?
Aug 28, 2014
Last weekend I had to pull up the front passenger carpet to check my DVD player wiring, and I was shocked to find a puddle of water in the foot well, and the carpet pads were soaking wet. The water looked clean, and quite recent luckily.
On further investigation, I found water in the front driver's side foot well and in the rear passenger side foot area.
So I took the heroic step of removing all the seats and pulling out the carpet to thoroughly dry out the car, and replaced the carpet pads which were too soaking wet. Took almost two days of work, didn't want to spend the big bucks on a new carpet with the pads attached ($1400). Not hard work, just tedious, and the seats are heavy to lift out.
Now the mystery part, where did the water come from ? No water on top of the carpets, not a drop to be seen anywhere. But loads of water below the pads.
1. Checked the sunroof drains, all four drain well, and the sunroof drain holes are totally clear. Did a test with a garden hose but no water gets into the car.
2. All the body drain holes have the rubber plugs. Car is in pristine condition. The car is a 2009 RX350 with very low usage.
2. Checked AC drain hose- condensate water is draining to the ground. Ran AC for an hour, not a drop felt anywhere below the evaporator.
3. Now that I have dried out the car and put the carpet in, I am mystified as to the source of this water, and am afraid it is going to recur unless I can find the cause.
Considering that the water was most present in the front passenger side, and below the carpet, I suspect it must have come in from the A or B pillars. Is it possible for the water to have taken this path if the sunroof was not totally sealed shut for some reason on a long trip in the rain ?
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My car has wet carpet, particularly in the passenger footwell and I have also noticed on the driver's side as well. My car did have a funky smell quite a few weeks ago, but after a couple of weeks of good strong sunlight and heat that smell went away. At the time I thought maybe some water had spilled and it just needed to dry up.
Yesterday we had a bucket full of rain. Quite heavy and strong. I didn't notice anything yesterday when I got to my car as it was still raining. However this morning I found that the smell was back (that wet carpet / mouldy smell) and I had a few minutes before the next train arrived. I checked quickly and found that the passenger side (in Australia it's the left side of the car facing forwards) carpet had a small wet patch.
Anyway got home after work and proceeded to find out what might be causing the problem. I dismantled part of the passenger side and lifted up the carpet and found that all underneath (the padding / noise proofing) was soaked wet.
I removed the plug that normally sits there and the amount of excess water from that plug to the garage floor was more than I was expecting
** Drain Plug **
I asked my wife to point a hose at the sunroof to see if I could spot where the water was coming from. I noticed that just underneath a big electrical bank sitting just above the carpet, water was basically running out of this hole.
** Close up of the hole where water is pretty much running straight through, basically someone turned a tap on and it just leaks straight into the carpet **
As you can see the closeness to the wiring is dangerously close.
I tried to see if the sunroof holes were blocked and they looked okay. I took some whipper snipper string and tried to feed it down the sunroof holes, but alas did not see where this would come out. I tried searching under the car, but couldn't find the spot where the water would normally drain out. The string went in and I fed it through, but eventually I hit a block somewhere but I don't know if this is a problem or just the string couldn't twist to get where it needed to.
I need to find out why there is water spilling into my cabin at the footwell. This has started to ruin my carpet and getting into the car with that smell surely isn't good for my or my family's health. Where this is meant to be draining out underneath the car? How do I fix this leak without spending a fortune?
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Water intrusion problem in the cargo area of the GX? I was getting ready to wash my GX and as I was pulling out my Weather tech cargo liner... I discovered that it was completely wet underneath and the whole rear carpet was damp and slightly musty smelling. I have recently driven through two very heavy rains...but nonetheless the Lexus should be watertight... Is this a known issue? Is there an area where it is possible for water to come in through the rear floor?
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All- Yesterday i had the car in a driveway (incline of ~5Degree). I gave the car a nice wash (both above and under the car and got it in the garage so that i can wax it. removing the rear carpets (both Driver and pass side) i saw it being damp..
Pulled out the carpet and the rear of the car(see pics) was soaking wet. there was absolute no water in the driver and passenger well. I am not able to figure of the reason. Also the temperature is ~50 in Michigan so have not used the A/c for almost a month..
This is what i have done:
Looked at all the seals (the ones visible)- looked ok.
Took a horse and gave a nice under body wash.. no water came up
Checked the sunroof.. the sides of the seat were not wet (I think no water came from there)
All the door moulding, dry..
Am I missing some seals.. or am I overlooking something.
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In my 07 ES350 I had water on the carpet of the drives side all the way to the backseat! I was gone for a coupla days when this happened and with the heat it sure did have a musky odor when I opened the door!
I have looked all around the sunroof and cleaned the edges could not see anything that would leak although under the sunroof at the front there was water in the tray.
Then I looked all around the windshield. Could not see anything that could cause a leak. Lightly hosed off the car today and had water dripping down the driver side pillar and the covering for the pillar was wet.
This car has never had a leak anywhere until now. Gonna have to have the carpet removed and steam cleaned I guess to get rid of the odor, but not until I stop the leak!!!!
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There is water sound under dash. I read about clogged drain so I tried sticking up a thin rod from drain line and gets stopped after some length. Should I force it up (push, hit harder) or will that break something? Is there a angle bend?
I did not get a water leak on carpet yet but the sound is getting more so more water collecting? What should I do next?
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I purchased a 03 Jetta tdi a couple of weeks back. The grey cloth interior was in bad shape, so I bought a 04 as a parts vehicle with a good interior, heated leather etc. Yesterday while remove the seats and carpet and underlayment. I discover that the underlayment foam is soaked in the front and it damp in the rear. I am trying to figure out where the water is coming from. I will be checking my sunroof drains. I found one of the plastic stops in the floor cracked so i will replace those.
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I have a 2001 B5.5 passat saloon and I'm getting water in the trunk, damp carpet and water in the spare wheel well. It seems to be mainly on the left side (as you look into the trunk) I've checked the rear light seals and can't find any evidence of a leak, where else should I look?
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Yesterday I went to reach for a piece of paper that fell under the drivers seat and relized that my carpet was wet, i went to look and i had a puddle, i think I might have gone into a small puddle that day, but it was the day after it rained, no trail for the door to the puddle either it seemed, to seep in through the bottom or somewhere else.
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I have no clue where it came from but now my car smells like mildew. Where and how it came in? Also how to get rid of the smell? To make things worse I have monster mats so I never knew it was there until I smelled it then lifted the mat.
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So I have no clue where and how this leak started. My 2003 Honda Civic Ex has 133000 miles well earned. This leak has to be stopped. The carpet has been ripped out to dry, but I will probably replace it anyways. Some Ideas have already been given to me. First one, my car does have a system in it(meaning sub and amp cords running through firewall), so water could possibly pass through that hole. Second is checking the windows, door seals and if any welds or cracks have not been filled by the auto body shop. This would be from the one known accident from previous owner. Damage was done to the rear left drivers side panels, behind the door. The problem was looked over but nothing was found. Third would be to check, again the windows and doors rubber insulation strips. Also the fourth and most interesting idea, was that the vents or drains that are responsible for the water that flows down the front window and into those vents, I obviously have no real idea of what these things are called, might be clogged, as well as the channels that the vents are connected too.
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For some strange reason I'm getting water under the passenger side carpet, but it only seems to be happening after it rains. I don't know where it's coming from, but it seems to be right in front of the front passenger seat. I've only had the car for a month and would like to get this fixed..
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Just noticed the passenger side floor has water frozen on carpet. There is no evidence of water on the sides or from the dash area. I reached under the car and I can see 2 holes, one of them is plugged with a rubber grommet/plug and the other I can stick my finger way up into it. My wife has been driving this in the rain a couple days last week.
Is that a possible source for the water getting in? Can I order a replacement plug if it fell out?
I just did read something about a "sealing cover" and I matched against the driver side and it does appear to be missing. Seems to be a round 40mm plug. I measured the driver side and plug is 40mm and the hole is more like 25mm. Is this the right part?
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Today I noticed a wet carpet in my wagon(floor behind driver seat) and I know that my bro washed it for me last week, so how it got wet. He takes really good care of our cars and he's confused also. I just got back from a long trip. BTW it is water, and not coolant.
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I have a 2005 Honda Pilot that has developed a bad leak. The floor on the driver and passenger side gets wet. The driver side is usually damp and the passenger side floor is soaked, squishy, like a wet sponge. I have taken apart the dash and cleaned out the AC ducts and replaced the filter. I found some small leaves, not a lot. No luck, still wet. I took off the plastic cowl under the windshield, it was really clean there, no leaves or junk and no signs of water there at all. Still gets wet.
The area that is wet is right along the rocker panel near the plastic cover for the door sill, on both driver and passenger sides of the car. The carpet is only wet in the front seat "foot wells", not the back seat areas. I looked at the seals, they seem to be working fine and cannot find anyplace water could be getting in. Either from the top side or underneath. I thought it was drying out then we got lots of rain the other day and the passenger side is saturated and the driver side is damp again. Not sure if it was from driving or sitting in teh driveway/parking lot at work. The car is starting to smell!
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I am trying to find out what could cause water to leak onto the front carpet of a 1995 Olds Acheiva from under the dash. It is not coolant. Testing with a power washer didn't cause a leak, only rainwater.
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I have a 2003 Honda civic. When it rains water leaks inside and soaks the carpet under the diver's feet and the left side a the back seat. There is no sign of water on the dashboard or driver door, so I don't think the leak is coming from the windshield or drivers window. Could it be coming under the dashboard and running down the floor board? Where would I take the car to try and get this fixed?
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After several days of rain I found that the drivers side carpet is soaked. Upon further investigation I realized it was coming from underneath the car rather than from the side. I was able to put my hand under the carpet and feel the metal body underneath. It was soaked. I have never had this problem before and have not been in an accident. The car drives very well and has 130 miles. I recently replaced the transmission and was hoping to have this for a few more years.
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I have a 2005 Chevy Equinox that has developed an odd issue. For about a month, after a good rain, I have a puddle of water in the floor carpet of the front passenger side - while parked. It develops from the center of the car to about the middle of the floor below the seat. So since that is the case I don't think the side window is leaking but I have looked for signs of water coming in. Nothing. The windshield was replaced about 5 years ago but again, no signs that water is coming in from there either. It can't be from the bottom of the car, right? I mean it happens while it is parked, so that doesn't make sense.
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Every time we get a hard rain, I end up with water on my carpet right at the rear of my Excursion. I'm thinking the weather-stripping has broken down. What is the source for it? All I can find is door weather-stripping.
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I do believe my a/c drain is plugged and wetting my passenger side carpet with water. I pulled my floor mat the other day to vacuum and noticed the carpet was wet underneath the weather tech floor mat. No water on top of the mat. It must be leaking down inside of firewall and under the mat.
My guess is I need to find the drain hose and un-plug it with weed cutter line or re-route the tube. I leave for a work trip tomorrow and don't have time to take it to the stealer. I have to run A/C the whole time so I know it will get wet again. I have today and tomorrow to figure it out.
PS - no rain here for months so I know it isn't the door seal leak. I have had the a/c on 24/7 all summer.
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