A damp carpet or water on floor passenger side situation can be caused by a plugged AC condensate drain line, a leaking heater core, leaking windshield seal, a problem with sunroof drains or water ingestion from the fresh air intake on your car’s HVAC system. The drivers floor board is always wet? This should thoroughly dry out any remaining moisture. Car problems that can cause the engine to overheat range from low coolant level to blown head gasket, bad water pump, faulty temperature sensor, and many other issues. Water present on the floorboard is usually caused by one of two things. A blocked exhaust system can mimic carburetion problems due to the lack of power, but the loud hiss from underneath the car from exhaust gasses trying to escape is the giveaway. Common Causes of Car A/C Leaks 1. If your fuel-air mixture is too rich -- due to a cylinder misfire, for instance -- gasoline will get combusted in the converter instead of in the engine. Are these problems related? TOM: But when it’s winter, you want a lighter oil so the engine’s parts can move through it more easily. RAY: Now, since you’re an inquisitive fellow, Fred, you probably want to know why it’s not labeled “5W-20S,” then? TOM: It sounds like heat is coming from a catalytic converter. If your car smells like antifreeze but not overheating, the components you should look into are: There’s one right in the spot you describe. Run some hose water there and see if it comes out underneath the car freely, and isn’t diverting inside the car. TOM: But heat shields are made of cheap metal, and eventually they fall off, or start making so much rattling noise that people remove them. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). Conversely, if the A/C is the source, water will likely show up on hot and sunny days when you use it the most. Typically, you’ll notice a drop in power because exhaust is unable to leave the engine freely, but you might not notice it. In the winter, everything’s harder to move. A heater core is made up of brass or aluminum tubing that carries the hot coolant in and out, along with fans that disperse the heat released by the coolant. Mark helpful. TOM: The final possibility is that your converter is plugged up. The second reason is that it gives time for even the smallest leak to find its way into the car. The dips in the surface cause the tires to run unevenly on the road, generating a loud noise. 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And you’re right, of course, that excessive heat can be a fire hazard. This seem to start about a few weeks ago, when it rain the passenger side of my HHr floor is soaking wet, water is getting in from under the dash behind the front floorboard, my car has 16,000 miles on it, and now is having problems like this, have anyone else are having this problem, I seen only one person under and article called kicking tires, where he having the … TOM: Because the “summer” designation is unnecessary. Parts that get very hot, like catalytic converters, are surrounded by … Chances are that it happens due to an internal or external coolant leakage or a leak in the radiator cap. I’m not confident I would be able to see something glow in broad daylight. What you really need is “Other side up” to tell you when the genuine 4th-century Ming vase you bought on eBay for $49 is upside down and already broken. You can see them drip under a car on a hot day if you look close. I mean, once you can see the words “This side up,” you already have that side up! Subscribe to cleveland.com. Heater cores are typically situated directly in … They tore down Dwaine Caraway’s poker house, and South Dallas may never be the same again. If you don’t feel that your mechanic is willing to put in the time to figure this out, then find someone else (check the Mechanics Files at cartalk.com for a free list of highly recommended mechanics by ZIP code). It could be the water runoff from the AC, yes don'tt use the AC until you get tthe AC drain line cleaned out. The most likely cause is a leaking heater core. Make sure your coolant fan comes on around 105*C and make sure your heater core isn't cracked or blown (you can smell coolant through your heater&A/C vents. If your fuel-air mixture is too rich -- due to a cylinder misfire, for instance -- gasoline will get combusted in the converter instead of in the engine. But it was lame of your mechanic to send you on your way without bothering to figure out what’s wrong. “Your car is a greenhouse and temperatures can get exceedingly hot in an exceedingly short period of time," he says. help me to find the problem that causes this malfunction. RAY: It’s “winter” Fred. First, immediately opening the trunk or doors may introduce water into the car that can be mistaken for a leak. One the Thermostat might be stuck shut causing the coolant to stay in place thus the temp guage isn't moving when cold or overly hot. Typically, you’ll notice a drop in power because exhaust is unable to leave the engine freely, but you might not notice it. Exhaust runs right under that area. RAY: There are three possibilities. Whenever you get it dry spray the rug on top and underneath witth vinegar, this will greatly slow down the mold and smell. Or your next letter to us might start out: “My 2002 Honda Odyssey has been a great car, other than having to replace the transmission at 60,000 and the four-alarm car fire at 97,000!”. Depending on how hot it is out and how much you drive it of course. In order for a vehicle to run, the engine needs to get extremely hot, but it is only able to get so hot before it overheats. A dog’s normal body temperature is about 100.5°F to 102.5°F, but in a hot car, their bodies can reach between 106°F and 109°F – hot enough to cause … It’s hard to believe that this is not a fire risk. TOM: You have two problems: a heat problem and a mechanic problem. It’s why boxes sometimes say “This side up” but don’t bother also saying “This side down.”. And that can produce a lot of heat -- which you will feel, whether the heat shield is intact or not. Oil’s viscosity -- or thickness -- is described as an oil’s “weight,” so that’s probably why there’s confusion about what the “W” means. LOVE IT!!!!! RAY: It may be something minor, like a missing heat shield. All rights reserved (About Us). He said that everything is fine as long as nothing is glowing under the car when it gets that hot. Your engine makes use of the heated water from the engine cooling gadget to warmth the interior of your automobile. If your mechanic isn’t willing to put in the time to figure this out, then find someone else. TOM: But heat shields are made of cheap metal, and eventually they fall off or start rattling so much that people remove them. TOM: The final possibility is that your converter is plugged up. RAY: The second possibility is that something’s wrong with the engine that’s causing your converter to run hot. But if it gets clogged then you might have a problem. Testing with a vacuum gauge will confirm a blocked exhaust system. When you use your A/C, condensation builds up as well, and this usually goes down a drain. Hi, sounds like you got two different issues. Other signs of a faulty heater core include a sweet-smelling scent in your car, windows that become particularly fogged-up, and puddles under the dashboard or on the passenger-side floorboard. According to NoHeatstroke.org, 760 children have died of heatstroke in cars since 1998. Water from humidity, removed by the air conditioner, is normally drained from the evaporator case. Vibration felt through the floorboard can be due to tire imbalance, tire defects, or excessive radial force variation, on rear axle mounted tires. This next tutorial is going to be showing you how to take care of a problem that is very common amongst drivers. In over half of the cases, the child was left in the vehicle by accident. -- Fred. A leaking heater core can also cause the windshield to fog up, as coolant vapor travels through the defrost vents. RAY: Whatever it is, get it figured out and address it. My 2002 Honda Odyssey (96,000 miles) has been a great car, other than having to replace the transmission at 60,000. A heater core is responsible for a vehicle’s defrosting and heating actions. Do I listen to my mechanic, or do I cave to my safety-freak maternal instincts and take this in to the dealer for what is likely to be an overpriced repair bill, whether or not they fix the problem? Give it a good 30 minutes or so depending on weather conditions. Like your buttocks. Your car’s thermostat is a valve that opens and shuts to regulate the coolant flow to the engine and radiator. If you can, station a dehumidifier in your garage while the fans are running to take as much wetness out of the air as possible. Allowing your car to properly dry is good for two reasons. We want the water to flow out of your car through the evaporator drain. RAY: I think so. That was a pain in the butt. Our regular mechanic said that everything is fine as long as nothing is glowing under the car when it gets that hot. Or your next letter to us might start out: “My 2002 Honda Odyssey has been a great car, other than having to replace the transmission at 60,000 and the four-alarm car fire at 97,000!” Good luck, Beth. This will save you a great deal of money and give you the confidence and knowledge to … Need exclusive stories only we can tell? Get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox every weekday. There’s one right in the spot you describe. A plugged converter will run hot and eventually glow. I would call it NORMAL. 6 Answers. That produces heat. maximum in all probability candidate is the heater center is leaking, or a hose it relatively is linked to the heater center. If the wet floorboard is on the passenger side in the front, it is likely caused by a leaking heater core, the element that creates the heat for the vehicle. © 2021 Advance Local Media LLC. What could be the cause(s)? Many thanks. many times, it relatively is on the passenger part under / contained in the sprint. I have a 1995 Honda Accord EX coupe and when it rains the drivers side floorboard and only the … So hot that it is uncomfortable to keep shod feet on the carpet for more than a few minutes! I would call it NORMAL. When you regulate the thermostat from hot to cold and don't hear the blend door moving, there may be a problem with the blend door, linkage, wiring, or the thermostat switch, depending on the vehicle. Water is circulated into the passenger compartment through the heater core. RAY: Wouldn’t it be more useful if boxes DID say “This side down” or “Other side up,” instead of “This side up”? Or it could be something more significant. -- Beth. Malfunctioning Thermostat. Like your buttocks. So make sure your heat shield is intact. Clogged Evaporator Drain. Parts that get very hot, like catalytic converters, are surrounded by shielding material to prevent the heat from igniting something nearby. TOM: According to the American Petroleum Institute, which is sort of the Vatican of oil, when you see a designation that reads, for instance, 5W-20, it means that the oil acts like 20-weight oil in the summer -- or, generally, in hot weather. The simplest is that a heat shield has corroded and fallen off. Please, i have problem with my car (Toyota Corolla 2008) made in japan, when driving after the first operation (2- 3) minutes , the car didn’t moving well ( heavy moving & Intermittent speed) but after driving 5 to 6 km all this problem disappear & the car going well even with cooling. I mean, Fred, I’m sure you understand why we have multi-viscosity oil. Because, of course excessive heat can be a fire hazard. It could also be a leaky windshield, especially if it is on the driver's side. Fresh water on the floor, with no odor or loss of coolant is more often humidity removed by the evaporator. This can cause hard starting when hot, as the fuel will have boiled out of the float bowl. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. RAY: Whatever it is, though, get it figured out and address it. Water seen dripping under the vehicle is from humidity removed by the air conditioner. If your engine is overheating due to one of these problems, continuing to drive can lead to serious engine problems such as a blown head gasket or engine locking up. It’s hard to believe that this is not a fire risk! The heater core is designed to last the life of the vehicle—but that doesn’t always happen. Air is then blown over the heater core, by the blower motor when the heater is on, to heat the passenger compartment. This is good. Contributing factors in the circumstance you are describing could be worn struts in the suspension. The heater core will obviously leak coolant (antifreeze) providing you have the correct mix of antifreeze in your radiator. You were answering a question a few weeks ago about what type of oil to use (5W-30, 10W-40, etc.). Become a business insider. If it is not in the front, it is probably a leaky window. TOM: It sounds like the heat is coming from a catalytic converter, Beth. One of the biggest causes of in-car leaks is the sunroof, even when factory-installed, and aftermarket units are notorious! This temperature differential will activate the chemicals in Pour-N-Go causing a permanent chemical weld at the leak point. Just move the bag and let the area dissipate the heat. Or it could be something more significant. BlueDevil Pour-N-Go is … There’s a gadget in that path, often difficult to locate, that allows vent air to flow through and into the car, but divert rain water that gets in, back out. We took the car in to our regular mechanic, who generally does a good job. Causes of a Wet Passenger Side Floor Mat #1: Bad Heater Core A similar problem could occur with the car's heater system. All rights reserved. That’s what happens when converters get old. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Exhaust runs right under that area. If your fuel-air mixture is too rich — due to a cylinder misfire, for instance — gasoline will get combusted in the converter instead of in the engine. Outside water entering the passenger compartment – Rain water is the first common cause of water on the floor, soaking into and wetting the carpet of a car or truck. When we take a road trip, we notice that after about two hours on the highway, the floor of the car just behind the front passenger seat gets hot -- really hot! As we explained above, condensation and excess water leave your car through an evaporator drain. The hot oil is circulated to the oil cooler where heat dissipates before it … My question is: What does the “W” mean? This causes the vehicle to bounce, which leads to excessive wear on the parts of the tire that hit the ground as the vehicle bounces. Over time, the device can become clogged or develop leaks. When we take a road trip, we notice that after about two hours on the highway, the floor of the car behind the front passenger seat gets hot — really hot! Just move the bag and let the area dissipate the heat. Q: A few days ago I was cleaning out my car and noticed that the front passenger floorboard was damp. We’re all out of excuses. This seem to start about a few weeks ago, when it rain the passenger side of my HHr floor is soaking wet, water is getting in from under the dash behind the front floorboard, my car has 16,000 miles on it, and now is having problems like this, have anyone else are having this problem, I seen only one person under and article called kicking tires, where he having the same problem. RAY: There are three possibilities that come to mind. Common sense tells us that if the water on the floor and only appears when it rains or we drive through a car … And it acts like a lighter, 5-weight oil in the winter, or in cold weather. Parts that get very hot, like catalytic converters, are surrounded by shielding material to prevent the heat from igniting something nearby. Next would be anything like windows or light fixtures recently repaired on the exterior of the car. But AC condensers in cars do produce a lot of moisture. So whether you are restoring an old hot rod or trying to get another year of service out of an old car, fixing the hole in the floorboard can be done yourself. What do you think is causing this? Who are these Dallas Mavericks? I went from a 2003 jeep Cherokee gas guzzaler to this sweet car, what an improvement! Car stays outside; I have been thinking that it is rain water coming in. The engine oil lubricates internal engine parts to prevent friction, which is the main cause of heat inside an engine. The heater core is like a small radiator. Obviously, if one number is the cold-weather number, the other must be for hot weather. Thanks! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The heat may be normal, or it may be caused by a plugged up or dis functioning converter. (To heat your car, you can also buy a 12-volt heater that plugs straight into your car's cigarette lighter socket and gives instant heat.) 2 people found this helpful. A plugged converter will run hot, and eventually glow. Also, when it rains, the windows fog up from the inside. So, what is your take on this? RAY: The second possibility is that something’s wrong with the engine. Checking the water that’s soaked into the carpet is the first step in checking the type of leak that has occurred. The most likely cause for a car's temperature to increase on the inside is a lack of coolant or coolant that is not working properly. TOM: So now, oils miraculously (I think) vary their viscosity to adapt to conditions, so we can spend our time more productively, like surfing eBay for more junk. If water has ever spilled on you from inside your car, it's probably from your HVAC. McStay has seen his share of hot car casualties in the emergency room. If OP determines the source is rain water, first suspect is the sun roof, if the car has one. I have never felt the water drip on my feet while I am driving. Try to wipe the fog off of the windshield—if it smears and has a sweet smell, it’s coolant from a leaking heater core. The simplest is that a heat shield has corroded and fallen off. RAY: There are three possibilities. Many manufacturers have incorporated an engine oil cooler into their vehicles which operates like a radiator. Keep the car’s doors open and leave the fans running for at least a day inside your garage. Switch the thermostat from hot to cold and listen. Should I listen to my mechanic or cave to my instincts and take this to the dealer for what is likely to be an overpriced repair bill? The underside of the right, middle-row seat gets uncomfortably hot to the touch, too. Also feel your carpets for water or dampness, if you suffer from your car's windows fogging up on rainy days even more than on the usual cold, damp days, Check your footwell carpets. It states"Summary: Ford vehicle may exhibit a difficult to diagnose water leak in the front floor area.May be caused by loose grommets … The Main Causes of Car Smells Like Antifreeze but Not Overheating Several reasons are there for causing this problem. Water on floor passenger side from clogged AC condensate drain 40 Report; fxp answered 3 years ago your right on hot days, it does puddle and drain under car. My 2002 Honda Odyssey has 96,000 miles and has been a great car, other than having to replace the transmission at 60,000. Once your car is warmed up, there will be a temperature differential at the leak point in your heater core. That’s what happens when converters get old. RAY: It may be something minor, like a missing heat shield. But it was lame of your mechanic to send you on your way without figuring out what’s wrong. The simplest is that a heat shield has corroded and fallen off. They will get very hot and are usually located under the front floorboards. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas. Note: It’s important to remember that the heater core is part of your car’s cooling system; it relies on hot engine coolant circulated by the water pump. So first you want to see if your heat shield is intact. TOM: So you have two problems: A heat problem, and a mechanic problem. On a hot day, and especially if your wife has a bag in the left side of the foot well, it will get hot (no air circ above the carpet to dissipate the mild heat transferring up from exhaust, so it builds up) Has been with me since new. On a hot day, and especially if your wife has a bag in the left side of the foot well, it will get hot (no air circ above the carpet to dissipate the mild heat transferring up from exhaust, so it builds up) Has been with me since new. Hot coolant flows from the engine, where heat is absorbed, and taken to the car's heater core when you turn on the heater. I … Coolant Accumulated on the Floorboard For years, I understood it to mean “weight.” But then I read some literature published by Shell Oil Co. stating that the “W” meant “winter,” and that “weight” was a misnomer. The heater core is heated by the engine coolant. In the old days, people had to drain out their summer-weight oil in the fall and put in winter-weight oil. Inside water leaks are typically caused by a leaky heater core or an A/C water leak. The underside of the right, middle-row seat gets uncomfortably hot to the touch, too. Copyright © 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Just bought a 2007 Ford Focus SES. If that gadget gets obstructed with debris this symptom can result. One of the most common causes is a problem with the blower motor, which is the main component that circulates the cold or hot air through the system and into the vehicle’s cabin.