Water doesn’t belong in your car’s interior. It can lead to mold, rust, corrosion and even cause electrical problems with the wires running all over your vehicle. Because of the way that a car’s engine and climate control systems are designed, water can leak into the cabin from the engine bay if there’s a problem! Or, water can find its way into the cabin if the door and window seals begin to fail.
Also, water is circulated into the passenger compartment through the heater core. The heater core is heated by the engine coolant. Air is then blown over the heater core, by the blower motor when the heater is on, to heat the passenger compartment. If this core develops a leak, it will usually leak into the passenger compartment floorboard.
Causes of a Wet Floorboard
1) Leaking Windows: Rainwater can get into a vehicle by seeping past weather stripping on windows and windshields — the black rubber seals that border your vehicle’s glass surfaces. Over time, those rubber seals can start to dry up, become brittle and damaged and could even begin to leak. When it rains, that water might find its way into your car through bad weather-stripping. If you park outside, making sure your car’s weather-stripping is in good shape is even more important. You can have bad seals replaced by an auto glass professional to keep the rain out.
2) Bad Heater Core: A similar problem could occur with the car’s heater system. Hot coolant flows from the engine, where heat is absorbed, and taken to the car’s heater core when you turn on the heater. The heater core is like a small radiator. The blower fan blows air over the heater core, blowing heat into the cabin to warm you on cold days. Over time, just like an actual radiator, the heater core can spring a leak. If it does, you’re likely to get coolant mixture all over the passenger side floorboard!
3) Leaking Sunroof: When the sunroof is retracted, the visible metal frame is known as the sunroof tray. It features drain holes in the corners so, if it begins to rain while the sunroof is open, water that collects in the tray will drain harmlessly onto the ground below the vehicle. If you open your sunroof often, those drain holes can become clogged with debris like leaves and dust. With nowhere to go, rainwater in the sunroof tray could leak into the cabin. If you suspect water is getting in through the sunroof, have a service expert look at the sunroof weather stripping and the sunroof drains.
The Problem with Water Leaks
Water inside your car can cause all sorts of horrible problems, some of which can be a hazard to your health. These include
- Bacteria and mold
- Corrosion
- Pre-mature component failure
- Wiring faults
- Control module failure
DISCLAIMER AND RECOMMENDATION
These issues have to be looked at and repaired by an experienced ASE certified auto repair shop and not do the repairs yourself.
Nadia, the owner of Mobile Auto Diagnostics and Repair LLC has 18 years of hands on experience in repairing all kind of vehicles. She has 11 ASE certifications, one of which is an ASE Master Mechanic certification.
Nadia’s auto repair business is by invitation only and is not open to the public. Please contact Nadia by phone or e- mail found on this website.
Nadia accepts cash, checks and/or major credit cards
