Water Under Carpet In Driver's Footwell

[rrr]

Hi,

I have a 1999 Gs300, 85k mi. Just noticed the carpet was wet in the driver's footwell. I pulled back the carpet, and the carpet and insulation under it is completely soaked. Smells like basic water, no noticable color, not moldy yet. My first thought was that the heater core is leaking, but that would be strange since the heater core is (normally) on the passenger side. Anyway, checked the coolant tank, and it is full. I haven't been in any heavy downpours (that I remember), or driving thru puddles, but we have been driving in some light rain/wet roads. I did wash the car, but I don't know if was wet before I washed it.....

I pulled up the carpet as much as I could and ran a small fan over it for 4 days, and the carpet and insulation is dry again. There must be a reason...it will happen again....

Anyone had a similar mysterous situation?

thanks!

[Brettster]

I had this problem on another car, not a lexus, it was some french crap

anyway

the problem was the inner door skin

the water should hit the window, run down the inside of the door, then out the bottom via the sill.

in my car it was running down the wrong side of the skin and thru the speaker grill and into the footwell.

take the door card off, and check for any signs.

that is if the GS Door are made that way, Ive never looked inside

[Scorpion]

I had this to on another car and it was a pipe blocked from the s/roof.

[Bob King]

List of possible problems...2 already covered.

1) Sunroof drainage pipe,

2) water coming from window seal.

3) Heater matrix,

4) Rubber seal around door ,

5) Vents blocked with leaves, under windscreen area.

6) Rubber grommet on bulkhead come loose.

[rrr]

Thanks everyone for your ideas. This forum is a great source of info!

I've tried all of the ideas, but everything looks ok. :(

The evap hose is not plugged (I blew air into the hose from under the car (with my mouth), and it was not plugged (air flowed very freely)).

The drain under the wipers was not plugged (I poured some water into this area, and the water quickly flowed out onto the ground thru the drain hole).

Sunroof drains also were not plugged.

All grommets look fine (I put the car on ramps and checked them all).

I then washed the car, spraying everywhere (under the car, in the wheelwells, at all sides of the windshield, at the windows, at the door seams, etc), and nothing...

The heater core would ooze red coolant, but it was clear water.

So now I'm really baffeled. The only far fetched idea is this: 1 week ago my wife had the car in a local shop for a smog check [required for Calif]. Am I out of my mind, but is it possible that they poured water in the footwell to inspire new business? I'm not usually such a pessimist, but I'm running out of ideas. Ever heard of such a thing? :o

Thanks again everyone. I put it all back together, and I'll check it from time to time to see if it happens again.

[Monster-Mat]

have a look on the bulkhead above where the carpet was wet, are there any Grommets in the bulkhead that could be leaking.

also check the rear Boot seal, its supprising how water travels in a car, especially as the carpet acts like a sponge, cars naturally are lower at the front, so this is the natural point where the water would collect

[rrr]

Problem solved....

Thanks to all the suggestions, but the problem is with the plastic air cond box under the dash, leaking at a seam in the box. The AC drain is working properly, but the seam leaks enough to give a steady drip, drip, drip.

What a terrible design for a box that is designed to collect water: it is built as 2 halves of a box, screwed together, with a seam at the bottom! The 2 halves are held together with 3 screws, but tightening them does not stop the leak. I expect a bad gasket, or the plastic box is cracked in this spot. There is no way I can replace this myself, it's too buried under the dash. I'm afraid to guess at what this repair is gonna cost from the dealer.... any guesses???

I expect better than this from Lexus.

By the way, I had to replace 2 A-arms at 70k mi due to failed rubber bushings. Is this the Lexus quality I read about in the press??

:tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk: :tsktsk:

[Rodders_UK]

could you get in there with a soldering iron and try to melt along the seam?

[randyreindeer]

When I read wet carpets, i thought for a moment I was on a Rover SD1 forum :P

Glad you have sorted it.