Interior Leak Help!!!

[valkyrie]

I have had a problem since owning the car.

At first several folks noticed a mildewing smell. It seemed to have gone away, but then again I smoke cigars in the car so of course it went away. But anyway it has never been right.

Tonight it is rainy and around 40 degrees. I go outside and there are around 10 cars outside and mine is the only one with condensation. On the inside of all my windows. This is driving me nuts. I can't go to the dealer because we all know I have to prove something to them. They will never actually try to solve the problem. I don't even know where to begin looking.

HELP!!!!!

[hdwrench]

do you have the moonroof?

[GordonB]

valkyrie,
Leaks are a MAJOR pain.
First you have to start trying to find out WHAT is wet and then you can try to trace it to the outside.
If it is just general condensation, it could be that the drain tube from the HVAC is NOT draining. You could try running the AC for 15 minutes with TEMP set to 65 or set to DEF and set for 70. Then look under your car behind the right front wheel towards the back of the engine. You should see some drips. If not, you need to get the front end up enough to get SAFELY under the car and then look up in the vicinity of the HVAC assembly (near the blower motor, but blower motor is higher up.
If you have a genuine leak, then you will need to find WHERE the carper is wet -- lift both front mats and both rear mats -- look for telltale signs of moisture on the backside of a mat. If you find moisture, then you can try the garden hose technique on the outside nearest that carpet spot with someone on the inside checking for water.
This is not a sure fix, but it is a start. Let us know what you find and/or have tried and NOT found. OK?

GordonB

[Bradley G]

Hey valkyrie,

Are you carpets wet?If your interior smells mildewy,and the carpet does not appear to be the source.Maybe the HVAC system has moisture collecting inside.Take it to the dealer and tell them you are intollerant to mold spores and the car is giving you migrane calibre headachs.If it is a water leak it is usually done by a sublet vendor (water doctors ) is common in this area.It should not be your obligation to diagnose the problem only to describe the symptom(s)
Bradley G

[CRUZTAKER]

Definately feel around your carpets up against the firewall. Stick your hands down into the mats underneath the carpet.

My Vic occationally leaks on the passenger side. Sometimes so bad the carpet is soaked. It was a beeatch trying to find the entry point.

I finally propped a hose on the windshield, took out the panels under the dash, peeled the carpet back, and there it was, like a river. The water was coming in around a gasket where a part of the A/C hose exited the firewall.

[dwasson]

Mine had a leak where the alarm installer left off a little grommet where a wire went through the firewall. Definately keep on the dealer to dry the carpet too. The carpet and pad mildewing can be hard to live with. Some people have bad allergies.

[BillyGman]

I agree that leaks can be tough to locate. I was having some problem w/water collecting inside the trunk but now it doesn't happen anymore. Figure that one out. :confused: Anyway, someone once told me what sounds like a pretty good way to check for any leaks that would be coming in through the whetherstripping on the doors or the trunk......get some white chalk and draw a visible line of it across the whetherstripping and then after closing that door or the trunklid, hose it down. Then when you open the door in question or trunklid, you'll see a break in the line of chalk that you had drawn where any leaks are. I hope this helps.

[RoyLPita]

Check and see if the carpet is wet on the right front. <---just my guess,

BTW, Where I work, they use a shower nozzle to simulate rain. Have the dealer check for leaks. you might be suprised what they can find and also fix. You are still under base warranty. Water leaks are covered.


Just my .02 and then some.

[valkyrie]

do you have the moonroof?


No Moonroof. I wish that was the problem.

[valkyrie]

I have had a problem since owning the car.

At first several folks noticed a mildewing smell. It seemed to have gone away, but then again I smoke cigars in the car so of course it went away. But anyway it has never been right.

Tonight it is rainy and around 40 degrees. I go outside and there are around 10 cars outside and mine is the only one with condensation. On the inside of all my windows. This is driving me nuts. I can't go to the dealer because we all know I have to prove something to them. They will never actually try to solve the problem. I don't even know where to begin looking.

HELP!!!!!


About a month and a half ago I thought I had solved the problem as I noticed the trim on the back winshield was coming off. I got that fixed thru the dealer but problem still exist.

I once noticed wetness under the mat of the drivers side. I just couldn't imagine where it was coming from And it went away. I assumed it was because it was a rainy couple of days.

Thanks for the input. Sounds as if I should start looking under the passenger side floorboard.

[Krytin]

Harry,
Check the wiring for the remote starter - if any wires were run through the firewall that might be the problem. I'm also off the rest of this weekend - just trying to get a solid coat of wax on the car before the snow flies - call if you want!
Paul