Wet Carpet In Front Passenger Foot Well

[pe+e]

1996 1.0 ax debut 90,000miles

 

hi

 

i have noticed that the carpet is wet in the front passenger foot well

 

recently i topped the coolant up. if the coolant was leaking, would it be possible to get into the front passengers foot well (drivers side seems dry)?

 

or is it likely to be rain/car washing leaking in? and if so are there any places that are prone to leaking in and around this area? and any advice on sorting it?

 

thanks in anticipation.

[Johndouglas]

If it's bad news your matrix is leaking - the good news is that it could be a leaking windscreen. But - since you need to put water in the header tank, look at the matrix.

[pe+e]

Hmmmm heater matrix.... is it a bugger to replace? and are they expensive? I bet its right inside the dash and you have to take the whole thing apart to get to it... i will investigate.

 

Do you think it is worth trying to block the leak (if it is the matrix that is) with something like Kalimex?

 

I'll keep my eye on it and see if the carpet drys out after a period of no rain and not washing the car. This will help pinpoint whether it is an external or internal leak.

 

thanks

[Johndouglas]

If you're having to put water in the header tank and the carpet is wet, then it looks like a leaking matrix. And you're right! it's a dash out job to replace it. You've nothing to lose by trying something like Bar's Leak first.

[pe+e]

well i've had a good look at the heater unit (lying upside down in the footwell with an inspection lamp!) and i can't see any signs of moisure on it/dripping off it or any signs of rust runs.

 

i've noticed that underneath the car, under the passenger footwell, there is a plastic 'drain plug' missing (there is a hole approx. 40mm in diameter which would normally have a plastic blank in it- like the hole next to it). I am wondering if this could be the cause.

 

I shall keep trying to find where the moisure is comming from

[jtonky]

Yeah i had this problem, was not the matrix tho "FEW". Not long after i got my ax i parked it up on the kerb, up on the drivers side. That night it rained heavily. When i levelled out and started driving i had a little water come out my passenger air vent, smelt and like it was water from the tank. FFS!

But i had to get to work so left air blower on and i always carry extra water so if hot air stopped coming out I would know I had no water, lol. So always kept and eye on water under bonnet, no change. More heavy rain, water again. Since i stopped parking on the kerb its stops. So it recon it was running into the air inlet under the bonnet, through the ducts, over the heater matrix picking up residue of antifreeze from when it went before (maybe)? Plus think im missing a bit of plastic that would normally stop the water running in?

 

Hope that helps?

[Guest qpr4eva4]

i had the exact thing happen to mine but it seems to stop now its used abit of coolant but it is definately coming from the heater matrix but mine only dont it the once