3rd gen mildew and moisture under the drivers carpet... help

Does anyone have experience with this. I purchased new seat upholstery thinking it was mildewed from sweat off my back, but today I decided to lift the carpet in the front and surprise it was wet all the way through the carpet padding. here is a picture. Where could the water be getting in from? It has already been to my local dealer to search for leaks with no success. Any help would be appreciated. It needs new carpet and padding at this point, but whats to keep it from occurring again?

 

Us 3rd gener's just getting the left, right, KO as of late, dang!

How come you didn't have the dealer look at it though?

 

He did.

"It has already been to my local dealer to search for leaks with no success" -OP

 

Looks like an Amplifier power wire running down the door sill.. If so, where does it enter the cabin?(firewall, fender, floor?)

 

Yes, i have a stealthbox behind the passenger rear seat. I also thought the wiring, but it does not interfere at all with the door seals.

 

Just rained here. Checked it again . soaked. its getting in somewhere. Seals are not even wet.

 

Did you check the seals/vents in the rear of the cab?

 

Not talking about door seals. Sometimes where it penetrates through the firewall(if not installed correctly) can leave an open hole causing water to get in. just a thought

 

I believe the 2nd Gens had a known problem with the BACK WINDOW slider leaking and somehow the water was running up into the front passenger side carpet.

Wonder if that flaw, like most others, still applies to the 3rd gens?

 

Possible windshield leak?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/windshield-leaking-problems.409903

Door seal leak?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...mself-unleashed-his-wrath-on-my-carpet.262489

 

I feel for you OP. I traded in a 2015 Colorado last November. The door seals leaked and GM kept sweeping it under the rug. I traded it off before winter set in. I'll never own another GM product.

Best of luck with your truck.

 

Do you have a sunroof?

 

OP - in addition to what's been said, you probably need to check for a mis-routed sunroof drain tube (that has happened), or check for an issue with the cab vents on the rear wall of the cab, below the windows and behind the seats.

Thread that might have ideas: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/leaking-cab.401779/

 

Normally I'd say check the sunroof drain tubes. However I notice you have a lot of aftermarket stuff. I see leather and heated seats. So that tells me you don't have tech package and a sunroof. Check where they ran the power wire out. Make sure they didn't push a grommet out or drill too big of a hole

 

I've had similar issues on a Passat and Audi in the past. It was from installing the ECU tune. They didn't put the covers on the control unit box back on correctly the one time and the other they ruined the seal all together. Rain/water would run down the windshield and go through its normal routing but found the opening right by the firewall just above the clutch pedal. So, long story short, double check any aftermarket installs like the others have said. Even if they just removed and replaced factory components. Good luck!

 

It's back at local dealer today. Isn't there a law about how many times a vehicle goes back for the same issue and not resolved? Lemon law ?

 

Thanks for the info but this was done because of the mildew smell. I thought it was in the seats. That smell has been there since it was new. When i found the wetness it smelled like an old boat. The only place I can think of regarding aftermarket install is the sub woofer power cable. But since it is on a stealth box it's all contained inside the cab except where it goes to the battery. Even the. Installers use pre existing ports to the motor area. Could be some trim was damaged in an install causing a leak I hope not.

 

Have you been running air conditioning? Some vehicles have a condensation drain tube that drains outside of the vehicle. If that gets clogged by dirt or debris the auxiliary drain flows into the cabin. Happened on my subaru and a quick blast with an air hose

 

Is the aftermarket install reversible? Did it make any drastic modifications to the truck (holes, etc)?

If you can reverse it, this is completely worth doing and opening a case with Toyota. The mold and mildew will eventually destroy the interior and you don't want to be in that all the time.

 

Dealer found it cause. The installer of the stealth box for my sub knocked out a vent plug meaning they may have to remove the bed to get it back in properly. Since it's not covered by warranty I now have to threaten to sue the business that installed it all. $3000 JL c5 system. They better be good for it. I already got a lawyer friend involved if they do not with all the pictures the dealer and myself took. I'll update.