Water leak recommendations

I've been fighting a water leak on my 2002 Tacoma. I can't find it. I've had it into one body shop and they couldn't find it. When it rains and the truck is sitting outside, the driver's side carpet gets wet. I've checked the obvious stuff myself, replaced weatherstripping, made sure the vapor barrier is secured, etc. The wiring hardness passthru on the firewall is sealed up too. It isn't that. I really think it is making its way into a body seam somewhere. It seems to be wettest on the carpet near the kick panel by the driver's left foot.

Anyway, I'm looking for recommendations and what to do next. I've reached the limit of what I can do myself. I'm thinking about calling around to local body shops to see if they are able to diagnose an issue like this. Or I could take it to the local dealer's body shop with the hope they have some Toyota-specific knowledge. Thoughts? Recommendations? Thanks!

 

This is what fixed mine, but mine came from the passenger side.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NRCPesf4mYs

 

Time to smoke out the cab, lol

 

Check your seams where the cab meets the firewall. Take a hose and flood the bottom half of the windshield into the cowling. Pull the carpet back and look for the wet. That’s how I found mine on the passenger side.

 

U have a sunroof?

 

No.

 

Dang
Clogged Sunroof drain tubes cause your exact issue

 

You need to search

I would start by removing cowl/wiper arms and taking a look
Possible the upper bolts to L fender too

ugh just clicked/saw video
Ugh I’m an idiot

 

Pull the carpet up in that area pull the glove box out and take a flash light and look from the inside as someone take a garden hose to your car.

 

Yeah, I've tried this. It must be a slow enough leak that it takes a long time to make its way into the cab. When doing this I've never been able to find a leak, which is probably why the body shop had a hard time too.

 

Have you ruled out the windshield? Spray some soapy water on the outside and blast some air on the inside along the seal

 

That's great advice! I hadn't thought about doing a leak test that way. Thanks!

 

I just tried to search for you, fail. There is a fairly recent thread here in which someone had a leak, chased all through the windshield, vents etc., no luck. Someone suggested the door. What happens (apparently) is if the vapor barrier is loose or was never re-attached, and water doesn't flow out the drain holes at the bottom of the door as it should, it flows inside the door and into the cabin. It may not be the source but I wouldn't overlook it, when it's wet feel along the bottom of the door for moisture.

 

Thanks, man! I really appreciate that. However, I did already check the vapor barrier. I sealed it up VERY well. I think the water is flowing through the door like it is supposed to, but it does seem wet on the carpet near the door. <shrug> I probably need to run water down the door and check that again. Thanks again.

 

I had the same frustrating issue. There’s a report about a leak in the firewall/ cowl. I followed those directions with some sealant but it still was wet inside after some rain.. it must have been happening for years with the PO unaware.. I ended up having to cut out a big section of floorboard and weld a patch, changed out the carpet too because it just stunk.

I tried the garden hose idea but still didn’t find it. I swapped the door seal out, had a new windshield put in anyways, and got them to dbl down on the sealant. Plus I redid the sealant under the wiper cowl. Seems to be good now, but I can’t narrow down what it actually was…

 

Agree with the windshield suggestion, especially if it's ever been replaced.