Found mold under passenger carpet and rear storage area, how is water coming in?

Started hunting down the reasoning for a damp carpet, which led me to ripping out the interior of the truck. I found a good amount of mold underneath (I'll be ordering some new carpet, as i suspect some of it has been wet for 6 months).

First bad spot the front passenger area, lots of it was under the vent (which is now removed) with some bigger puddles that i circled. Im thinking A/C drain? Anywhere else i should check?

Second bad area is against the back of the cab, bad brake light? Or could the window seal be bad?

 

Did you check the cabin air filter?

That was my problem area. The solution I used was to remove the wiper arms and remove and clean the plastic windshield cowl. Also I had an old license plate that I used to make a roof for the cabin air in take as a back up.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cowl-water-leak-and-linkage-seized.604576/page-2

Posts #30 and #36 are photos of mine. The weekend after the rain I fully removed and cleaned the plastic cowl. I used a Clorox wipe and then treated the cowl with turtle wax plastic restorer. I plan to repeat this every spring.

Good Luck!

 

What's interesting, is last summer a cabin filter lasted me about 1 month before completely tearing itself apart. If there's a possibility for water to leak onto the filter that could explain the premature wear on it. I'll take the cowl apart later this week and see what i can find! Thanks.

 

That is frustrating. I went to pull out my floor mats on Saturday to clean them and found out that the carpet was wet under the passenger seat. There was a puddle of water sitting under the air vent that travels under the passenger seat.

- First think I checked was the cabin air filter. If that is dry, then water isn't leaking through there. Mine was dry.
- Others have mentioned a blocked A/C condensate drain line. Mine was not blocked ...but I know the leak occurred when the truck sat (not running) during a large rain storm
- I checked the pillar (between front window and passenger window) after removing the plastic trim. No sign of water.
- I have a factory roof rack - some have complained of roof racks leaking, I checked that - dry (sprayed outside with a hose)
- When water hits the windshield, some of it will drain through holes adjacent to the wiper arms. This is by design and the water then travels along the cowl to either the R or L of the truck and then drain downs a spot at the very rear of the front 1/4 panel. I cleaned all of that area out (vacuum and compressed air). I've read of pin holes in the sealant in the cowl that may let water run down into the cab along the front bulkhead.
- check your door seals (I used a garden hose - see below)

What is interesting is as I pulled the carpet up looking for where the water was coming from, the only trace of water I could find appeared to be coming from the passenger side, behind the passenger side rear door. Looks like your was wet in a similar area. I removed the passenger seat and the rear seat and pulled the carpet back. I then dried everything out, so there was no trace of water in the truck. I then closed all doors/windows and sprayed the truck with a hose for a good 10 to 15 minutes, spraying the roof rack, door seals, rear brake light, back window, etc.

I stopped spraying and then opened the truck looking for where the water was entering. Nothing was wet inside. I still have the carpets pulled up drying, as that front carpet has a plastic liner over the insulation, that slows down the drying process.

On my truck, I am guessing the water is entering the rear and draining to the front (truck is normally parked on a small slope) and pooling under the front seat. I still haven't found the leak....a bit reluctant to put it back together before I do.

My only suggestion is to close the truck back up and hit it with a hose or car wash (front seat req'd) and see if you can see the water coming in. If you found water 1/2 way up the back wall of the cab, it is possible that water is entering the rear window or brake light and then traveling to the front of the truck and collecting under the passenger seat.

Let us know if you find the issue.

 

Two months ago, dealer serviced mine on recall of third brake light leak. When they inspected and found mold, they removed seats, carpet, ground off any porous material from cabin floor, and had ServPro come in and clean everything. About a week and a half process, and new carpet.

I still have water intrusion into front passenger well. Seems it may be coming in from factory roof rail. Hose tested, and running in at top of plastic where airbag is mounted on pass side of windshield. (I've been searching threads for this, so if you guys have info, I'd be grateful!)

EDIT: Found a couple of posts on the roof leak issue. Still investigating. Thank you. Sorry if this is misplaced.

 

A/C drain clogged, maybe.