mildew smell from passenger floor

so i picked up my truck from a shop and had this horrible mildew smell in it that i thought was just BO from the mechanic but it’s been over a week and i didn’t notice anything was wet as far as the floors go but tonight i smelt under the passenger floor mat and it’s definitely coming from there.

seems like the smell is only from the area where your feet would be and not on the upper part, therefore i’m confused on how water would even get there without dropping it’s way down from the top if there was a leak

yet i question if there is a leak all together because i’ve never had this smell after several hard rain storms, do you think maybe the shop lift my windows cracked and water came in during a bad storm and sat for over a week while it was at the shop? is it even possible for a STRONG mildew smell to accumulate in that period of time?


should i just have the carpet shampooed and cleaned well in order to remove the smell and just see if under the mat ever gets wet again after a storm or take it to the dealer to investigate (i’m outside of the warranty period though)


oem windshield and never had it replaced so factor that out...

 

interesting... i did notice that my AC water line dripped inside by the passenger side floor. it was a small trickle of water... haven't seen it since but definitely not normal

 

Missing a body plug?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/moldy-dead-creature-smelling-ac.601620/#post-20228735

 

I had an old chevy Lumina once (sorry) that did the same thing. The AC drain hose would get plugged up with "gunk" from time to time and the condensate would then backup and leak into the passenger side. Try blowing it out from underneath with LOW pressure air hose.

There's also the documented leaking hi mount stop light.

 

Is your windshield original?

I went through 4 windshields (3 of which were OEM) to get a solid seal on my truck. It was a nightmare.

 

3 things it might be

1 heater core/ a/c drain line either disconnected, missing, or cut/torn

2 heater core leak, check the coolant level and pressure test if low

3 door, mirror, window seals. Test by using a garden hose and friend. Full on water directed at any point you think it might drain into the cab.

Now, this assumes the truck has never been hit or anything like that.

Had a Ferd SU wannabe that had a water intrusion issue, passenger side fender and firewall had been replaced and the frame pulled. The body shop did a good job except they failed to seal the wheel well good enough. Rain and other wetness would enter the interior from the underside of the fender skirt.

Customer was not happy.......

 

just had this same thing the other week - trying to figure it out as well. A buddy told me it may be a blockage in the drain line thru the firewall and to try to snake it out with a small piece of wire - so I have ... have not driven it yet for any amount time so not sure I affected anything.

 

I doubt you done any good with a wire. That drain tube has a couple sharp bends in it that a wire would not make. I use a air gun on a air compressor hose. Or you can use a Shop vac to suck it out. Where it gets plugged is that sharp bend in the hose. A/C snot like substance gets hung up in the bend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfXyo7a2F9A




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ6oupFWKoM

 

I am waiting for a couple email's I sent to several service depts. asking their opinions. I'm thinking about re-routing my a/c drain tube thru the passenger side floor and out the bottom. That way I don't have to raise my hood just to see if any water is dripping out of the tube.

 

you don't have to raise your hood - just look under the vehicle right behind passenger wheel.

btw - the tube slides right out of the firewall

 

Found My Problem - there seems to be a sizable crack in the plastic housing (and apparently the drain part) that stops just before the hose connection.
Sooo - Good to note no blockage ... Bad to note cracked to heck

 

Are you sure it’s not yourself your smelling?

 

It’s not too hard to pull apart to patch or replace. I had mine all apart 2 years ago when I replaced the whole AC system.

 

Have you checked to see if the carpet is xGRIMEYx?