Wet floor board

I have a 2001 Prerunner and latley I have noticed that the passanger side floor board is soaked!! I have been having some odor for years and thought it was coming out of my vents and Toyota could not fix that, we tried everything. One day I took the floor mat out to clean it like I do often and when I picked it up, the bottom was dripping water and the floorboard was wet. I kept the mat out and let the floorboard dry. Put the mat back in and again...soaked!! Not on top on the mat just underneith. It only happens when the floor mat is in, stays dry when left out...anyone know whats going on???? Also, on my shifter (automatic) my lights went out and can't figure out how to fix it. Any help would be appreciated..Thank you in advance!!!!!!!!

 

Does it only happen when you are running the ac? Most likely its coming from the ac evaporator under the dash. I'm not sure where the drain is on a tacoma, but it might be broken or a hose might be loose. Check for a diagram in the factory service manual. I think you can find it on the forum.

The shifter light has a bulb underneath [obviously] so you need to pull the center console and cover off. Just a few screws and bolts.

 

You also have the heater core on the passenger side. Just depends what type of liquid it is and what it smells like.

As far as the mat being in or not, I'd caulk that up to more of a coincidence than anything else.

 

I'm with Youngunner first and Manlaan second...

I had this happen in my VW GTI. When I turned broad corners I could hear the water rushing from one side to the other. Sometimes spilling onto the passenger floor or my feet.

Now, I don't yet know the logistics and placement of things on my Tacoma (just bought it 2 days ago!). But here's what it was on my VW.

There is usually an outside evap drain for the AC. This is why in the summer, after running the AC there is a little puddle of water under the car. This can happen in the winter too. Some defrosters use the AC to defrost... you're removing humidity from the air. Thus, "conditioning" it.

My VW's AC drained through the fire wall (Someone here can tell you where ours drain). My drain had been blocked by the Firewall/heat shield/Mylar-bubble-wrap stuff by a previous tech. But also consider rocks, mud, tubing bends/kinks, wasps, leaves... anything that might stop it up.

Anyway, after much much trial and error I found it. Blew some VERY LOW PRESSURE air through it and moved the offending Firewall material. Eventually it evaporated like it was supposed to. There was also a lot of Wet-Dry-Vac time cleaning it up.

So, I say try that.

My other advice would be to go to the car wash with a buddy and have them hit all the doors, windows, and possible points of entry while you sit inside. Look for leaks. It could be a leaky windshield, or a bad door seal. But I'm betting on the AC evap drain.

If it's the heater core, it will not smell or taste (if you dare) like water. I can't help you on this. But I know it happens. My Pop and I had this happen on an old '56 Chevy.

Another option. If you have a sunroof, there are drains inside the edges (again speaking from VW MKIII experience). Those get clogged-up easily with leaves and crap. Blow them open with compressed air if a little cup of water poured inside the open edges doesn't drain.

I think the reason its dry without the floor-mat is because the water evaporates from the floor when the rubber mat isn't there keeping the moisture locked in.

I hope you can find it before it gets too warm... BC mold is a real bitch to get rid of. If it ever comes to that, I have another fix.

Good luck and keep us informed.

 

x2 on the windshield seal leaking. I've seen this before on a '98.

 

I had that problem on my 84. Reason - my floor board had rotted. If i punched my left foot hard enough I could have touched the tire.