car leaking

Unless you spilled a beverage last night, any sort of puddle on your car interior floor means you’ve got a leak somewhere. You need to determine whether the leaking substance is water or a leaking component inside the car’s dashboard.

Either way, you should address any leak as soon as possible to protect your car’s interior from damage. A wet mat or floor may create odor issues, mold, and mildew while it can also affect electric flow with the wires in your vehicle.

While a car leaking water should require a minor fix, certain leaks may require more complex repairs, particularly those that involve the engine. Here, we discuss possible reasons for leaks in cars and how to address them.

Leaking windows

Rainwater can find a way into a vehicle by seeping through the black rubber seals that border the glass surfaces. Over time, these seals wear out and become brittle and could begin to leak. To resolve the problem, make sure your vehicle’s weatherstripping is in good shape when you park outside in the rain. Bad seals require to be replaced by a professional to keep any water out.

Leaking sunroof

When you retract the sunroof, there’s a visible metal frame known as the sunroof tray. It contains drain holes in the corners to direct rainwater onto the ground below the vehicle. These drain holes may become clogged with dirt and leaves, blocking the waterway.

With nowhere to drain, the rainwater starts to leak into the cabin, which causes the passenger side floor mat to become wet. If this happens, have a service expert check where the drain tube goes and blow it with an airline or repair any damage.

Leaking door seal

Doors feature rubber on the lining of the edge of the door. Due to friction when opening and closing, the seals get damaged, allowing water to trickle into the car. Check to see if the seals are frail or whether the adhesives are the problem. Worn out seals require to be replaced immediately to avoid leaks.

Windshield weather stripping

As with windows, both the front and rear of windshields have a stripping. If the rubber is damaged, water may start leaking into your car. Be careful with how you replace this seal as leaks are also common when it’s fitted incorrectly. Worse, these leak are likely to affect sensitive areas such as the trunk or dashboard to cause more damages.

Damaged door membrane

Your doors also feature a rubber seal “membrane” on the inside to keep the door waterproof. If this membrane dries out or peels away, water can leak into the car. A worn out weatherstripping is the primary cause of a damaged membrane as water soaks onto the membrane.

Replacing the rubber seal when it gets damaged can help to keep the membrane in good condition. You can also repair minor peels using waterproof tape, but a replacement is the best option for this.

Heater core problem

Are you noticing a leaking coolant mixture all over the passenger side mat? A failed heater core could be behind this issue. The heater borrows a hot engine coolant to warm up your car under the dashboard to heat the cabin. If it leaks, the coolant can end up at the back of the dash and into the foot wells of your car.

Apart from creating a puddle inside your car, it can also cause the windshield to fog up when you drive as the coolant generates steam. To confirm if this is a heater core leak, the inside of the car smells when it gets warm.

Unfortunately, this part can be difficult to access as it’s buried behind the dashboard. A replacement is often the only option to fix this.

Faulty A/C evaporator

It’s not uncommon to notice a puddle of water on a rainy day, but what about during a sunny day? This could be a leak under the car. The A/C system blows cool air and pulls warm air out of the cabin as you drive. Driving on a dirty road might leave the evaporator drain clogged, leaving the condensation with nowhere to go. The moisture begins to leak into the cabin and wets the floor over time.

Cabin filter

Most cars have a cabin filter in the engine compartment. The filter often comes with a cover and seals to prevent water from leaking into the cabin. If installed incorrectly, these seals begin to let through the vent, thereby causing leaks inside your car. To resolve the issue, have a mechanic replace the entire set.

We can buy your leaking car

Water leaking inside your car can cause significant damage if left unchecked. The first step to fixing the problem is to identify possible reasons for car leaks and how you can fix them.

That aside, we buy used cars, including those with small issues of water leaks. Are you looking to upgrade your ride? Motors on Wheels offers some of the best used car prices in Houston, TX; we even drive you home after completing the purchase.

Interested? Call us now on (713) 660-8666 or fill out this contact form. We’ll be happy to give you an unbeatable quote if your car meets our requirements!