chisel86 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 HiI was vacuuming out the inside of my car today, when I took the mats out of the footwells I found there was a lot of moistures between the mats and the floor, not enough to puddle but a lot more than just damp.I couldn't notice any 'smell' from the fluid but there was definitely some oily residue/colour in the passenger side footwell but not in the drivers side.Maybe it's just some water that got into the cabin last time I washed it (about 3 months ago before putting it away for the winter) and the mats have stopped it evaporating, but I was wondering if there are any known issues or possible fluid line damage I should be aware of or check?Its a 2003 1.8 K-series roadsport if that makes any difference. ThanksDavid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted February 18, 2017 Member Share Posted February 18, 2017 Have you still got some of the residue, and if you have can you test it for solubility in water to check it is oily and not merely mucky?Has the car ever been treated with Waxoyl etc?No visible leak from engine or gearbox, and levels not dropping?...I'd clean it and not worry too much unless it recurs.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivaan Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I use a cheapo de-humidifier in my garage for a couple of days if putting car away wet.Take out the carpet, boot contents, floor and dry things asap.Use WD40 or similar when the car's fully dry in all the nooks and cranies.Clive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 It would stay wet under there for months in winter. Make a note to remove mats and dry it next time. I have just removed all floor carpets for this reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I took my carpets out for this reason. I could never get my foot boxes to seal, so gave up, fitted sticky grippy material on the floor for my feet to stop sliding around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 How do you wash your car?I now take the bonnet off to wash it (usually on the lawn) to minimise water ingress through the bulkhead as I used to get the same. Never use a pressure washer.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stridey Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Leaking heater core or pipes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 My footwells get wet every time I drive in bad weather. When I get home, I remove the mats and dry the footwells with a cloth. I'm not sure where it comes it, but it always has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmmarsh Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Water gets in between the scuttle and the side skin below the windscreen stanchions when it is raining and a little bit would get in there when you wash it. Lifting the carpets (if not stuck down, like mine are) is a good idea. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 As above.Also along the join between the scuttle front vertical panel and the flat area in front of it.I used masking tape along both sides of all joins, applied black sealant (clear goes a funny colour, black stays black and looks okay), smeared it in well, carefully pulled the tape off.On my 2001 it also leaked in under the heater. The footwell heater outlets didn't properly line up with the cutouts in the tops of the footwell, so despite careful application of new P-section draughtstrip, it still leaked. I finally cured it by riveting new aluminium patches over the existing rectangular holes, using sealant to seal, reducing the opening so the draughtseal had something to seal against. I also swaged the edges of the new smaller, circular opening upwards to assist. The smaller opening also has the effect of directing more air out the cockpit vents.I also ran sealant along every join in the aluminium panels in the footwells, even the ones already done by Caterham.So now no leaks whe washing - even when pressure washing.So for the last 12 or so years (took me couple of years to sort it), the only leak I now have is in rain, standing water, when water from the front wheels hits the rear wheel arch, bouncing forward and up and in the gap at the back corner of the sidescreen where it doesn't fit tight to the side of the car by your elbow - so I get wet elbow and thigh. Only cure so far is a new sidescreen - they sit tight when new.I chucked the carpets (via ebay) as I could never keep them flat and safe under the pedals - rubber mats are the way forward.(and whats really annoying - I seem to be getting a warning from this webpage that the correct spelling of aluminium is incorrect . . .. grrrr) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Americanised spell check!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chisel86 Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 Thanks for all the comments and advice. I know it was given a corrosion coating by the guy I bought it from last year but not sure what type.I'll be sure to keep an eye on it and make sure add some sealant in the spring when I can get the car up on its axle stands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 By the way, I drilled 1/4" holes in the floor under the seats and put plugs in them. It has been handy on a couple of occasions to be able to let a lot of water out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L7 FST Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Sounds like it may be a leaking heater if, as you say, the wetness on the passenger side is 'oily'. See if it tastes like antifreeze (i.e. horrible) - if so it will be the heater I'm afraid. It happened to me on both of my previous K series cars..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted February 22, 2017 Member Share Posted February 22, 2017 It's slippery but ethylene glycol is sweet*. Some proprietary antifreezes have a bitter additive, but I don't know how many.Jonathan* And toxic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chisel86 Posted February 23, 2017 Author Share Posted February 23, 2017 L7 FST, any idea how regular the drips were? I've had the rubber mats out since the weekend and just checked now and there's no sign of any more dampness... so fingers crossed it's not a drip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L7 FST Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 The first time it happened to me it started with an occasional drip and very slowly and steadily got worse over the course of several months (though ISTR on the next car it came in a single deluge). Hopefully yours has just had a little weep and has now pulled itself together.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 You don't have to taste it .... rub it between your fingers and smell it. Coolant is quite distinctive. It may be the hose end or debris under the hose end .... or, as I found at one time .... A little bit of flashing on the moulded plastic spigots of the pipes on the heater. Remove the hoses and check/clean up as required. If you don't have decent screw hose clamps. .. fit them. Easy enough to get at the heater matrix and remove it if required. Soon see if there is a leak from it. There was a post recently about a new source for this matrix. If it is the heater valve that is leaking ... It is from a TX2 taxi. ... cheap on line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 There is an ebay seller offering a new all metal heater matrix for the black plastic heater with the 7 on the front - search caterham matrix.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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