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Hi All,
About 3 years ago, our 2011 Toyota Highlander (6-cylinder, not a hybrid) started having a very wet floor (as in very damp to the touch, and the bottom of the mats were always wet) and smelling mildew-y. Turns out that the tube running from some part of the air conditioner that exhausts out water got a spider-web in it; so whenever we used the air conditioner, water couldn't drain out and started overflowing from something and into the car. We ended up having to tear out and replace all the carpets, having all sorts of mold/mildew remediation, etc. Took something like 2-3 weeks; not fun. The actual "fix" for the problem (not the fix for all the damage) was apparently just taking canned air and spraying out the tube to get the web out. We were told that spiders building webs like this is a known issue but that there is no way to stop it.
Fast forward to yesterday – we again have a wet floor (although maybe not quite as wet but the mats are wet on the bottom), the mildew smell, etc. We obviously haven't been using the air conditioning recently (we're in NJ), but I'm assuming that using the defroster could have the same effect. So, if there is a spider web there, it looks like I may have to have that removed, and then tear out all the carpets and go through all the mold/mildew remediation again.
Am I looking at this correctly? Could it be something else? My wife drives the car, and she doesn't remember driving through any huge puddles recently. Any thoughts, help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I seem to remember that last time, the mechanic at the dealership we went to said that from inside the car, near where the driver's or front passenger's knees are (I forget which), there is a panel that can be removed and the exhaust tube accessed. Anyone know anything about this?
Thanks for any help.
Nope. Its wet on front driver side, rear driver side, front passenger side and rear passenger side. I'm guessing its also wet UNDER each seat!
*That IS NOT from the A/C*.. Leaking seal around A glass most likely, sunroof, windshield etc... It's been rather wet lately, here in VA anyway.
Hmm, interesting. Last time, both STS and the dealership (which we eventually went through because insurance was paying) agreed that it was caused by a spiderweb; STS said they saw the spider web in the tube and just blew it out with compressed air. I've also read in many other places that its a known problem with Highlanders (although I can't vouch for whether or not those posts were true), i.e., that spiders can spin webs that cause, basically, flooding. Why do you say it can't be a spider? Also, how would I test where the leak might be? Have someone sit in the car and spray it with tons of water and have them watch for water entry? Or is that something that a professional would need to do? (Not the sitting in the car; I mean, is there a different test to be done, that only a professional could do?) Lastly, if I smell mildew, does that mean I need professional remediation, or can I just run the heater alot until everything is dried? Last time, there was apparently a ton of black mold (but it had been going on for a long time then because we just thought we were tracking rain in with our boots). Thanks again.
The A/C drain is on the right (passenger) side of the vehicle, if it were leaking enough to run over the 'hump' ..console.. It would be 10 inches deep on passenger side. If it were coming from HVAC case, it would be spilling out onto your feet... Carpet will need to be partially removed (pulled back to expose metal floor pan) to find leak with water hose outside and someone inside with good flashlight... It can be difficult .. and maybe impossible to find - sometimes!.. Wife's Camry has had a leak on drivers side for years.. I do this stuff for a living.. I haven't found it yet!... I guess what you could do to convince yourself it isn't the A/C is have the drain tube checked again... Or, on a warm day, **see if water drips 'outside' of vehicle with A/C on**... On sunny days, open ALL doors, (turn off dome light to save battery) and use a fan to aid drying... Good luck with it!