How do I prevent moisture from getting into my car/floorboard?

Question

I have a 1998 oldsmobile cutlass (the chevy malibu's twin during that generation), and I just noticed that the drivers side floorboard was extremely wet, and smelled moldy. When I pressed paper towels on it, a dark red color transferred over (I'm guessing rust?). I haven't noticed any wetness on the passenger side floorboard, the back seats, or the trunk, only the drivers side floorboard. When I took my all-season mats out, I could feel the dampness all over the entire floorboard (so it got under the mats as well).

One of my friends mentioned something about drain holes in the car being clogged or something? I also checked the rubber door seals, and they look fine. I honestly have no idea what could be causing this (and I don't drink any beverages in my car or track in mud or water or anything, so a spill can definitely be ruled out). Any help would be great, thanks!

To the first poster: there IS indeed a coolant leak. I've always been wondering about that. I never see any puddles of coolant on the ground, so I've been wondering where they go. I have to top-off about once a month or so. But the smell is just now getting to me. I'm going with the heater core for now, but does anybody else have other opinions?

Answer 1

rain water leaking in from out and around the exterior windshield frame. most likely at the top two sides where there is a seam on each side of vans. For cars? investigate for seams around the windshields as well and caulk where needed!

Answer 2

Ok, well if the heate core was leaking, you would also have a strong fishy smell, coming through your vents when you run a/c heater or defrost...and it will also fog up you windows on the inside..also you would be having to add coolant to your recoverey tank, but if passenger side of floot board, is dry and drivers side is wet, and pink, then more than likely you have a problem with your brake booster, the diaphram seal has ruptured and fluid is bypassing and running down the inside of your firewall..Oh about the drain holes being clogged...good possibility..but this would only make the condensation from the a/c running back up and overflow to usually the passenger side of floor ...to unclogg, take a can of air, or air hose and put it in the drain hole on the fire wall and give it and quick shot or air..be carefull this could come out on you all of a sudden...hope this help you

Answer 3

try looking behind the kick panels on either side of the front foot wells. if it's not the heater core, or you still get moisture after replacing it. btw, heater cores usually leak on the passenger side, on gm's. if you park where pine needles and maple thingys can get below the wipers and in where the wiper linkage is then the debris will fill the vent channels. the channels run down in front of your doors to behind the kick panels. they should drain out through the rocker panels and behind the front wheels. one of gm's favorite places to rust. when you get the panels off dig out the dirt with a tablespoon or whatever will fit and a shop vac. i used a garden hose to flush them out after that ( before i put the rugs back in), and flushed out the bottom of the windshield, too. hope this helps you find what's going on with yours. good luck.

Answer 4

your heater core is leaking, get a book or take it to a mechanic and watch your coolant level

Answer 5

coolant leak. The red fluid isn't rust, it is the red gm antifreeze in your carpeting.

Answer 6

This massive warm factor noted as the sunlight motives water from the sea, lakes and so on. to evaporate. The water molecules are held betwean the air molecules (my chemisty/geography is slightly rusty so do not quote me on that final sentence).