What can cause wet passenger side carpet?

[jhc7399]

Looking at buying a 2001 xj for my stepson. Passenger side floorboard was wet. Guy told me he just replaced the water pump, Thermostat and radiator was leaking so he replaced that as well. He also said that the heat comes and goes even at normal operating temp and does not overheat. I know about the 0331 heads cracking and I didn't see any leaks or antifreeze anywhere.

 

[tbburg]

A few possibilities off the top of my head.
As much of the cooling system as he replaced, the heater core could be leaking. If this is the case, there will generally be a kind of greasy buildup on the windshield around the defrost vent, and a sweet odor in the cabin.

A much easier problem to fix is a clogged condensation drain. There is a bung with a rubber 90deg. elbow on it pointed down just below the heater motor on the firewall in the engine compartment. if water condensing from the AC can't drain out this vent, it overflows into the passenger-side floorboard.

Not knowing the history of the rig, it could also be a leak in the windhshield seal if it was replaced but not sealed properly. (It's probably one of the other two.)

 

[md21722]

Heater core is very frequently the issue. The entire dash must come out to repair it.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

late model is far more likely to be leaks around the gasket where the fresh air intake vent comes through under the cowl. if it doesn't smell like coolant inside with the heat on i'd put my money there. mine stinks like moldy ass every time it rains because of this.

see here: (not my pics or thread)

http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/water-leaking-cowl-34969/#post398975

(i hate to link to other forums, i'm sure this has been covered here many times, but this came up quicker on google and i'm on my phone. sorry :wave1

 

[BulletMaker]

If the heat comes and goes, that's got me thinking heater core... also if everything else was all rotted out, it's likely that this car wasn't well cared for. I know when I got mine, even though the vehicle was babied quite a bit, I had to flush the heater core to get 20 years of junk out of it. Ever since then my heater runs like a top.

 

[jdent95]

If it's not the heater core, It could just be leaking thru the fresh air intake or somewhere similar. I have a 1997. We bought it in 1999 and after 2 windshields and re-sealing it was still leaking. The dealer actually fit a shield on the top passenger side of the firewall to deflect water, and it's worked over the years. I'd post a picture but i'm in class. :bawl: