Why does the car carpet get wet when it rains?
4 Answers
Check if the drainage hole at the back of the car is clogged. If it is, just use an air pump at a repair shop to blow it clear. Below is related information about ignition after water enters the car: 1. Water level height: If the water level does not exceed the engine, because the engine's cylinder from the oil pan and the cylinder block have tight sealing performance, water damaging the engine by entering its interior can only occur if the water level remains above the engine for a long time. 2. Hazards of water entering the car: The air resonator box is located between the air intake and the intake hose. Its function is to reduce intake noise, stabilize and smooth the airflow, and prevent a small amount of rainwater from entering the combustion chamber. This component is generally located between the front wheel and the front bumper, where water can easily reach. Once the resonator has water, a large amount of water will be sucked into the combustion chamber when starting the engine, and the incompressibility of water can cause devastating damage to the engine connecting rod. This is the fundamental reason for emphasizing not to start the engine in a flood. The starter is usually installed at the bottom end of the engine block and is easily submerged. Since the starter does not have the high airtightness of the engine, water will quickly penetrate its interior. Starting the engine under such conditions may cause an internal short circuit in the starter, resulting in it being burned out.
Last time I helped my neighbor check their leaking car, I found four common leakage points: damaged door waterproof membranes are the most common issue—peeling back the interior panels reveals soggy adhesive paste; detached windshield sealant can cause water to seep along the A-pillar, with watermarks visible on weld points under flashlight inspection; aged trunk seals lead to water accumulation soaking the rear carpet; another hidden culprit is poor drainage in the AC air intake, causing water to backflow into the blower and spill out from the blower vent. Replacing seals costs just a few dozen bucks, but waterlogged carpets can mold and rot through the sound insulation. I urged them to remove the carpet immediately to dry out the floor pan, or else rusted sheet metal would lead to costly repairs.
Buddy, check the firewall area. The structure of the air filter box is like a funnel, and it's common for rainwater to flow into the filter compartment through gaps in the hood. I once repaired a five-year-old Nissan Sylphy, and when I removed the wiper cover, I found the drainage channel clogged with rotten leaves. Water was leaking directly into the footwell through the blower bracket screw holes. Be especially wary of water accumulation in the spare tire well—rust holes in the rear panel welds can cause leaks that are hard to spot on sunny days. If these hidden issues aren't addressed, you might find mushrooms growing in your car by next year.
There are nuances to mobile car detailing with a vacuum for flood-damaged vehicles: lift the carpet to check for water marks like mapping, as a jammed firewall drain valve can flood the passenger footwell insulation; cracked wiper pivot seals on the windshield may spray water directly into engine bay wiring. Last week, we serviced a Model Y with a tree branch-punctured sunroof drain tube – rainwater seeped along the C-pillar into rear seat latches, short-circuiting the battery module alarm wires. Addressing it promptly just requires replacing a rubber tube, but delaying repairs could lead to five-digit electrical system restoration costs.
