3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001
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Hello, fellow Toyota owners. I have a 1998 Toyota Camry LE (6-cylinder) and I have been experiencing some water in my floor boards only on the driver's side. First, you would think it would be rust/hole under the car. But, I have finally discovered what has been leaking all this time. I am not completely sure what it is, or how to fix it. So I am reaching out to you all in order to have this fixed as soon as possible. Pictures are provided below of where the leak is; the location of the picture is behind the center of the dash. (Where the stereo, in-car thermostat, and power outlets)
The red arrow points to where the leak is coming from. This is producing massive amounts of water and is soaking my floorboards and carpet. PLEASE HELP!
Only two things that can leak "water" in that area -- the heater core (which would leak coolant, and smell strongly of antifreeze) or the A/C evaporator, which would leak water, and only when you're running the A/C.
Given the time of year, I'll assume it's the second. Check for a clogged A/C drain hose -- you'll have to pull away the carpet under the dash passenger side near the center of the car to get to the hose. It disconnects pretty easily, and you can blow it out or whatever to clean it out.
The Following User Says Thank You to hill8570 For This Useful Post:
Where your red arrow shows is the heater core. If you have access to a Haynes manual, it is in Chapter 3 under Cooling, heating & air conditioning systems. Section 12. Look at 12.6 in the manual, it has pretty good pictures and instructions on how to take it out to replace. Did it rust through? The heater core is part of the heater/air conditioning unit.
Definitely agree with above that it is probably the AC drain line stopped up. The heater core would definitely have the antifreeze smell if it was leaking that bad. Is there any water coming out from under the car with the AC running? If not, that is a good sign of a stopped up drain line. I would definitely check that out first, an easy fix.
Good luck,
Only two things that can leak "water" in that area -- the heater core (which would leak coolant, and smell strongly of antifreeze) or the A/C evaporator, which would leak water, and only when you're running the A/C.
Given the time of year, I'll assume it's the second. Check for a clogged A/C drain hose -- you'll have to pull away the carpet under the dash passenger side near the center of the car to get to the hose. It disconnects pretty easily, and you can blow it out or whatever to clean it out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr.nitro
I was going to say ac as well. I had it happen to an old monte carlo I owned. it would puddle up on the pass side whenever I used the ac
I did disconnect the hose, but once I did a massive amount of water purged out. However, the car nor the A/C was running at the time. So this is making me to believe it was a clogged A/C draining hose, but should all of that came out while the car was not running?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dave1811
Where your red arrow shows is the heater core. If you have access to a Haynes manual, it is in Chapter 3 under Cooling, heating & air conditioning systems. Section 12. Look at 12.6 in the manual, it has pretty good pictures and instructions on how to take it out to replace. Did it rust through? The heater core is part of the heater/air conditioning unit.
Definitely agree with above that it is probably the AC drain line stopped up. The heater core would definitely have the antifreeze smell if it was leaking that bad. Is there any water coming out from under the car with the AC running? If not, that is a good sign of a stopped up drain line. I would definitely check that out first, an easy fix.
Good luck,
Dave
I recently just acquired a Haynes Manual and glad I did. Makes me feel more comfortable working on my car; not having a background in mechanics. I didn't check to see if water was coming out of the car, but a situation happened (stated above). The fluid did not smell like antifreeze, but there was plenty of it. It managed to soak my entire passenger side, so now I all the carpet pulled up and drying under a fan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zembonez
Your heater core needs to be replaced.
How are you sure? I did not smell any sort of antifreeze.
Thank you for everyone's help so far! You will all be "thanked" in the end.
I did disconnect the hose, but once I did a massive amount of water purged out. However, the car nor the A/C was running at the time. So this is making me to believe it was a clogged A/C draining hose, but should all of that came out while the car was not running?
I recently just acquired a Haynes Manual and glad I did. Makes me feel more comfortable working on my car; not having a background in mechanics. I didn't check to see if water was coming out of the car, but a situation happened (stated above). The fluid did not smell like antifreeze, but there was plenty of it. It managed to soak my entire passenger side, so now I all the carpet pulled up and drying under a fan.
How are you sure? I did not smell any sort of antifreeze.
Thank you for everyone's help so far! You will all be "thanked" in the end.
That brass colored thing in your pic is the heater core (basically a small radiator). Hot coolant from the engine is passed thru it to heat the interior. So when you disconnected the hose, the coolant above the joint drained out due to gravity. Given how low it's mounted relative to the engine, I'm guessing quite a bit would eventually drain out... perhaps a gallon or more?
If it doesn't smell like antifreeze, perhaps the coolant in your car is a very weak mix?... less than the 50% recommended?... or maybe its just plain water? Open the cap on the coolant reservoir and give it a sniff. It should smell sweet. BTW, judging by that rusty-colored puddle underneath it, I'm thinkin' the coolant hasn't been changed in a looooooong time. Now would be a good time to fully drain it and fill with fresh coolant.
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1996 Avalon XLS, ABS brakes, moonroof, white, acquired w/ 139k miles, now at 261k.
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you can check the drain line for the AC evaporator by crawling under the car and use something to poke through the hose. the hose is only about 8" long.
but i think the evaporator and heater core are separated enough where if the evaporator drain was blocked, it would pour into the passenger side compartment and not through the heater core compartment into the driver's side. it might not smell or look like typical coolant leaking because of the rust mixed into the system and heater core.
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I did disconnect the hose, but once I did a massive amount of water purged out. However, the car nor the A/C was running at the time. So this is making me to believe it was a clogged A/C draining hose, but should all of that came out while the car was not running?
...I did not smell any sort of antifreeze
If it's really backed up, that's leftover from the times the A/C was running (IIRC, this time of year Missouri has a 50/50 mix of water vapor and air, so there's lot of water to extract when the A/C is running). It's gotta be a lot, since you generally don't see it back up on the driver's side.
Like BMR said, give the overflow reservoir or the radiator itself a look-see and a sniff test -- if the coolant doesn't look and smell like more-or-less pure water, it sure seems unlikely that this is from the heater core. You could always run the car with the heat on to check -- that will open the valve to route coolant through the heater core...if you get drippy drippy, it's heater core time. Similar check for the A/C -- run A/C on high (heater off) and see what you get. Given Missouri humidity, shouldn't take long to see results.
The Following User Says Thank You to hill8570 For This Useful Post:
That brass colored thing in your pic is the heater core (basically a small radiator). Hot coolant from the engine is passed thru it to heat the interior. So when you disconnected the hose, the coolant above the joint drained out due to gravity. Given how low it's mounted relative to the engine, I'm guessing quite a bit would eventually drain out... perhaps a gallon or more?
If it doesn't smell like antifreeze, perhaps the coolant in your car is a very weak mix?... less than the 50% recommended?... or maybe its just plain water? Open the cap on the coolant reservoir and give it a sniff. It should smell sweet. BTW, judging by that rusty-colored puddle underneath it, I'm thinkin' the coolant hasn't been changed in a looooooong time. Now would be a good time to fully drain it and fill with fresh coolant.
The hose I disconnected last night was the A/C evaporator hose, and cleared it out with a garden hose. Today, I did verify it is working and draining properly. I did take a whiff of the reservoir and it did smell somewhat sweet. But, I do plan on flushing the coolant this week when I am "attempting" to change my timing belt, idlers, and water pump.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ghettosled
you can check the drain line for the AC evaporator by crawling under the car and use something to poke through the hose. the hose is only about 8" long.
but i think the evaporator and heater core are separated enough where if the evaporator drain was blocked, it would pour into the passenger side compartment and not through the heater core compartment into the driver's side. it might not smell or look like typical coolant leaking because of the rust mixed into the system and heater core.
Yea, when I pulled the A/C evaporator hose out, all the "fluid" directed into the passenger side. I did verify that the hose is now draining/working correctly as stated from hill8570's suggestions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hill8570
If it's really backed up, that's leftover from the times the A/C was running (IIRC, this time of year Missouri has a 50/50 mix of water vapor and air, so there's lot of water to extract when the A/C is running). It's gotta be a lot, since you generally don't see it back up on the driver's side.
Like BMR said, give the overflow reservoir or the radiator itself a look-see and a sniff test -- if the coolant doesn't look and smell like more-or-less pure water, it sure seems unlikely that this is from the heater core. You could always run the car with the heat on to check -- that will open the valve to route coolant through the heater core...if you get drippy drippy, it's heater core time. Similar check for the A/C -- run A/C on high (heater off) and see what you get. Given Missouri humidity, shouldn't take long to see results.
I did try out your suggestions with the heater and A/C. The results showed that the A/C hose is properly working. But, when using the heat, the heater core did leak for a very short amount of time. So I am not completely sure if it the heater core, or it was the A/C hose back up that caused the leak. I guess only time will tell, but I am still iffy on either one considering the "fluid" did not have a antifreeze smell.
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Leaking Fluid Under Dash
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