Wet carpet under all floormats

[biker90]

Ive been smelling a musty smell lately in my car (06 Avalon) and noticed that under my floormats the carpet was wet by all seats. I jacked up the car from the passenger side and just about behind the front wheel about 1/4 ways under the car ( about where the hump starts from the front passenger seat) there is a little rubber hose barely visible. I blasted it with a air compresser and water started pouring out of it (a cup full) this is the air conditioner condenser run off that somehow got clogged.

[CISA93]

Ewwww, not good news. I saw this at the import shop I worked at. Saw the HVAC mechanic take the evap plastic holder apart (if possible), clean the inside of evaporator container out with a anti-mildew cleaner (placed plastic under the dashboard/and shifting console) and a pan to capture any water. You can get one of these evaporator/condenser cleaner at an autoparts store or contact your local BG distributor, they have this product called Frigifresh).

He would clean the mold/garbage out and then use a squirt/spray pump bottle to spray hot water and get this mess flowing down the drain tube (important that you remove any big debris with you hand and have a shop vac around to help). THen after you get this mess cleaned up, You'll have to let the vehicle air out. On one car we removed the seats/carpet and power washed the carpet on both sides and then vacuumed it, and allowed it to air dry. There was mold underneath the carpeting. Then we had to clean the floorboard. The car stayed about 2 days in the shop so we could air out the vehicle and clean it completely.

After this, I learned it was best to back up your car (if you're drive way goes up at an 10-20 degree angle or uphill) this allows the water to drain out much faster and allows gravity to do it's job. Remember use a good filter and IF you can get the one with the charcoal, look on another thread for that part number under A/C filters. Hope it all works out for you.....this problem has a solution, not easy though!

[Petzuker]

Yep, that's pretty nasty. Same thing happened to my '07 Highlander. The front carpets got very wet before I realized what was happening. I had to lift both sides of the carpet up, and tear out the underneath liner. I let it dry for a few days, then installed new liner (carpet liner from Home Depot) and sprayed disinfectant and deodorizer everywhere before reinstalling the carpet.

What a mess..... I now periodically squeeze the AC discharge hose to make sure that it's not clogged.

[grandpapa]

Originally Posted by Petzuker

Yep, that's pretty nasty. Same thing happened to my '07 Highlander. The front carpets got very wet before I realized what was happening. I had to lift both sides of the carpet up, and tear out the underneath liner. I let it dry for a few days, then installed new liner (carpet liner from Home Depot) and sprayed disinfectant and deodorizer everywhere before reinstalling the carpet.

What a mess..... I now periodically squeeze the AC discharge hose to make sure that it's not clogged.

So where is the AC discharge hose on Avalon and Highlander? We have both in the family, thanks

[Petzuker]

Highlander - It is located behind the front passenger left side kick panel (about 6" tall and 12" long, beneath the center console). Two press-in black fasteners hold it in place. Remove them by pulling the top front edge of this panel outward, then it pivots out toward the rear. The drain hose has a pretty good pre-formed bend to it. You can't miss it. I squeeze this hose at various points to make sure that it is not clogged.

Avalon - Probably in a similar location. I haven't looked for it yet. This car is new to the family.