When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it ForumIf you've got a problem you just can't figure out, a noise you can't diagnose, or a Check Engine Light that won't go away, ask about it here!
I own a 2012 Honda Civic EX and also has a leak in the passenger footwell. I pulled up the mat and see this black plastic casing. I pushed down on it and water comes out. Does anyone know what this casing is for and how to remove it and what might cause a leak of water into it. The leak is from the rain. Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks
Attached is a picture.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leak somewhere on passenger side
I think that black part in the pic is the firewall sound deadener. It's like a layer of rubber with half inch thick wool felt under it, and it soaks up a LOT of water.
That sound deadener itself cannot leak, it's simply pushed up against the firewall before the dashboard related stuff was installed. Leak has to be coming from somewhere though.
Has it ever had a windshield replaced?
Stereo/amplifier hot wire coming thru the firewall?
See if the drain hose for the evaporator case is detached.
See if sunroof drain tube is out of place allowing water to reach the floor.
Ezone,
Thank you for replying. Windshield has not been replaced. Not sure if hot wire is coming thru the firewall. I will look at youtube to see how I can locate the evap case drain hose and the drain tube for the sunroof. Can the sunroof drain cause the front passenger footwell to be soaking and nothing else? The funny thing was that my driver's side was wet first and now that's dry, the passenger side is wet.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Not sure if hot wire is coming thru the firewall.
Only if someone ever installed a sub and amp.
The funny thing was that my driver's side was wet first and now that's dry, the passenger side is wet.
Lift up carpet....Front, rear, both sides...... you'll probably find the padding underneath is still soaked far more than what's wet on top. If the front is wet, water has probably made it to the rear seat foot area too. Under the carpet.
It will eventually stink of mildew if you can't get it all cleaned and dried out.
Can the sunroof drain cause the front passenger footwell to be soaking and nothing else?
Sure.
Front sunroof drain tubes come down the two A pillars and probably exit thru the sheetmetal to the outside somewhere behind the kick panels. Look for black plastic or rubber tubing maybe 1/2-3/4 inch diameter.
Evaporator drain tube is attached to the heater/AC housing, starts on top of the center tunnel and snakes toward the passengers front footrest area, I think it exits out the firewall. Also a black rubber tube.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Originally Posted by Gigga
do you live in north florida so you can help me look for the leak?
No, sorry.
Originally Posted by Gigga
that's a lot of work to lift up the entire carpet. hope it's all dried up when i get back.
Not really. Pull off the trims along door sills and stick your hand down under the carpet to feel the padding and floor.
Water trapped under the carpet won't dry anytime soon. It will mildew before it dries out on its own.
If you really want to find the source, sometimes pulling the carpet out makes it a lot easier to find where water is really entering at.
Originally Posted by Gigga
How would I check to see if the tubes are blocked?
Not blocked, blocked would make water not drain out of the roof area. that makes a huge mess in the roof.....
You're looking for more like detached tubes in the kick panel areas.
Open the roof, pour water into the drain hole(s) in front. Water should drain out behind the front wheels.
When I hosed the right side of car/windshield, I noticed the leak in the corner where the yellowish section is, up behind the black plastic. Any ideas? I didnt spray the sunroof.
Thanks in advance.
To follow it, I have to get the sound deadener thingy off, right? i dont know how to do that.
That's what Im going to do this weekend. just pour it in a little at a time. rain's gonna come again tonight so i covered that section with some plastic.
thanks.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Originally Posted by Gigga
To follow it, I have to get the sound deadener thingy off, right? i dont know how to do that.
Only far enough to figure out where the leak comes in, not peel the entire layer off....that probably would require pulling the entire dashboard out.
Pull up what you can and hold it out of the way so you can see if water enters somewhere it was covering
Flop open the glovebox all the way to the floor and peep around the blower housing and air intake area where the blower attaches to the underside of the cowl area. Use a good flashlight, have someone else hose down the outside while you watch from inside?
Ezone,
Still havent' found my leak. I thought the windshield drain pan was clogged but doesnt seem so. Im still looking. Do you have any idea why i have a couple of drops of some liquid thats greasy. Doesn't smell or anything. I cant find anything online about it. But the drops are right on the carpet, back right side. Any ideas?
thanks.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Do you have any idea why i have a couple of drops of some liquid thats greasy. Doesn't smell or anything. I cant find anything online about it. But the drops are right on the carpet, back right side.
Got pics of where?
Color?
What's directly above the drops?
I didn't take pics. Picture u r sitting on the center of the backseat and about 4 inches right from the center and on the carpet. I looked up and the ceiling is dry. Such a mystery. I touched it and it felt greasy and under my passenger seat, I have a brown paper bag there that looks greasy also. Under the seat doesnt feel wet. And there's no color of the fluid.
Maybe I should sell my car.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Originally Posted by Gigga
Such a mystery. I touched it and it felt greasy and under my passenger seat, I have a brown paper bag there that looks greasy also. Under the seat doesnt feel wet. And there's no color of the fluid.
Never mind. I think it's from damprid. Somehow a couple of those ***** went to the back side.
Is there some kind of sealant under the cowl? I poured water down the cowl and it leaks. But I pulled the cowl and looked at the windshield drain and there doesnt seem to be anything blocked. I just used a small pot of water and poured it down the cowl and i see the leak in the corner.
Thanks for replying.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
Re: Leaking water on passenger side
Sounds like you're narrowing it down
You could pull the center section (?) of the wiper cowl panel out (black panel), Get a good light and look around. Probably lots of body seam sealer covering places where body panels meet or overlap. That's the stuff that looks like caulking, and it's probably been painted body color on the outside areas.
If problem is not found there, then pulling the plastic wheelwell liner out might be a next step.....so you can see up inside between the fender and cabin areas. Mirror and flashlight....
Spray dishsoapy water all over suspect areas and turn on the blower fan on fresh air with the windows rolled up, see if it blows bubbles anywhere
Kinda seems likely there's a bad spot in the seam sealer, or not enough was applied (a gap) somewhere.
I found this guy's solution to a leak problem that sounds like mine.
"I found where the leak's coming from.. it seems to come out from a worn seal ( the one that honda uses to stick metal to metal) at the back of the dash board...Its not from the hole where the wires go into the cabin (where i expected it to be) I think mine could be somewhat a factory error.. maybe they applied a thinner sealant than what their suppose to apply, that's why, over time, water penetrated??
Oh well, I applied some weatherproof silicone rubber sealant thingy on that area... it was really hard to reach!! but hopefully it'll do it.. Ill test it after 1 week, but for now, ill have to let it dry.."
