I noticed my driver's side floorboard was wet when I was cleaning my car yesterday. I pulled up the floor mat and had to use my shop vac to vacum the water out. I think this may have been going on for a while because I have noticed some dampness in my floor mat before, but just thought it was from wet feet, etc. while I was washing it. I can't find anywhere it is coming from. Any ideas? Also, I read a post about fuel additives which I can't seem to find anymore and I think Tech recommended something called Techron II, but I am not sure. Would you please let me know what it was? Thanks! I drive a 2000 S80 T6 with appx. 152,000 miles.

 

Yup it is Techron but I am not sure about the dampness on the floorboard. You'll have to wait till some better help gets here, sorry.

 

There are a few situations that can cause water to build up on the floor.

The simplest is check to make sure the passenger side window is closed all the way. I know it sounds simple, but I've seen it happen.

The rest in no particular order...

One of the undercarriage plugs is leaking. The carpet will need to be lifted out and the plugs checked.
Leak in the windshield causing water to leak into the car and down the firewall.
Heater core leak will cause water to pool in the driver side. Usually you'll smell some antifreeze, but it could be very mild.

 

Sunroof drain might have come off by the windsheild.

 

Now that I think about it, itseems like the water is coming from underneath because the carpet was wetter than the floormat if that makes any sense. This heater core leak, would that cause my car to lose coolant because I did have to add coolant recently.

 

Yes it would cause you to lose coolant but like jlewisinsyr said you would most likely be able to smell it unless it is a small leak. Does the floorboard smell like coolant? Also, there are other reasons you may have needed to add coolant. My '99 came up with a message saying "coolant low" or something like that and I added a little more 50/50 Coolant and water mix and have not had any problems since. That was about 2000 miles ago and the level is still where it is after I added more anti-freeze.

 

I really don't smell anything so I am not sure what it is. It seems to just smell like water. I am sorta stumped (but thats not unusual). I am going to take it to my Volvo mechanic next week, so I will let you know what it was.

 

I know this sounds gross, but if you can get some of the water on your finger, and taste it, if its sweet it most likely is coolant. Depending on the type of coolant and the mixture of water to coolant it might not have a strong smell.

 

Well I had to add coolant to my car again so it may be coolant in my floorboard. I did like you said (YUCK) and tasted it, it might have a little of a sweet taste. I can't really be sure, I didn't want to taste too much of it (LOL). If this happens to be my problem does anyone know appx. how much it will cost to fix?

 

Oh yeah one more thing I forgot. There is a small hissing noise coming from the drivers side of the car. It hisses while I am applying the gas and goes away when I apply the brakes. It is a really faint noise, I can barely hear it, but my kids can. I don't know it it has anything to do with the wet floorboard or not.

 

Has the subframe ever been out of the car?

 

Has the subframe ever been out of the car?

 

No, not to my knowledge, but I am the 2nd owner.

 

Just to keep everyone posted. Took the car to my mechanic and it was the heater hose, it WAS coolant which was leaking into my car. The hose has been replaced and the car is doing fine; didn't cost an arm and a leg either so I am a happy Volvo owner once again.

 

Excellent news...

 

Sounds like your brake booster is starting to leak. To fix it you will need to replace it. May cost around $1,000.00

 

I am confused.... Why does it sound like my bake booster is starting to leak?

 

I was refering to the hiss noise that you posted at the end of page #1 in this forum dated 3/19/08.

 

OK, I didn't understand. I forgot to mention the hissing noise to my mechanic. I can' hear it, but my kids can. Maybe it was the heater hose (I hope) and not the $1000.00 thing you mentioned.(LOL) I should have known I got off too easy last time.

 

I just pulled my passenger side carpet out and the foam was soaked. The water is coming from above on the back side of the foam and eventually soaking through to the carpet. Yea it's been raining alot and no I didn't drive through significant standing water. I removed the plenum chamber and gutter and all the body putty looks fine, plus the water dam gasket seal above the blower fan motor is in good shape. I'm stumped. Are there additional drains I need to check? I'm the second owner so I don't know if the subframe has ever been out of the car. Any suggestions...thanks, George