You got to be some of the coolest parents. 
wet carpet
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
wet carpet
We just purchased our son a 1979 for his first car. When we run the car, the carpet is damp on the passenger side. This occurs with or without the a/c on. The water is clear, no coolant or smell. We took it to a shop and they couldn't find it. We pulled the carpet up and still no luck. The car is garaged so no outside water, does anyone have any ideas? Thanks,
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
No AC on and no rain? the only thing left is coolant. You probably are running straight water in the coolling system, and the heater core is leaking. That's fairly common for a car that age. Not that difficult to repair, and if you plan on keeping the car a while, go ahead and remove the whole dash unit which will make replacing that core a lot easier. While you're in there, replace the vacuum manifold for the heater/AC control.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,135
Likes: 71
From: Umeå Sweden
you are some really nice parents too buy a vette too your son!!!
did you drive the car when it rained?
does it come there when the car is parked in the garage??
sounds like the heater is leaking but then i should be some
coolant in it,ore maybe you are driving with only water in it.
did you wash it?,maybe it leaked into it then?
did you drive the car when it rained?
does it come there when the car is parked in the garage??
sounds like the heater is leaking but then i should be some
coolant in it,ore maybe you are driving with only water in it.
did you wash it?,maybe it leaked into it then?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
No we are running coolant and not water, that is the part that has us puzzled. The car has only been washed once (1 week ago). The carpet was dry and then we took it on an hour's drive and the carpet is wet again. Dry day, not mud puddles, nothing. We thought heater core, but no smell or color. There is about a quarter size drop of the same clear liquid when we park it back in the garage.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 649
Likes: 2
From: Red Bank NJ
Just a thought. Being the father of three and two of which love cars. Maybe consider a driving school for your son. My son is very knowledgeable about cars. However he still put our Vette into a phonepole. A friend of mine who races all kinds of cars knew the turn he crashed on and said it was because of his inexperince with the perfomance characteristics of a Vette. No injury he learned how much he didn't know. Car is fixed he is ok. But a Vette is a hell of temptation for a young driver. With that said it is a great way to spend time with your son. Best of luck. 
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: MA
Agree
I agree with the idea of some sort of driving course. I've been a Vette driver for 12 years (since I was 16). The fastest and most uneducated driving I ever did was between 17-19 years old. The word temptation doesn't suffice. Please be careful.
Strangely enough I noticed the exact same problem on my '69 last night-- a wet passenger's side carpet. Hadn't noticed this before. Just like you, there was no coolant or weird smell in the fluid. I have an aftermarket A/C with ducts that open into the passenger side dash just below the map pocket. It's pretty dark in my gargage at night but I did manage to find a loose hose somewhere down there. Also of note is that yesterday was the first day I used the A/C. I think all these clues point to a leak in the A/C condensation run off. Maybe it's the same for you. I'm going to take a look today with better lighting. Seems like it may not be that big of a deal.
Joe
Strangely enough I noticed the exact same problem on my '69 last night-- a wet passenger's side carpet. Hadn't noticed this before. Just like you, there was no coolant or weird smell in the fluid. I have an aftermarket A/C with ducts that open into the passenger side dash just below the map pocket. It's pretty dark in my gargage at night but I did manage to find a loose hose somewhere down there. Also of note is that yesterday was the first day I used the A/C. I think all these clues point to a leak in the A/C condensation run off. Maybe it's the same for you. I'm going to take a look today with better lighting. Seems like it may not be that big of a deal.
Joe
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 6
From: Bloomington MN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Where on the car is the catalytic converter located? I know on my 93 Ranger, the carpet gets wet right above where the converter sits...especially if you leave something on top of the carpet. It must have something to do with the evaporating/condensing effect.
