passenger side carpet wet
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
passenger side carpet wet
hi.quick question I would like an answer to. I recently bought a 1988 corvette convertible and someone at work told me a month ago that ALL convertibles have drain holes on the undercarriage that are supposed to drain the water that falls from the roof of the convertible and that sometimes these drain holes get blocked with mud or debris.Well today I noticed that the passenger side floor mat and carpet arte soaking wet. Could this be due to a blocked drain or drains and if so how do I unblock them??????
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
In front of the winshield is the cowl vent system. There are (if I remember correctly) three drains for the vent system. The first is behind the battery. You should see a black rubber teat. In the bottom of the teat is a slit. You squeeze it to allow dirt and debris to come out and unclog. Near the winshield wiper system should be a second. Behind the removable lower front fender panel on the passenger side is the third. When the drains clog the water usually comes into the passenger side and soaks the passenger floor. I and others have had the same problem. Unclog the drains and see what happens. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,773
Likes: 178
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
But the Corvette's convertible top does not tuck under like that.
It rests on the outside of the body panels.
So, no drains required due to the convertible top.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,939
Likes: 1
From: Vero Beach Florida
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 357
Likes: 15
From: Marshville, NC
If it is the core it will not get any better my friend.....
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
this might be a stupid question but does it only leak into the car when the heater is being used and also is it a priority to change or can I wait till next spring or summer??? by the way thanks for all the info.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 497
Likes: 1
No way. Change ASAP. I mean... it SUCKS!! Took me 3 weeks (got mad) on my 90. It mighr be easier on the 88 cause differnet interior. But I would say change it sooner rather than later. Honestly.. its frustrating enough that if your not experienced on working on cars id say pay someone to do it.
The antifreeze ate up the carpet on my passenger side.. ended up costing way more than just the heater core.
With winter coming up also... dont you think it would be best to actually have heat?
The antifreeze ate up the carpet on my passenger side.. ended up costing way more than just the heater core.
With winter coming up also... dont you think it would be best to actually have heat?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 497
Likes: 1
No way. Change ASAP. I mean... it SUCKS!! Took me 3 weeks (got mad) on my 90. It mighr be easier on the 88 cause differnet interior. But I would say change it sooner rather than later. Honestly.. its frustrating enough that if your not experienced on working on cars id say pay someone to do it.
The antifreeze ate up the carpet on my passenger side.. ended up costing way more than just the heater core.
With winter coming up also... dont you think it would be best to actually have heat?
The antifreeze ate up the carpet on my passenger side.. ended up costing way more than just the heater core.
With winter coming up also... dont you think it would be best to actually have heat?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
thanks for the advice DHobbs, I really appreciate it. I will check next week to see how much it would cost me to get it fixed. You said the antifreeze ate up your carpet but wouldnt I be able to smell or see the antifreeze on the carpet??? when I noticed the carpet was wet today it looked and smelled like only water..
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
Sorry to get back to this thread so late - had to go out. joey.k before you start to tear your dashboard and heater system apart please do yourself a favor and check the cowl vents - both coupe and vert have them. If the passenger side is not clogged, then check the weatherstripping. Unless you smell the sickly sweet smell of antifreeze, there is a good chance it is a water leak (unless the PO used only water in the cooling system - not likely). Tomorrow I'll take a look at the locations of the cowl vent drains and get back to you.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
hey Silver96ce thanks for getting back to me. When I checked the car earlier today I checked the floor mat and carpetting and there was no smell of antifreeze so I am hoping its only a water leak. When I checked the coolant a few weeks ago it was green so I am thinking that if it was leaing in the car I would at least smell it or see the green coolant on the carpet. I would love it if you got back to me tomorrow sometime with the locations of the cowl vent drains. thanks once again.l
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 61
From: New Jersey
Okay, look directly behind the battery - you should see a long rubber hose, that's no. 1. In the bottom of the hose is a slit, squeeze the bottom and it will open allowing any debris to fall out.
Next look into the center of the cowl vent and start to move your eyes toward the drivers side. After a few inches you should see a small hole. Directly under that, midway between the windshield wiper motor and the brake booster is a rubber hose (much shorter than the one behind the battery). That is no. 2. It is set back so use a flashlight to find it.
Then behind the lower access panel (the body panel directly behind the front passenger wheel) on the passenger side, on the bottom of the blower box is another rubber hose. That is no. 3 and the most important. If that blocks up water backs up in the HVAC system and comes out at the lowest point over the passenger floor boards. You'll have to remove the access panel to get to it. It comes off just the same as the panel to access the battery for replacement.
Next look into the center of the cowl vent and start to move your eyes toward the drivers side. After a few inches you should see a small hole. Directly under that, midway between the windshield wiper motor and the brake booster is a rubber hose (much shorter than the one behind the battery). That is no. 2. It is set back so use a flashlight to find it.
Then behind the lower access panel (the body panel directly behind the front passenger wheel) on the passenger side, on the bottom of the blower box is another rubber hose. That is no. 3 and the most important. If that blocks up water backs up in the HVAC system and comes out at the lowest point over the passenger floor boards. You'll have to remove the access panel to get to it. It comes off just the same as the panel to access the battery for replacement.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
It is clogged drains. I used a wire clotheshanger all straightened out and the garden hose to clean my drains. No more wet carpet.
Get the first one behind the battery clean then move to #3 and clean it out.
Next, flood the center cowl area with water until you see the depression for #2. If you dislodge lots of debris you may need to do #1 and #3 again. Try to steer the debris toward #1 since it is easier to access. Once you find #2 you can rod it out with the clotheshanger while flooding it from the top. Work the clotheshanger around until you can see all the way to the bottom.
Go back and check #1 and #3 again.
Done.
Get the first one behind the battery clean then move to #3 and clean it out.
Next, flood the center cowl area with water until you see the depression for #2. If you dislodge lots of debris you may need to do #1 and #3 again. Try to steer the debris toward #1 since it is easier to access. Once you find #2 you can rod it out with the clotheshanger while flooding it from the top. Work the clotheshanger around until you can see all the way to the bottom.
Go back and check #1 and #3 again.
Done.
Last edited by bassackwards; Oct 12, 2013 at 03:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
I totally agree with you Kiwi1. I love beng a part of this forum and thank you to everyone that took the time to answer my questions and help me with my problems. Great job guys and thak you.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: plattsburgh new york
hey silver96ce thank god I checked those cowl vents cause one of them was blocked. I found all 3. After checking on the floor mat again today I founfd that it was only water and not antifreeze so I am thinking its a leak in the door or window moulding and that it was probably due to all the heavy rain we had here last week. Without your help I probably would have spent a small fortune on having the car checked at the garage.I will pay attention the next time it rains and see if it leaks again. I dried the floor mat and carpet today and there is no damage. Thanks for your help buddy.