Wet carpeting in your Subaru can be a problem. For one thing, carpet that stays damp can create a mildew smell that will make your drive much less pleasant. However, it could also indicate other problems that will need attention. For this reason, we recommend scheduling a service appointment at your local Subaru dealership to see what the cause of the problem is.
At Capitol Subaru of Salem, we believe that an informed customer will be able to make the best decisions about their vehicle, which is why we've written service information pages. On this page, you'll find a few of the causes for a wet carpet in your Subaru. Having an idea of what the cause might be can enable you to better understand how factory-trained technicians will service and repair your vehicle.
5. Human Error
Before you get too worried, think about recent events in your car. Has someone spilled a drink on the carpet? Did you track lots of rain inside the vehicle? If something like this has caused the carpet to become wet, there's probably no cause for concern. Simply dry them out and be on your way. However, if the wet spots come back, it's possible that it's another one of these problems instead.
4. Cracked or Loose Weatherstripping
The doors, windows, and even the windshield on your vehicle are not waterproof on their own. Instead, they rely on weatherstripping--the rubbery compound that lines them. Weatherstripping seals the cracks between these components so that water can't make its way in. If the weatherstripping is cracked, or if it has started to come loose, it may not make a tight seal any more.
3. Clogged Moonroof Drain
If your Subaru is equipped with a moonroof, it's another potential culprit. The moonroof has a drainage system that takes water and deposits it outside your car's cabin, where it belongs. If the drain is clogged, water may begin to leak into the interior of your Subaru.
2. Clogged A/C Drain
As you can see, clogged drains are a common cause of leaking inside your vehicle. The air conditioning system in your Subaru makes the interior less humid by removing water vapor from the air and draining it on the ground. If the drainage system has a clog, water may not drain out as it normally does. Eventually, the water can overflow and spill inside the vehicle.
1. Leaky Heater Core
Have you ever wondered how the heater in your vehicle works? It actually uses the cooling system! The coolant absorbs heat from the engine before travelling to the radiator, where the heat is dissipated. Before going to the radiator when the heat is turned, the coolant travels through a thing called the heater core in the dash of your vehicle. Here, a fan will blow the heat from the coolant directly into the cabin of your Subaru through the vents.
A leaking heater core may make the carpet in your Subaru wet. Generally, it's the carpet on the passenger's side. But it's not water that you'll see; it's actually coolant. Because a coolant leak can cause your engine to overheat, it's crucial to get this fixed right away.
Capitol Subaru of Salem
920 Auto Group Ave NE
Salem, OR 97301
- Sales: 503-587-5500
- Service: 503-587-5500
- Parts: 503-587-5500
