Please Help!

heatherZ13 · 03-08-2013, 07:12 AM

Hello all-

Please be patient lol, I am not very car savy at the moment, but I am slowly learning. I bought a used 2013 370Z 3 weeks ago. Only had 4,000 miles, practically brand new, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. About a week after I bought it, I started to clean the interior, as I removed the floor mats, the driver side floor under the mat was soaked! I figured maybe the dealer shampooed the carpet and just didnt dry it up before putting the mats back on. So I vacuumed up all the moisture, let it dry etc. I get in my car this morning, notice a "musty" smell, touch under the mats again, and what do you know... Wet! And for the record, it hasn't rained here since I washed it about 2 weeks ago. I know its hard to diagnose a problem without seeing it, but does anyone know what that could be from? I am going to take it to the dealer after work, but I'd like to get an idea of what I'm dealing with before they try to pawn some $500 fix on me.

If it matters, there was a system installed by the previous owner, the wires are run under the driver seat and were left, I just taped off the ends so I don't mess up anything.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

LostSol · 03-08-2013, 08:37 AM

It's a 2013, you should still be under the bumper to bumper warranty. They should fix the problem and not ask you for a penny.

cheshirecat · 03-08-2013, 08:53 AM

At the bottom of the windshield is a sort of drain that routes water from the bottom down to the bottom of the car.

It's possible that one of the little rubber pieces up there has come loose, which lets that water run down into the interior.

Take it to the dealer and explain what's happening. You don't have to troubleshoot this.

SouthArk370Z · 03-08-2013, 09:09 AM

Could also be a plugged drain from the A/C evaporator.
Or a hole in the floor, but that's pretty low on my list for such a new car.

cheshirecat · 03-08-2013, 09:40 AM

usually the ac evaporator drains into the passenger side I thought, I dunno

SouthArk370Z · 03-08-2013, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheshirecat

usually the ac evaporator drains into the passenger side I thought, I dunno

You're probably right. Most of the A/C stuff won't fit on the driver's side.

If the car was driven in rain or washed, then the window seal sounds like a suspect. Or a hole in the floor.

If not driven in rain or washed, I'm back to the A/C drain.

kenchan · 03-08-2013, 09:58 AM

it could also be a flooded car...

cheshirecat · 03-08-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

it could also be a flooded car...

There's been a couple of 370z's popping up at shady dealers here in South Florida that were totaled from Hurricane Sandy then shipped down here and "rebuilt".

At least the carfax was documented correctly and the people knew before they purchased.

SouthArk370Z · 03-08-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheshirecat

There's been a couple of 370z's popping up at shady dealers here in South Florida that were totaled from Hurricane Sandy then shipped down here and "rebuilt".

At least the carfax was documented correctly and the people knew before they purchased.

But it's a recurring problem. The car may have been in a flood, but the OP claims to have dried it out and the wetness came back.

But what do I know? I read kenchan's remark as having to do with excess fuel.

cheshirecat · 03-08-2013, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

But it's a recurring problem. The car may have been in a flood, but the OP claims to have dried it out and the wetness came back.
But what do I know? I read kenchan's remark as having to do with excess fuel.

Note I didn't say that I thought this was her issue.

wheee! · 03-08-2013, 10:18 AM

First test driver pee'd themselves....

TexasChuck · 03-08-2013, 01:21 PM

I go with the first answer. On my 2012, the water "ponds" under the wiper arm on drivers side.
Chuck
Houston SE

DIGItonium · 03-08-2013, 01:26 PM

Something you're not telling us, Heather?

Definitely take it back to the dealer since it has only been a few weeks. There's a chance the rubber grommet in the firewall is leaking. When people install audio system, they can remove the grommet to pass wires through the firewall. You need to trace the power wires to see where it goes, which requires looking underneath the dash on the passenger or driver side. If not sealed properly, water will flow through the firewall hole and soak the carpet.

DOOMMONKEY777 · 03-08-2013, 02:08 PM

You must check it is very highly possible to be a flooded car from ny, nj,...we here at nyc are already aware of those things, just becouse there was a flood and well ppl will do anything to make a buck on a brand new slightly flooded 370z by selling it to a dealership in a diff state as used for cheap price (i think they still have to report it flooded) where the dealer sells it for lowww price,,.. srry to break it to you, but u might have a flooded car. Plz check ur vin # with car fax see who owned it hope its not from flooded areas.

heatherZ13 · 03-12-2013, 01:37 PM

You were right, crappy sound install. Instead of drilling through the firewall, they took out a plastic grommet, ran the wires through there and didnt seal anything. To put it in perspective, the hole was about the size of a quarter, and the wires about the size of a dime... And since this was done by the previous owner, I don't know who installed it, therefore am stuck fixing the carpet myself...

03-08-2013, 07:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
heatherZ13 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 28 Drives: 2013 370Z Rep Power: 12	Please Help! Hello all- Please be patient lol, I am not very car savy at the moment, but I am slowly learning. I bought a used 2013 370Z 3 weeks ago. Only had 4,000 miles, practically brand new, it was a deal I couldn't pass up. About a week after I bought it, I started to clean the interior, as I removed the floor mats, the driver side floor under the mat was soaked! I figured maybe the dealer shampooed the carpet and just didnt dry it up before putting the mats back on. So I vacuumed up all the moisture, let it dry etc. I get in my car this morning, notice a "musty" smell, touch under the mats again, and what do you know... Wet! And for the record, it hasn't rained here since I washed it about 2 weeks ago. I know its hard to diagnose a problem without seeing it, but does anyone know what that could be from? I am going to take it to the dealer after work, but I'd like to get an idea of what I'm dealing with before they try to pawn some $500 fix on me. If it matters, there was a system installed by the previous owner, the wires are run under the driver seat and were left, I just taped off the ends so I don't mess up anything. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

03-08-2013, 08:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
LostSol Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,021 Drives: 2010 370z 40th A.E. Rep Power: 15	It's a 2013, you should still be under the bumper to bumper warranty. They should fix the problem and not ask you for a penny. 1st likes this. __________________ 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition #762/1000 \| Forgestar \| Michelin \| Swift \| TRS \| Z Speed \| ARK \| Z1 \| Hawk \| CFE \| Evo-R \| GTMat \| Stillen \| Seibon \| Whiteline \| Pioneer \|

03-08-2013, 08:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	At the bottom of the windshield is a sort of drain that routes water from the bottom down to the bottom of the car. It's possible that one of the little rubber pieces up there has come loose, which lets that water run down into the interior. Take it to the dealer and explain what's happening. You don't have to troubleshoot this. SouthArk370Z and DEpointfive0 like this.

03-08-2013, 09:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324197	Could also be a plugged drain from the A/C evaporator. Or a hole in the floor, but that's pretty low on my list for such a new car. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

03-08-2013, 09:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
cheshirecat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 1,428 Drives: N54 135i Rep Power: 292	usually the ac evaporator drains into the passenger side I thought, I dunno DEpointfive0 and Dlm6568 like this.

03-08-2013, 09:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	it could also be a flooded car... m4a1mustang, Streetlife and DEpointfive0 like this.

03-08-2013, 10:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
wheee! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mod Capital of Canada Age: 57 Posts: 7,354 Drives: cars. lots of cars. Rep Power: 40181	First test driver pee'd themselves.... Leuz likes this. __________________ H&R / Stillen / Berk / HKS / Swift / Michelin / UpRev / SPC / Amuse Rep / Seibon / Fringe XVO / TWM / more... My Journal

03-08-2013, 01:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
TexasChuck Track Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SE Texas Posts: 556 Drives: 2014 Black Cherry Co Rep Power: 13	Windshield Drain I go with the first answer. On my 2012, the water "ponds" under the wiper arm on drivers side. Chuck Houston SE

03-08-2013, 01:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Something you're not telling us, Heather? Definitely take it back to the dealer since it has only been a few weeks. There's a chance the rubber grommet in the firewall is leaking. When people install audio system, they can remove the grommet to pass wires through the firewall. You need to trace the power wires to see where it goes, which requires looking underneath the dash on the passenger or driver side. If not sealed properly, water will flow through the firewall hole and soak the carpet. __________________

03-08-2013, 02:08 PM	#14 (permalink)
DOOMMONKEY777 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Crooklyn Posts: 1,008 Drives: 370Z 6psd-sport-pkg Rep Power: 20	You must check it is very highly possible to be a flooded car from ny, nj,...we here at nyc are already aware of those things, just becouse there was a flood and well ppl will do anything to make a buck on a brand new slightly flooded 370z by selling it to a dealership in a diff state as used for cheap price (i think they still have to report it flooded) where the dealer sells it for lowww price,,.. srry to break it to you, but u might have a flooded car. Plz check ur vin # with car fax see who owned it hope its not from flooded areas. __________________ Kids don't do Drugs, Drugs are bad, so let the professional druggies do Drugs for you. 537whp/496lb/tq@8-9PSI 93 octane

03-12-2013, 01:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
heatherZ13 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 28 Drives: 2013 370Z Rep Power: 12	You were right, crappy sound install. Instead of drilling through the firewall, they took out a plastic grommet, ran the wires through there and didnt seal anything. To put it in perspective, the hole was about the size of a quarter, and the wires about the size of a dime... And since this was done by the previous owner, I don't know who installed it, therefore am stuck fixing the carpet myself...