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Floor Soaked

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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pwang100
Posts: 5
Joined: 11 September 2009
Year and Model: 1996 850T
Location: Los Angeles

Floor Soaked

Post by pwang100 »

After the recent rains in Southern Ca, I found my '96 850 sedan floor soaked with water. I used a carpet steam cleaner to suck out a bunch of water. I then pulled up the carpet, and the pad underneath is soaked. The moisture is limited to the right rear passenger foot well. No other area is wet. No vertical portion is moist, only the floor.
I searched posts, and I saw entries about sunroof and windshield leaks causing interior moisture, but I would expect to find moisture in additional places if this were my issue. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

jblackburn
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Post by jblackburn »

There are windshield drains on the pass. side of the engine compartment - follow the 2 rubber tubes at the back of the engine that don't lead to anything (take a close look, you should be able see what I'm talking about if the 850 is the same there as the S70). Take a hose nozzle to one of these and blow some water up it to clean out the drain there, then test out the windshield drain. Clean out the drain on the windshield area as well - I'd think a screwdriver and a vacuum should work.

My friend's Integra will pee on your foot after it's rained in the exact same location as yours inside

There are also sunroof drains - it is possible that one of these are clogged. Again, take a hose and see if they're working correctly.

Those are the most likely causes unless you have been using the A/C?
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

pwang100
Posts: 5
Joined: 11 September 2009
Year and Model: 1996 850T
Location: Los Angeles

Post by pwang100 »

I will check those drains. Thanks for the info. I'm pretty confident it isnt A/C related. Its been raining hard and cold as hell. I wasnt running the AC.

phat78ta
Posts: 281
Joined: 21 January 2010
Year and Model: 94 850 turbo wagon
Location: ohio

Post by phat78ta »

Check the trunk and the spare tire well. If they are wet, chances are the rear deck drain line is leaking into the trunk. that will cause water to run down behind the rear seat, puddle under the seat, and ultimately the floorboard in the rear. I'm almost 100% sure this is your problem, assuming that you checked the door seals for leaks and made sure they are not falling off the mounting lip.
93 850 GLT sedan 156K
94 850 Turbo 189K

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

This is why I should start reading things carefully. I didn't see that much-important "rear" word in your description, I just saw "passenger side footwell".

Ignore my first reply, they are indeed right. I have had my spare tire well filled with water as well before :mrgreen:
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

pwang100
Posts: 5
Joined: 11 September 2009
Year and Model: 1996 850T
Location: Los Angeles

Post by pwang100 »

I spent the afternoon tearing apart the car. The passenger side trunk drain line was corroded, and disconnected. This jibes with what you guys are telling me. The trunk and spare tire area were a little moist, but NOTHING like the amount of water that was found in the rear passenger footwell area. I would think the trunk area and the bottom of the rear seat would have exhibited more moisture, but maybe not. Now I have to figure out how to fix/ replace that drain tube. The connection part to the trunk was completed corroded, so brittle that is comes apart in pieces. There isnt enough for me to connect the hose to.
Thanks for all your input, I'm not real good with cars :cry:

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