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Water in car problem

Posted on 9/2/15 at 1:36 am
Posted by Saints67LSU85
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2008
34 posts
Posted on 9/2/15 at 1:36 am
I have a Cadillac that has been setting up for awhile that i'm finally getting around to working on. My question is that due to a leaking sunroof water has seeped into the carpet and trunk and I believe mold is starting to grow. Is there a way for me to disinfect and clean the carpet as well as the dashboard, steering wheel, etc...? I want to start driving this vehicle again but don't want to get sick doing it. Thanks.
Posted by blue_morrison
Member since Jan 2013
5921 posts
Posted on 9/2/15 at 1:42 am to
bleach
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43031 posts
Posted on 9/2/15 at 2:00 am to
Leave the carpet out in the sun for a couple of days and then shampoo. Wipe off everything else
Posted by tiger114
Fairhope, AL
Member since Sep 2009
5235 posts
Posted on 9/2/15 at 2:58 am to
To get water to stop leaking in the sunroof, try pouring bleak in the little holes around the edge of the sunroof. Those are drain holes and they are probably clogged with algae and dirt. Bleach will flush it out.
Posted by Saints67LSU85
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2008
34 posts
Posted on 9/3/15 at 11:23 pm to
Thanks for all the suggestions. Bleach was my first idea but I thought that would cause the color to fade. Hoped you guys could help me come up with an alternative. Appreciate your input.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
73346 posts
Posted on 9/3/15 at 11:26 pm to
Step One:
Stop parking it in a pond.
Posted by Walt OReilly
Poplarville, MS
Member since Oct 2005
124694 posts
Posted on 9/3/15 at 11:33 pm to
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15684 posts
Posted on 9/3/15 at 11:39 pm to
If the bleach doesn't flush out the debris you will have some cool looking white spots in the carpet
Posted by Yung_Humma
Member since Oct 2013
849 posts
Posted on 9/4/15 at 1:06 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 6/20/16 at 10:34 pm
Posted by dewster
Chicago
Member since Aug 2006
26555 posts
Posted on 9/4/15 at 1:11 am to
quote:

Is there a way for me to disinfect and clean the carpet as well as the dashboard, steering wheel, etc...? I want to start driving this vehicle again but don't want to get sick doing it. Thanks.


This happened in the trunk on both of our Camrys growing up. One was caused by a bad trunk seal, the other was caused by a missing under-body trunk vent that the manufacturer forgot to install (so the tires would splash water into the cutout for said vent). It actually caused the spare tire to get rusted onto the mounts in the spare tire well.

You'll probably need to rent a carpet shampoo device like a Rug Doctor to handle the mildew smell in the head liner and trunk liner (make sure the trunk liner isn't backed by cardboard like some of the Japanese cars first). If the trunk liner is soaked and collapsed, it's easy to buy another and reinstall. Don't be too liberal with that cleaner because too much moisture can cause fluff pulp junk manufacturers use to quell road noise in the headliner to sag. It's better to clean, let it dry, clean again, and repeat until the odor is gone.

There's a dehumidifier bag products you can buy on Amazon that will keep the interior dry in case there's still a small leak after you clean it. Throw a few of those in the trunk and in the cabin and replace every couple of weeks.

Obviously the car needs to be covered or the sunroof needs to be repaired. I imagine there might be leaves or algae clogging up the sun roof drains. The suggestion about bleach and maybe a small brush might be a good start for repairing it.
This post was edited on 9/4/15 at 1:19 am
Posted by retired trucker
midwest
Member since Feb 2015
5093 posts
Posted on 9/4/15 at 1:14 am to
ozone bro.....seriously, ozone

it's a bad arse mo-fo

you'll have to search for a service that does it for you....one or two shock treatments should do it.
like 2, 30-45 minute blasts....one might do it.

bleach will reek like a bitch...I wouldn't go that route myself, but I have a powerful ozone blaster...puts out 14,000mg per hour

it'll kill mold and mildew odors like nobody's business
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