Question: I was parked on the street during a rainstorm. Now the inside of my car is wet. What gives? Why is my car floor wet when it rains?
Answer: A wet car floor after a rain could be a sign there is a problem with the weatherstripping, especially if your vehicle has had no previous accidents or signs of damage. Weatherstripping is the rubber seals that go around doors, windows and tailgates. Since they’re made of rubber, constant temperature and moisture changes throughout the season can weaken them and cause them to fail.
Weatherstripping’s purpose is to create an impermeable barrier between the outside elements and the car’s interior. Worn, broken, flaky, rigid seals will cause imperfect seals. While an annoying problem, thankfully it is an affordable one to fix — expect to pay between $150 and $800, depending on your car model and extent of damage.
Diagnosing the source of the leak
I always park my car on the street, meaning it is exposed to rain and other unfavorable elements. One day, I noticed the velvet in my car was wet and upon lifting up the spare tire cover, I noticed a pool of water on the floor! I immediately thought the problem came from my car’s tailgate. After all, a leak in the rear meant the faulty part should be in the rear.
Here’s how I discovered it was a problem with my weatherstripping and how you can diagnose the issue for yourself too:
- Listen for obvious noises: Compromised weatherstripping means air can pass through, which means noise can transmit easier. Expect to hear wind noise while driving.
- Hose your car down and look for leaks: Hosing my car down in sections helped me discover that the tailgate wasn’t to blame, but that water droplets were entering through compromised weather-stripping from the radio’s aerial mount. I learned that the source of a leak can go through a maze before reaching the floor and so you should rule nothing out!
How to fix bad weatherstripping
To fix faulty weatherstripping, you can either take your car to the dealership or a trusted mechanic, or you can fix it yourself. A dealership or mechanic will charge you more to fix the problem, but they might get the job done faster. This is especially true if you have never changed weatherstripping before.
How to replace car weatherstripping
If you want to save money, replace the car weatherstripping yourself. You can buy weatherstripping from your car’s manufacturer or buy aftermarket replacements. You can also do spot repairs on the problematic sections but those might not have the longevity of new weatherstripping.
Assuming you’re going for a full-on replacement, you’ll also need a cleaning liquid, cloth and weatherstripping adhesive.
An online video can be helpful, or follow these steps to replace the seals:
- Remove the old weatherstripping: You need to keep any hardware that holds it in like screws, rivets or bolts.
- Clean the area: Remove any gunk, glue residue and debris.
- Let the area dry thoroughly: Working with a wet area can affect the glue.
- Apply adhesive and insert the weatherstripping: Make sure the weatherstripping is in good alignment throughout the covered area before you press down in place.
- Replace the screws, rivets and bolts: Secure the new weatherstripping firmly.
- Check for a tight seal: Make sure there are no gaps or misalignments and that the window and door close properly.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Ashley Eneriz is an editor and finance writer with over 15 years of experience in a wide range of financial topics, including car loans and insurance. In editing for Jerry, Ashley aims to make all car material reader-friendly for both the new driver and car enthusiast alike. Prior to joining Jerry, Ashley was the financial deputy editor for ConsumerAffairs. Her work is featured on Forbes, Yahoo, MSN, The Hartford and more.
