XTreme floor mats retaining water

**mojo** · 12th June 2008, 09:20 AM

G'day all, got a quick question about the driver and passenger floor mats in our 2000 Xtreme (not sure if the Xtreme mats are different to other Fender mats?).

When driving through decent rain or creeks/puddles etc, we end up with a fair amount of water in the foot wells - pretty standard stuff for a Fender from what I can tell. What concerns me is that the rubber floor mats have a foam backing which absorbs the water, and it can take days or even weeks for it all to dry out completely. I'm worried about this causing rust - there is some showing up already at the bottom of the firewall where it meets the floor panel.

What do you guys do to combat this? I'm thinking of pulling the foam backing of the floor mats, this will alow it to dry off alot quicker particularly if I towell most of the water up first. What do you reckon???

**dullbird** · 12th June 2008, 05:18 PM

pull them off only there to help insulate agains noise....or just take the matts out alltogether if you know your doing water work put them back in at the end of the day if you dont want to lose the foam

Ruslan · 12th June 2008, 10:04 PM

I put 2 pieces of plastic pipe 1/2" about 25-30cm long under each side, so when I need to get the floor dry I just lift the mat over night and pipes go vertically under. Plastic - no rust, always under mats (accross, in channel between floor panels and the firewall

Cheers,
Ruslan

**mojo** · 13th June 2008, 08:28 AM

Hadn't thought about the possibility of losing noise insulation - that wouldn't be good, it's loud enough in the fender as it is!

And i can't easily take the mats out alltogether, its a big one piece job that runs all the way across the floor and over the gear stick etc ... it could be done but would be a PITA I reckon.

Might give Ruslan's idea a go, just put something underneath the mats to raise them off the floor and help them dry out a bit quicker.

**dullbird** · 13th June 2008, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by mojo

Hadn't thought about the possibility of losing noise insulation - that wouldn't be good, it's loud enough in the fender as it is!

And i can't easily take the mats out alltogether, its a big one piece job that runs all the way across the floor and over the gear stick etc ... it could be done but would be a PITA I reckon.

Might give Ruslan's idea a go, just put something underneath the mats to raise them off the floor and help them dry out a bit quicker.

its definatly one peice? as its not in our defender the mats are seperate to the gear stick cover.....but ours isn't a td5

**mojo** · 13th June 2008, 09:40 AM

Yep, its definitely one piece.

**crump** · 13th June 2008, 11:31 AM

I just shove a drink bottle of something similar under there when the vehicles parked and it drys out quick enough, have also been spraying Lanotec underneath as well and after 5 years no rust.

Ruslan · 13th June 2008, 11:43 AM

Also I keep doors open after car wash or driving in the rain/water to get rubber work around door frames dry out and avoid sticking to itself from inside. If I need to put security/alarm, just close all doors on "one click", so rubber is not compressed. Most of the time doors open, I lock my shed anyway.

**cucinadio** · 22nd November 2010, 06:54 PM

are we talking floor cover or mats??...

cheers

Didge · 24th November 2010, 10:54 PM

Intentional design sabotage I reckon. I pulled the mats out of the 300tdi altogether and am planning on painting on some sound deadening on the underside. Pull the foam off the back of the mats and always check after rain. I also ran some of that Selleys all clear sealant along that stupid, stupid absorpant rubber seal that is located under the windscreen and above the vents and is obviously designed to let water soak in during rain. Since then, I can't recall having any leaks falling on the old tootsies.

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