Introduction & Advice - Drying disco interior

[Stinky-Disco]

hey guys,

New to the landrover world, i bought a 98 discovery off my parents, solid vehicle nothing major wrong with it, bar a little clogged air con duct. happens to be leaking into the body of the car for a while and have cleaned the ducts, just wondering anyone have any solution to this problem which is better than cleaning the ducts after a mud drive? and any easy way of drying the sponge under the carpet in a late model series one disco? any advice would be helpful,

cheers Linc

[Jojo]

Hi mate and welcome to AULRO!
If I were you I'd pull out the carpet, take a sharp knife and cut out the spongy insulation material in the foot wells. If you cut sensibly you will be able to replace it later without major fuss and trouble. The reason for cutting out is that it will make it much easier for you to dry them as you will be able to take them out completely. You will be surprised how much water they can hold! Check the floor panel for corrosion whilst being there already.

Good luck!
Cheers

[stevo]

I got my carpets very wet and i used newspaper under the carpet to draw the water out,worked a treat as some cars it is a pain to get the carpets out

[langy]

If you undo the retaining strips alongside the doors (The plastic bits) you can lift the carpet and soundproofing up sufficiently to put a brick or similar underneath. Then leave it for two weeks. Letting the air at the sponge lets it dry out naturally. I know that doing this to the drivers side front isn't practicable, but the principle is sound and works on the other areas. Make sure all the grit and dirt is removed from under the soundproofing. Spray with fish oil or wd40 when dry ( After you treat any rust you may find).

[rangieman]

welcome

my sugestion to you is sell the disco and buy a defender you will never have to worry about wet carpets again cause there aint none:D :wasntme:

[stevo]

I have done what langy has done and at night put the newspaper under the carpet so it draws the moisture out then during the day leave the doors open with the brick holding the carpet off the floor to allow air to move around,if the other half goes shopping use her hairdryer on low heat to force air under the carpet as well

[waynep]

Welcome to AULRO - sounds like you have a nice vehicle there. I am sure your folks serviced it well but it might pay to look at the service history to see that timing belt was done in the last 60 - 80,000km.

Yep the hairdryer or fan heater aimed in there works well. just as long as nothing blocks the air intakes, and is not so close it burns something - on a box outside the car aimed in under the carpet is good.

As for modifiying the ducts somehow to keep them clean, I'm not sure there is a reliable way. It only takes half a minute to crawl under and clear them with a bit of wire. An early worning they are blocked is a sort of "sucking" sound from down in the footwell area when the aircon is on. ( like someone sucking an empty milkshake thorugh a straw ) - well on mine anyway

[ladas]

Pipe cleaners are great for clearing the air con condensate drains, and after you have cleaned them out, you can disconnect them from the drain pan inside the car and spray some WD40 or similar down them, obviously making sure the spray comes out the other end, but this also coates the inside of the tubes making it harder for things to stick to, and thus keeps it clean.

[Diff]

Mate, I thought my interior had dried out after the Cape trip by 4 months later I lifted the carpet up to find moisture still in the sound deadening. Its about 20mm thick. I cut it as high as I could around the center console and left it out for a week. Its quick, easy goes back the same and can be done again if you take it for a dip. I wouldn't trust the other methods.

I also spraid all the floors with lanolin shile it was out.

[CowsGoMoo]

I had 9L of water escape in the rear of my D2. Water got under rear carpets, ran along passanger side and under front footwell.

I removed all the rear carpet and placed in the sun for a couple of days. Had nice warm weather and a drought. Carpet between the rear and front seats was lifted and turned over on one side. Think it comes out from under my front seats. Only one side along the edge was wet.

For the front I lifted the door sill and stuffed something under it to get some space under it. I then got a flexible hose of about 40mm diameter (super cheap, was a little $$$$ but worth it not to have stinky Disco) and taped it to the footwell heater outlet. The other end ran under the edge of the carpet to blow hot air. Had to move it around a few times. Took a couple of days driving about with the heater on full and the windows down. Parked in the sun when I could. No smell.

Does the D1 have the thick foam padding or the felt stuff?

Hope this helps

[JohnE]

Hey stinky
my d1 has that thick, nearly as good as a sponge foam under the carpet. And the guys are right waht a pain it is try dry out, a stick or a brick to hold it up to dry naturally works, mine took about 3weeks. Silly other half left it half out of the carport when I went to the falklands last year, that same day i flew out the window regulator on the passenger side broke as we were going to the airport, needless to say, she put a blanket over the window, letting it drape inside like a wick, they had 3 weeks of rain after i left. When i got back home 6 weeks later, there were plants growing on the seat covers mould on everything and a stink that kenny could best describe. Plus litres of water under the carpet.

all i can say is be patient it does go away.


john

[DEFENDERZOOK]

we used to blow out as much as possible with compressed air......before sticking something under it to hold it up.......

was dry the same day......around beer o clock......

[Stinky-Disco]

Hey,
thanks for the replys, ive been lifting the carpet up leaving it in the sun, but i have a feeling the air con duct is still blocked, still so much water so i think ill try cleaning it out and re-doing the brick idea, don't like the idea of cutting carpet but i guess its better than a funky smell :P get air up there as mush as possible.
this disco does have the sponge matting under the carpet which is proving the problem, thanks again for your help,
Linc