I have a 1996 850 GLT wagon with a 5 speed that I bought new. I have a 171,000 miles on it. The car has never been in a collision. In the last several months, I noticed that when I lift up the floor mat, a small portion of the rug below appears to be damp, as though water from under the car has started to leak into the cabin. Again, it is not the mat that is damp, it's actually dry, but instead, it is the rug that the mat sits on top of. The area, is just to the right of the stitched pad that the heels of your feet would rest on. I don't see any holes in the undercarriage of the car. Has anyone else had this experience? If so, where was the leak located and houw did you go about fixing it. Thanks.

Hugh

Most likely, as Phil indicated, the o-rings of the coolant pipe started to leak coolant to the driver side foot-well. I had the same thing happened two 2 years ago. Make sure that whether it is water or coolant. For coolant, it feels like a bit oily not like water.

Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Shocks, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, Apline CD-Changer

Ho, thank you too for responding to my query. I'm afraid you and Phil hit it right on the head, because the residue has an "oily" feel to it. How much did it cost to have heater core repaired? Also, what's the down side if I don't hve it repaired right away? You know, the quick response that you and Phil provided underscores the benefit of this forum. With a few strokes on the computer key board , I have the benefit of a life time of Volvo 850 experience to call upon. Thanks! Hugh

Hugh,

It may not be the heater core. Most of the time is the o-rings of the pipes that going into the heater core. You can try to replace the 2 o-rings first to see whether leak is re-occurrence or not. If it does it again, then consider the heater core replacement. Mine was done by the dealer under the extended warranty. The heater core itself is not cheap. The replacement of the heater core is doable by us - weekend mechanic.

Ching-Ho Cheng
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1995 855 NA, Bilstein Shocks, K&N Filter, E-Code Lens, Apline CD-Changer

HO, Thank you again for your reply. I hope you are right and only the o-rings have to be replaced. Thanks! Hugh

Are you certain that it's water, and not antifreeze? This is the "classic" location of the pool when the 850-70 heater core begins to leak. At least, it's eactly where the coolant collected when mine failed. The inlet/outlet tubes are on the driver's side of the console. The coolant runs down the inside of the console and into the padding under the carpet, then surfaces by soaking through the carpet under the floor mat.

-Punxsutawney Phil

"Every day is groundhog day!"

Phil, Thank you for your response. I'm afraid it might be anti-freeze because there is an "oily" feel to the residue in the rug. If it is the heater core, hw expensive was it to fix? Secondly what risk of damage do I run by not fixing it right away?

Another observation, which seems to confirm your diagnosis is the fact the rug is wet regardless of whether it has rained or not. Thanks, Hugh