fubie

I was replacing a missing grommet thingy which the floor mat clip fits into on the driver's side (I can post easy instructions if anybody wants), and under the carpet and sound barrier it was wet! Like soaking wet. Being winter the AC hasn't been on, the carpet has never been wet, it hasn't rained in a week, and there is no evidence of leaks anywhere when it does. Condensation? Because the sound barrier/insulation is so thick, the carpet is dry. Anybody run into this? Thanks guys!

gripau1

Your heater core could be leaking or the heater hose. Does the puddle smell like coolant?

dgpiii

Please post the grommet replacement how to. I need to replace/fix the one in my sc400.

fubie

No, no coolant smell. It smelled like old water - and the coolant level hasn't changed. I'm thinking a leak somewhere, maybe in the a pillar or under the windshield. Boy I don't want to take the carpet out though - geez. Thanks for the suggestion.

fubie

The grommets in earlier years were smallish and would "punch through" the carpet, leaving a hole in the carpet which would not accept the carpet hold-down clips. Replacement grommets from the dealer are larger and should prevent this from happening again. My dealer gives the grommets and clips for free as a courtesy.

Carpet Grommet replacement: These are instructions for replacing the grommet farthest from the door. (The closest one may not require duct tape).

You'll need:
Large flat screwdriver
Scissors
Replacement grommets. Note: Don't put the pieces together. One goes under, the other above the carpet.
Replacement carpet clips
Piece of duct tape about 1" wide and 6" long
2 beers
Possibly band-aids
About 20 minutes of time

1. Drink 1 beer while you read through the instructions.

2. Pop the plastic lit Lexus kick plate off. It should be easy to do by hand - there are 5 clips which hold it on. Key word is "pop". Get your fingers under it on opposite sides and quickly lift. Leave the kick plate connected. It can just dangle outside the car.

3. This exposes 4 metal clips which hold the carpet in place. Note the carpet is edged with a white plastic piece and this piece is clipped into the 4 metal spring clips. Insert the screwdriver between the white plastic edge and metal clip and push down and in. This will allow you to work the carpet edge out of the metal clip. Look at the end of the plastic and you can see how it "lips" around and holds the metal. This will take some finagling but you'll get the carpet out (it will still be in the plastic strip but out of the metal clips).

4. When the carpet strip is loose from the metal clips you can pull it up 4 inches or so, just enough to get your arm in under the carpet.

5. Prepare the grommet. The larger piece goes under the carpet, the smaller one above. Roll the duct tape into a rope except for an inch or so. This "rope" comes up through the hole in the larger piece and tapes to the bottom of it. You may have to add some more duct tape to the bottom to get it to stay. You'll end up with the large plastic piece having a 5 inch "rope" coming up out of the hole. This will help feed the grommet to the hole in the carpet.

6. Lift the carpet up. Holding this big grommet piece, slide your hand in under the carpet. Note when you pull the carpet up, there is a large plastic plate attached to it about where it curves up to the pedals (emer brake, etc) Put you arm in BEHIND this plate or you'll scrape it, requiring the band-aids. Sticking your arm in, and pushing the duct tape "rope" in ahead of your fingers, using your other hand, stick a finger down through the hole in the carpet, and eventually you'll be able to feel the rope and pull it up through the hole in the carpet, positioning the larger piece under the carpet hole.

7. When you get the larger piece up under the hole in the carpet, hold it from below while you feed the top piece down the "rope" which will center it. Align the two and push down, connecting them. Voila, a new grommet. BUT, don't remove your arm yet! Trim the duct tape sticking out of the hole.

8. Make sure the two pieces are firmly togethe. Then put the carpet clip into the grommet. DO THIS while your arm is under the carpet pushing the grommet up. This will make sure you don't punch the grommet back down through the carpet hole.

9. Extract your arm, treat any scrapes, put the carpet back in the the clips, the kick plate back on, and the floor mats back down.

10. Tell your wife how much money you've just saved and how exhausted you are. Drink the second beer and kick back the rest of the afternoon. By golly, you deserve it!