Heat Coming From Drivers Side Floor: 5 Possible Reasons

The driver’s side floor heating up can be very uncomfortable during hotter months. This problem can occur due to a variety of reasons.

So, why is heat coming from drivers side floor?

Heat can come from the driver’s side floor due to overheating exhaust pipes and hot catalytic converters. Heat leaking from the engine compartment into the cabin and leaking coolant from the heater can also cause this. To fix this issue, you may use exhaust wraps or shields. You can also clean out the converter, fix the heater core or replace the engine heat shield. 

Still confused about why heat coming from the driver’s side floor? Read this article to find out more.

Reasons for Heat Coming From Drivers Side Floor

Here is a quick guide for decreasing the heat coming from the driver’s side floor:

Reason	Solution
A hot exhaust pipe	Use an exhaust wrapUse an exhaust shield
A hot catalytic converter	Clean or replace the catalytic converterInstall a catless downpipe
Hot air from floor vent	Reduce the temperature
A cracked heater core	Fix or replace the heater core
Heat leaking from engine compartment	Replace the heat shield

Do you want to know more about how to solve this issue? Read the detailed sections below.

How to Fix Heat Coming From The Driver’s Side Floor

Here are 5 reasons why heat is coming from drivers side floor:

Reason 1: Hot Exhaust Pipe

Locate the exhaust pipe situated underneath the car floor. Following are the reasons for a hot exhaust pipe that heats up the driver’s side floor. 

1. The heat from the floorboard increases at higher RPMs and decreases at lower RPMs.
2. The heat increases the longer you drive.
3. Too many bends in the exhaust pipe. These bends can restrict the free flow of exhaust gases.
4. A short and narrow exhaust pipe design.

Solution 1: Using An Exhaust Wrap

Materials Needed:

1. An exhaust wrap
2. A heat gun
3. Safety glasses
4. A pair of gloves
5. A rag
6. A measuring tape or a ruler
7. A pair of scissors or a utility knife
8. Zip ties or some hose clamps

Working Procedure:

1. Inspect your exhaust system: Make sure that there are no leaks or cracks in the exhaust system before you start wrapping it.

2. Remove the heat shields: If your exhaust system has heat shields, you will need to remove them before you can wrap the exhaust pipes. 

3. Cut the exhaust wrap to size: Use the measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of each exhaust pipe. Then, use the scissors or utility knife to cut the exhaust wrap to size. 

4. Wrap the exhaust pipes: Start at one end of the exhaust pipe. Wrap the exhaust wrap around the pipe, overlapping each layer by about 2 inches. 

5. Secure the exhaust wrap: Once you have wrapped the entire exhaust pipe, use zip ties or hose clamps. This is to secure the exhaust wrap in place. 

6. Reinstall the heat shields: If you removed the heat shields, reinstall them now. 

7. Test your exhaust system: Start your car and let it run for a few minutes to ensure the exhaust wrap is not restricting airflow. 

Follow this video if you need help:

Solution 2: Install An Exhaust Heat Shield

If the heat shield is missing, installing an exhaust heat shield is the way to solve this issue. Follow the solution to resolve this. 

Materials Needed:

1. A heat exhaust shield
2. A heat gun
3. Safety glasses
4. Gloves
5. A rag
6. Screws or bolts
7. A screwdriver or wrench

Working Procedure:

1. Inspect the heat exhaust shield: Make sure that there are no cracks or holes in the heat exhaust shield before you start installing it.

2. Heat up the heat exhaust shield: Use the heat gun to heat up the heat exhaust shield so that you can easily bend it into shape.

3. Measure and cut the heat exhaust shield to size: Use the measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of the exhaust pipe that you need to cover. Then, use the scissors or utility knife to cut the heat exhaust shield to size. 

4. Bend the heat exhaust shield into shape: Use the heat gun to heat up the heat exhaust shield and bend it into shape. So that it fits snugly around the exhaust pipe.

5. Secure the heat exhaust shield in place: Use screws or bolts to secure the heat exhaust shield in place. 

6. Test the heat exhaust shield. Start your car and let it run for a few minutes. Make sure that the heat exhaust shield is not restricting airflow. 

Reason 2: A Hot Catalytic Converter

Your driver-side floorboard is heating up because of a hot catalytic converter. Look out for some signs to identify this is the reason. 

Symptom:

1. Sluggish engine performance
2. Reduced acceleration
3. A burning smell
4. Dark exhaust smoke
5. The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs from the exhaust

Solution – 1: Clean The Catalytic Converter

If the catalytic converter is not completely damaged, it may be possible to clean it and restore its function. This can be done by a qualified mechanic using a special cleaning solution.

Alternatively, if you want to clean your catalytic converter yourself, follow this video: 

Solution – 2: Replace The Catalytic Converter

This is the most common fix for a hot catalytic converter. A new catalytic converter will prevent your car from emitting harmful pollutants into the air.

To replace the catalytic converter of your car, follow this quick and easy video: 

Solution – 3: Install A Catless Downpipe

A catless downpipe is a type of exhaust system that does not have a catalytic converter. This will increase the noise level of your car and may also cause it to emit more pollutants. 

Here’s a visual guide to properly install the catless downpipe. 

A hot catalytic converter can cause trouble with your engine. If your engine breaks down on the highway you may need to send an SOS signal. But that may not be possible if you have limited SOS functionality. So, fix the catalyst before it breaks down.

Reason 3: The Floor Vent Is Giving Out Hot Air

If the floor vent gives out hot air that’ll cause the floorboard to heat up. The symptoms of this reason are:

1. Hot air is coming out of the floor vent on the driver’s side.
2. The floor vent heater is turned on.

Solution:

1. Turn off the floor vent heater using the car’s “climate control” in the center console.
2. If your car has no heater valve, the floor vent will continue releasing hot air. Set the temperature of your vehicle’s climate control close to the outside temperature. This will ensure that the floor vent only uses outside air.

You can use your AC to cool the passenger cabin as well. But long-term AC use can damage the AC. You may face problems like AC recharge not lasting more than a day.

Reason 4: A Cracked Heater Core

Hot coolant can leak from a cracked heater core and make the floorboard hot. Following are the symptoms of coolant leaking from a cracked heater core:

1. Your car smells sweet.
2. Your windows become foggy.
3. The car is blowing cold air into the cabin.
4. Your car is devouring coolant.
5. Your car’s cabin is cold, but the engine is hot.

Solution:

1. Identify the leak: Visually inspect the core or use a pressure tester to identify the leak.
2. Repair the leak: If the leak is minor, you may be able to repair it yourself using a sealant or epoxy. If the leak is more serious, you may need to replace the heater core.

If you want to replace the heater core yourself, follow this video: 

A new heater core cost can be more than $2,000.

3. Flush the heater core: Once the leak has been repaired, you need to flush the heater core.

4. Refill the coolant: Once the heater core has been flushed, you need to refill the coolant. Be sure to use the correct type of coolant for your car.

Reason 5: Heat Leaking from The Engine Compartment

Another reason for heat in the driver’s side floorboard is a heat leak in the engine compartment. These are the symptoms of heat leaking from the engine compartment:

1. Excessive heat from the engine bay
2. A burning smell
3. Rattling noises from the engine bay when driving

Solution:

If heat is leaking from the heat shield of the engine compartment, you need to replace the heat shield. If you wish to change the heat shield by yourself, you may follow the steps mentioned in this video: 

You may face these problems due to a supercharged engine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Where Is The Heater in A Car?

The heater is in the dashboard of the car. It looks like a small radiator. When you turn on the heat the heater will blow hot air into the passenger cabin. You can also adjust the direction of the hot air.

What Powers Car Heaters?

Car heaters are powered by the heat of the engine. Coolant is heated up when flowing through the hot engine. Heat is then extracted through a radiator from the coolant. The extracted heat then warms up air which is blown by the heater.

What Color Is Toyota Coolant?

Toyota coolant is either reddish or pinkish colored. The color of the coolant that you have will depend on the ingredients. So, when you pick a coolant for your Toyota, ensure that it is the right coolant for you.

Conclusion

So, now you know all there is to know about the heat coming from the driver’s side floor. 

This can be a very uncomfortable issue for most people. I hope reading this article helped you fix this problem. That is all for today. Thank you for reading the article. Goodbye and Goodluck with your car!