I pulled up the carpet from the driver's floor a few days ago and the dang carpet jute (padding) was wet. I belive I stopped the source a few months ago (hood cable grommet was loose) and the floor seemed dry as a bone. Now after 4 days of leaving the carpet tented so air could circulate the jute is still damp. I see now why so many XJs have rusted floors.

I want to keep the carpet but I'm wondering if there is a better, faster drying carpet padding I can replace the jute with. I plan on removing the carpet and using a rust proofing paint on the floors before replacing the carpet. This would be a perfect time to upgrade the padding. Anyone know of a better carpet pad material?

 

It will never dry. It's the stupidest thing they could have used. My carpet is literally rotted out in mine.

 

I can belive that it will never dry. There is even plastic sheet between the carpet and jute. I assume that's there to keep the jute from getting wet but once the jute does get wet it can not dry. So I need to replace the jute with something that will dry like open cell foam and remove the plastic moisture barrier.