Defroster / AC condensation overflow plugged?
 

TL;DR: AC/defroster condensation overflowed into my passenger footwell, how do I keep this from happening again?

About a week ago I had a ~5 hour drive home pretty much entirely through a rainstorm. Most of the drive was after sunset. Due to the humidity / temperature combo I needed the defroster on pretty much the entire time.

As the drive went on, I began to hear some sloshing when I made turns. I assumed that it was just condensation from the AC and maybe some rainwater gathering under the heat exchanger for the AC/defroster.

About 30 minutes from home, this sloshing sound turned into a spraying sound whenever I made a left turn (highway speed, long duration turn). I assumed this was that water from the AC/defroster spraying out under the car somewhere, probably into the right front wheel well due to the location of the sound.

When I got home and reached down to pick up the trash from my dinner out of the passenger seat footwell, it was soaked. Apparently this water was draining out of wherever it was sitting into the passenger footwell when I was making left turns. By the time I was able to clean it up there the floormat and carpet underneath were both soaked through.

Has anyone had something similar happen before? I'm thinking there's a drain somewhere that is probably plugged. I do park under a tree so I'm thinking maybe some leaves got in there. Does anyone know where this drain is?

Did you find the drain?


humfrz

If you did not, you can try spraying the little rubber hose near the front pipe with compressed air.

I clean my drain hose out a couple of times through the summer. Not sure where the gunk comes from but there is usually at least a little.


It is a fairly common issue.


https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61569

I'm dealing with the same issue. I've been under the dash twice now and had the hose off. It wasn't clogged either time. The end of the hose seems to stretch just enough that the water gets past it so I trimmed it but the leak came back. There isn't enough room for a clamp so now I'm ging to try some silicone. I have some of that flex seal stuff you see in late night infomercials, maybe I'll try that.

The only real way to remove the debris that is blocking the drain on your HVAC is to remove the box and clean it.
Compressed air will dislodge it so it drains again but that stuff is still in there waiting to clog it again. It's a mystery if and when it will clog again.

Measures can be taken to prevent the leaves and debris from entering in the first place. Keep your wiper cowl area clean and regularly check and replace your cabin filter, if equipped, when dirty.