Hi guys, i have a 91 hatch and whenever i use the AC for extended periods of time i notice water dripping into the cabin. This water is coming from right behind the glove box, in the upper area near the firewall.

Anyone have any idea where this water is coming from?????

 

You need a new evaporator. Like the heater core, the A/C evaporator can leak also. They are behind the glove compartment and are located inside a plastic box/housing. They look similar to the radiator but with connections like found on your condensor up front.

 

A/C evaporators drip water created by condensation when the air is being used. The housing that holds it under the dash collects this condensation and funnels it through a drain hose through the firewall into the engine compartment, where it drips under the car. All cars do this. The housing could be cracked or the hose might have come off or become plugged. Look for a rubber hose sticking through the firewall above where the passengers feet would be. If the housing is broken it can usually be fixed with a 5 minute plasic welder epoxy without taking the whole thing out. If the evaporator was leaking the freon would just evaporate into the atmosphere and there would be no liquid anywhere.

 

I must be speaking of a bad heater core then. Thanks dennis for the correction.

 

Before you spend any money, make sure the evaporator drain pan tube isn't clogged. The evaporator has a drain pan under it, and it has a drain tube which is where the water you normally see dripping down under the car when the a/c is on comes from. Look under the car, directly below where the glove box is. You'll see a little tube sticking down. It's sometimes a little hard to find, but it's there. They get clogged with crud, and the water backs up in the pan. The telltale sign is if the water pours into the car the most when you make a turn. It's the water sloshing out of the pan! The easiest way I have found to clean them is to take a shop vac, place the hose over the end of the tube (under the car) and suck it out. Trust me, if that tube is clogged, you'll know it! Also, the tube has a little flap under it. I've actually just cut that flap off (you'll see what I mean) to allow unrestricted access to the tube. Good luck!

 

Remove the glove box, and give the evaporator a reach around. There is a hose the comes out the back and runs thru the firewall/floor. It may have popped off or become blocked.

 

Thanks for the help

So I am looking for a hose? if it has come off do i simply just find a way to plug it back in or something? sorry, i am a beginner to this so excuse my lack of terminology.


The water isn't POURING out anywhere (regardless of turns) it is simply just dripping like a leaky faucet would drip. Would that point to the hose or the housing?

 

Here's a couple of pics of the one on my 93 Accord. I was able to take them by just laying down and reaching my camera under the car, so it's really not too hard to get to. No need to remove it...just get a shop vac and figure out a way to get a good seal (I cut a hole in the plastic top of an aerosol can the size of the shop vac hose end, shoved the vac hose through the can top about 2in, then shoved that over the drain tube).

 

Thanks for the help man. This is from underneath the car?

 

Yessir! Under the passenger side just behind the front tire. Yours may look different, but it's there. And you're quite welcome......

 

I found mine. Looks different from yours, mine has like a 90 degree angle towards it so i hope its the right one. LOL im sure it is because i tracked it from the firewall on the interior to the outside and they look the same.


Also, i found the leak and where its coming from. The water is dripping from where the tube connects to the housing behind the glove compartment. Could it just be a bad seal?

 

It could be, but if that tube is clogged the water will just go over the top of the pan at the lowest point....which just happens to be where the tube connects to the pan. The pan isn't very deep...maybe an inch. Try clearing the tube anyway any way you can and go from there. It's the easiest thing to try first. Do NOT put an air hose on it and blow!!

 

I see, so just try to suck whatever the crud is clogging the tube first? I'll try that.


But what could possibly clog the tube? Its just water flowing through isn't it?

 

It's just like the drain on your ac at home. Especially in hot, humid areas, they can become clogged with algae, and just plain nasty crud. Here in Texas, it's common to pour a cup of hot bleach into your home drain line once a year to keep them clean. Hate to tell you, but the ac evap area in all cars in all areas are breeding grounds for very nasty things. As with anything else, they need periodic cleaning and maintenance.

 

I see. What did you do to suck the junk out of the tube? I'm having trouble trying to come up with something.

 

They've stated that a ShopVac should help you in sucking out any junk that may be stuck in there.

Here's a picture for reference.

 

lol

but im wondering how to fabricate that to fit the opening of the tube. i didn't quite understand how supracord did it.

 

Cut about a 1 1/8" hole in the plastic top of an old aerosol container.(Hole saw will work great, but just an exacto knife will work too...(I'm not responsible for any blood but my own). Shove the aerosol cap over the shop vac hose and fill it with anything that will help form a seal (I've used a plastic bag) Shove the ac drain tube into your newly created pride and joy and turn the switch on the vac to "suck stuff". Your evaporator drain line is now clear, as are most of the bugs and other long-dead critters which have been living rent free in your car. Don't feel bad, they had to go........

 

great. thanks supracord.

 

I have mine half apart right now (95 del sol). the bottom of the drain pan is full of leaves, pine needles, decayed matter, and paint chips from a recent paint job. I got the front of the pan free, but not the back. I am making a clear plastic tube to connect to the vacuum hose. Then I will clean the drain line.
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