Water Leaking Into Both Footwells- Aircon

[widu13]

After some help please. My aircon works and works quite well until now. I've just had a service done (3 days ago) on my 2003 TDi. On the way back going around a corner a LOAD of water was dumped onto my left foot on the drivers side as I was resting it on the foot rest. I thought it was a fluke of the aircon, but today it dumped a lot of ice cold water on my left foot again and also in the passenger footwell. It doesn't appear to be coming from the footwell vents, but above them. I realise that for some reason the dump pipe(s?) are now not exiting the vehicle (Hmmph, I wonder whose fault that is?!) but where are they?

 

Hopefully, no-ones going to tell me my compressor's knackered or something!!

[gregers]

Hopefully, no-ones going to tell me my compressor's knackered or something!!

 

unless you have had a horrible grauncing noise coming from the engine bay when you have switched the aircon on then i wouldnt of thought that your compressor is knackerd(but i could be wrong)does your climate panel(if fitted)flash when you turn the ignition on?

are your scuttle drains blocked?theres a fix in the tech section.

[sepulchrave]

I suspect that your airbox drain is blocked. This sounds like condensation build up in the airbox where the heat exchanger is located. Some idiot may have capped the pipe by mistake during the service (or did it to get you to come back in and charge you loads to fix it :rolleyes: ).

The pipe comes through the bulkhead and runs down behind the engine somewhere, should be fairly obvious, just blow through it to test/clear it.

[widu13]

Thanks for the ideas chaps. Scuttles- I've no issue in the rain with condensation and it's been the hottest part of the year so far and the aircon was working without the water in the footwells before the service. Does the aircon dump into the scuttles?

 

As for the air box, I've just taken said part out totally and there are no drain hoses attached to it. There are two moulded holes which vent directly into the engine compartment. It's also too far forward in the bay to be involved with any possible condensation issues and is dry as a bone.

 

With the air box out and the cosmetic engine cover removed I've been unable to identify the drain hose. I'm okay with mechanics but haven't a clue about aircon, but cannot see anything which could be a drain hose.

 

Any clarification or further help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[sepulchrave]

Sorry, I meant the air distribution box containing the heat exchanger and the heater matrix which is in the car behind the dash, not the air filter housing.

Unless you have a leaking matrix which would give you antifreeze mixture in the footwells, then it must be the condensation which forms on the evaporator/ heat exchanger as it chills the air.

This should drain as it forms and drips onto the ground under the car through a drain pipe which comes through the bulkhead into the engine bay. You can normally see this dripping when the car is stationary and running with the aircon chilling the air.

You must have a blockage causing this condensation to build up in the airbox until it sloshes out under cornering forces, you say it is chilled fresh water so this has to be the problem.

[widu13]

Of course, I should've thought a bit more laterally! :rolleyes: Probbly won't be before tomorrow now before I give it a whirl. Thanks again.

[widu13]

I've not looked at the dist box before- is it difficult to get to?

[widu13]

Is the dist box behind the glovebox. I've had a quick shuftie and it looks like a lower dash off job. No info on TIS of course :lol: Does anyone know the best way to get at it?