Car Trouble

May 30th, 2006

There’s something about a hot, holiday weekend that invites car trouble. I am always amazed by the impromptu picnics on the side of the highway by families that seem to have more people than their car can fit, plus all the fixings of coolers and lawn chairs. I often wonder if this was not their ultimate destination.

Luckily my car trouble (2005 Ford Escape) was nowhere near as inconvenient, but certainly a bother. It seemed that there was a leak inside the car, wetting the front passenger floor. It had gone unnoticed during the week as no one was riding shotgun, but during the weekend a variety of feet and cargo were being dampened.

A quick diagnostic determined that the fluid was water and that it was associated with the use of the air conditioning which was being employed because of the hot weather. Under the dashboard on the passenger side, the unidentifiable, black plastic components were cold and wet. It seemed as if the condensation that normally drains outside and leaves that big puddle in your driveway was not draining properly. I would have to investigate the next day.

In my teenage years, prior to the Internet, I used to work on cars a great deal. Sure things were easier then, but we also had the use of Chilton Auto Manuals which became the bible for owning an old clunker. The manual I had for my 1972 Plymouth Fury was well used and well greased. Diagrams, how-tos, etc. was all you needed after a good set of tools and some Goop. I can still remember the rack in the auto parts store that was like a reference library until they got smart and shrink-wrapped the books to prevent browsing.

Well it seems that the Internet has its own form of shrink-wrapping. Search for computer problems, health problems, marital problems, etc, and you get scores of potential answers. Search for auto repair specifics and it is hard to come up with anything. One would think that the manuals, diagrams, FAQs, problems/fixes, would be well suited for the Internet, but it seems that is not the case.

I was however, able to find a few clues to guide me to my repair. After I had taken it upon myself to remove the fan blower (and drain the water from it), I also checked the vents for any blockage — all seemed in order and after about an hour I had everything back together, but nothing fixed. I tried the A/C again and when on high with the fan on full blow, water poured from a crack in the ducts below the passenger dashboard. There was no way I was going to be able to drive this car with the A/C without some type of bucket.

After returning inside, I again attempted to search for a solution. One site I found seemed to describe my problem and noted there was an answer but I would need to sign up and pay for the result. I wasn’t desperate enough to take the chance.

Finally I found what seemed to fit the bill:

Question
My car seems to be leaking water onto the floor board of my car. It only happens when I am running my a/c. It is coming from somewhere under the dashboard.

Answer
Look under the vehicle near the bottom of the firewall for a rubber hose about the size of your thumb about 3″ long sticking out towards the engine and pointing towards the ground. This is the CONDENSATION DRAIN for the evaporator case to expell any water to the ground that builds up in the evap housing.Take a plastic soda straw or something SOFT, NOT a screw driver or hard object and poke it up into this drain tube and water will run out up your arm. This hose is clogged and the water is backing up and spilling into the vehicle.

I went out to look for this hose. Although the Ford Escape is an SUV, it is certainly on the smaller side and does not have a great deal of road clearance. I barely squeezed under the vehicle and after having flashbacks from my youth, I was unable to locate it. I did have my drinking straw at the ready, however. I no longer had the trust car ramps that served me so well years ago. All I could find was a small hydraulic jack. As I approached the car, and looking at the small but significant incline where it was parked, I decided not to be memorialized on this weekend by being crushed by a multi-ton vehicle.

My last attempt was to look for the elusive condensation drain hose from above. Peering down, I did see a small, black hose that had a drop of water inside. I was only able to reach it using the straw, and when I stuck it in, about a quart of water poured from the hose and down the hill. I had found my leak source and unplugged it.

Perhaps this fix is only temporary as there is something causing a blockage, but knowing that this can be easily fixed with a tool available from any fast food rest stop, I am not so worried.

By the way, it appears that Chilton Auto Manuals are available on line (for a fee) here.

Entry Filed under: General

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