Air conditioning unit

[mike s]

Mike Sterland
Recently purchased a 480 Celebration & when the air con. is set on cold, large amounts of water are collecting in the front footwells. No leaks from cooling system & no rainwater ingress. HELP!

[Mike Arnold]

I do not know the layout of the 400 series but you might check to see if the condensate (water) drain tube from the evaporator (behind passenger dashboard?) is OK.

[Joe440Andrew460]

We've got a 440 1.8si and the left front passenger footwell regularly fills with water when set to cold. taking the car to our dealer (Somerton's in Newport) they diagnosed blocked condenser drain tube and this causes the footwell leak. We dont know what they do to resolve this as we just tell them that its doing it again and the fix doesnt last very long (ours seems to need attention 3 times a year!)
Hope this is can be of some use to you!
Joe & Andrew
:)

[mike s]

It's the little "L" shaped rubber tube facing downwards that protrudes from the bulkhead. Thanks guys, I hope it's solved my problem.

[Dan F]

Hi.
My old 2.0i had a blocked tube. It was full of grass (??!!) and it made the car sound like it had an indoor pond when you went around corners!
Once I found out that this was the 'cause', I pulled the tube off, pulled all the grass (?) out, cleaned out the rubber L tube, and water proceeded to come out for almost a minute in an arc that reached 25cms!
Once that was finished I ran the A/C for a few times and the musty smell that was present before disappeared, and the drain then stayed open.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mav_UK]

The plastic tube that the rubber L shaped pipe is attached to, can that be taken off as well? Or do you know how to clean this, as I've just discovered my 440 doesn't have this L shaped tube.......

Cheers

Stu

[Dan F]

You cannot remove the pipe coming out of the bulkhead, only the L shaped rubber tube.
If you don't have one then it has been removed.
Try gently poking something smaller in diameter than the pipe into it and see if it meets any resistance. If so, then it will definitely need unblocking.

Dan.

[Mav_UK]

Cheers, I'll take a look after work - any ideas if I can clear it myself, or is it a pay someone job?

Stu

[Dan F]

You *should* be able to do it yourself, unless it is something else other than a blockage of course......

[Mav_UK]

Well I managed to get a thin tube into the hole yesterday, how far down should it go before meeting resistance, it went about 3 or 4 inches.

[Dan F]

Hi.
Sorry can't remember off the top of my head, but it shoudln't go in too far.

Did it have any gunk on the end when you pulled it out?

If it didn't you may just have a leaky windscreen. If it did, you may need to get a dealer to sort it.

I had a leaky windscreen on my 440 as well.
The water ran down the INSIDE of the A pillar trim on the passenger side and slowly filled the footwell.
You may have to remove the A pillar trim to see if there is evidence of leakage. Try taking it to a car wash with the trim removed. A leak will be galringly obvious in there.

Dan.

[Dan F]

Galringly = Glaringly.......D'Oh!

[Mav_UK]

It wasn't gunky all all, and at the moment I have no water problems - just air consitioning that doesn't seem to be as cold as it could be, but this is my first car with air conditioning so I may be expecting too much. I mst admit that a couple of weeks ago I was thinking how the airco must be not working at all only to open the car door when I got home and having a wave of heat hitting me.....

Cheers

Stu

I Guess I have to wait till I can get back to the UK and get a specialist to look at it.

Thanks for all your help guys - much appriciated

[Dan F]

To get the A/C to cool down quicker, push the recirc button and set it to the coldest setting and put on the face vents.

This provides the most rapid cooling according to the manual.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mav_UK]

I'll give that a shot, I've got the manual for the car but unfortunately it's all in Dutch and I don't read or speak that much yet........

Cheers

Stu

[Mav_UK]

Dan,

Thank's a million! Got in yesterday, turned on the recycle button and the airco got cooler much quicker, and got much, much colde over the run - far more like what I was expecting from airco. Only thing that remains... Should I get it serviced whilst in the UK at christmas so I can get a specialist to look at it.....

Again thanks!

Stu

[Dan F]

No worries mate.

Bear in mind that there is a 10 second delay before the A/C activates after you first start the car. I presume this is so the ECU can stabilise the engine before the extra load is added.

I would get it serviced however as your coolant gas might be on the low side.

Also use the A/C at least once a week (even in the winter) as it prevents gas leaking out through the seals which perish easily if gas isn't flowing round them regularly. A/C demists windows almost instantly in the winter too! (To do that, set recirc to ON and put vents to windscreen and set to coldest setting).

** Remember not to leave redirc on for too long as you will end up breathing in your own Carbon Dioxide and get sleepy**!!

Cheers,
Dan.

[Mav_UK]

Yup,

Once cold the recyc goes off (and it stays cold)! Like I said I have to wait to get to the UK for the recharge / service as they will only do it here through a garage and they are not willing to say what garages they service so you never have any idea who is doing what!

Again thanks!
Stu