Where does the car air conditioner drip water?
3 Answers
The car air conditioner drips water at a position slightly to the right of the middle of the chassis below the center console, connected by a hose from below the evaporator to the chassis. The functions of the air conditioner are: 1. To cool, heat, ventilate, and purify the air inside the car; 2. To provide a comfortable environment for passengers, reduce driver fatigue, and improve driving safety. Maintenance methods for the air conditioner: 1. Clean the air conditioner vents promptly; 2. Maintain the air conditioner condenser promptly; 3. Clean or replace the air filter promptly. Proper usage methods for the air conditioner: 1. Turn off the air conditioner when driving at low speeds; 2. Do not smoke when the air conditioner is on inside the car; 3. Turn off the engine before turning off the air conditioner; 4. Immediately activate the internal circulation when entering the car in summer.
The dripping position of the car air conditioner is usually in the middle-right area under the vehicle chassis. If you squat down, you can see a small hole dripping. When the air conditioner is on, the condensed water from the evaporator inside the car will drain out from there, which is completely normal and nothing to worry about. However, the position may vary slightly depending on the car model: sedans mostly have it at the bottom of the firewall in the engine compartment, SUVs often have it under the chassis near the center console, while commercial vehicles may have it at a metal pipe outlet under the rear seats. Remember, the dripping position must not be higher than the exhaust pipe, otherwise the hot air could damage the drain pipe. Also, if you notice the car carpet getting wet in summer, there’s a high chance the drain hole is clogged with leaves. In that case, you’ll need to unclog it with a wire, otherwise the soaked air filter may develop mold, and that smell can be really unpleasant.
Over the years of repairing cars, the most common air conditioning issue I've encountered is abnormal drainage positioning. Normally, the condensation water flows through a finger-thick plastic tube under the chassis and drains to the ground, typically located beneath the front passenger seat area. This drainage tube features a U-shaped bend designed to prevent hot air from outside the vehicle from backflowing, but this bend is particularly prone to dust accumulation. If you notice an unusually large amount of dripping water, it might indicate frost formation at the air vents, suggesting the cooling system is set too high. Conversely, if there's no dripping at all accompanied by foul odors from the vents, it's almost certain that the drainage hole is clogged and needs to be cleared with an air gun. It's worth noting that the drainage tube runs very close to the brake fluid line, so extra caution is required during vehicle modifications to avoid crushing these pipelines.
