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AC blows condensed air (clouds) and water leak

Old Jun 18, 2009 | 03:12 PM
  #1  
dhw682
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Default AC blows condensed air (clouds) and water leak

I have a 1996 accord.

When the ac is on it blows condensed air... you can see the moisture... the air is still cold, and it doesn't do this all the time.

Also, water is leaking from under the glove box, and when felt, there is ice and water on the outside of it (what i believe is the condenser).

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 04:09 PM
  #2  
MisterBen's Avatar
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From: Denver
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I bet that the drain hose from your A/C evaporator case is plugged or blocked. This happened to me in my old 97 EX and I ended up filling my foot well with 2" of water before I noticed (it was a long road trip).

I took a hanger and cut it into a long piece of wire. Get under your car on the passenger side and look around near the firewall. There will be a hose about 3/4" in diameter coming out from the car and pointing towards the ground. Gently slide that cut up hanger into the hose and unplug whatever the blockage may be.

Be careful as you do this, if the hanger goes into the wrong place you could damage your evaporator.

In my case the evaporator case was full of pine needles. I ended up removing my heater motor and cleaning the evaporator case through that access point. It's a small hole with a serious angle, so you will need small hands and wrists. I borrowed my neighbor's five year old child for the purpose. I paid with ice cream
 
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 04:27 PM
  #3  
JimBlake's Avatar
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Moisture condenses from the air when the humidity is high. That water is supposed to drain down onto the ground, but probably the drain tube is clogged or disconnected. If it's clogged, the evaporator case will have more water than normal, causing the clouds of vapor.
If you're gonna poke around in the drain tube, instead of a coat hanger, try a piece of plastic wire from a weed-trimmer. Less likely to damage something.

Here's the evaporator housing; #14 is the drain tube.
 

Last edited by JimBlake; Jun 18, 2009 at 04:30 PM.
Old Jun 18, 2009 | 04:47 PM
  #4  
00AccordLX5spd's Avatar
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From: Brandon, MS
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Originally Posted by MisterBen
I borrowed my neighbor's five year old child for the purpose. I paid with ice cream
Haha that's awesome!
 
Old Sep 4, 2010 | 06:58 PM
  #5  
6-Speed's Avatar
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From: Arizona
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I have to unplug that tube once or twice each summer on my 97 Accord. I use a length of 1/8" flexible irrigation hose and run it up the drain tube while straightening the tube. There are two tubes right next to each other and it's important to unplug the correct one, which is the one with a 90 degree bend. I believe the other tube goes to the EVAP system. Every time I unplug the hose a good amount of water streams out.
 
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