Water Leak from Passenger Side Engine Bay?

[pbbigmac2]

Hi!

On a 400 mile road trip, wife mentioned passenger side floorboard is very hot. Other than exhaust routing that way couldn’t find anything. However, I did notice significant water dripping that looks like it’s coming from this metal canister in the engine bay with piping that routes into the cabin.

Anything to be concerned about? Coolant temp stays at a steady 210 always.

 

[rdezs]

That's your AC receiver/dryer.... Pretty normal for it to be covered in very cold condensation, and dripping onto the ground. That's just the moisture from the air condensing on the outside of it.

Exhaust is routed under the passenger side floorboards.... So I imagine in a hot climate in stop and go traffic, that side of the floor should be a bit warmer.

 

[mikez71]

That wet location on frame is also where the AC evaporator drain would drip, but shouldn't be hot.
But there shouldn't be a stream from the AC dryer connection on firewall!

Check the heater hose connections to the right of it.
Maybe the heater connections are leaking and dripping along the firewall?
Possible that coolant is leaking/pooling into the HVAC case?

Did you smell any coolant? Check the coolant level?
Factory temp gauge is buffered to read 210 over a range.. 195-225 according to AI..

 

[Foggy]

Yup, All the GMT900 I have worked on, I let owners know the temp
gauge is pretty much a dummy light.
Check your coolant level for sure - when COLD
The 210* mark will show that from about 185* to over 225*
Don't rely on it for real info

 

[pbbigmac2]

I was going off of an OBD scanner, is that not accurate either? Typically 210 +/- 5*.

Will double check coolant when the car cools down after the nearly 8 hour trip. Probably due for a coolant flush either way.

However, found this beneath the glove compartment, behind the trim. Can’t imagine this is by design!

Next steps for diagnosis?

 

[Fless]

A/C evaporator drain tube plugged?

 

[mikez71]

I was going off of an OBD scanner, is that not accurate either? Typically 210 +/- 5*.

Will double check coolant when the car cools down after the nearly 8 hour trip. Probably due for a coolant flush either way.

However, found this beneath the glove compartment, behind the trim. Can’t imagine this is by design!

Next steps for diagnosis?

OBD scanner should be spot on.

If that's just water and not coolant, maybe the evaporator is freezing over and your drain is plugged?

Might check the evap temp on your scanner to make sure it's reading right.

 

[pbbigmac2]

I cleaned both front and rear to be sure, not certain if the amount that’s coming out is excessive. But it is definitely cold water, not coolant

 

[Fless]

When you run the A/C does any fluid come out of the drains?

 

[Foggy]

I was going off of an OBD scanner, is that not accurate either? Typically 210 +/- 5*.

Will double check coolant when the car cools down after the nearly 8 hour trip. Probably due for a coolant flush either way.

However, found this beneath the glove compartment, behind the trim. Can’t imagine this is by design!

Next steps for diagnosis?

Good Deal. Yes, the scanner will show the actual temp !!
It's weird that the 'water' is HOT... That indicates coolant , not just condensate

Make sure to really diagnose this and solve it before you get stranded somewhere
for sure

 

[pbbigmac2]

When you run the A/C does any fluid come out of the drains?

Yes, with AC running the front drain tube has water pouring out practically

Good Deal. Yes, the scanner will show the actual temp !!
It's weird that the 'water' is HOT... That indicates coolant , not just condensate

Make sure to really diagnose this and solve it before you get stranded somewhere
for sure

Water coming out is not hot, engine bay and all surrounding components were.

 

[pbbigmac2]

OBD scanner should be spot on.

If that's just water and not coolant, maybe the evaporator is freezing over and your drain is plugged?

Might check the evap temp on your scanner to make sure it's reading right.

What should the expected evap temp be?

 

[mikez71]

That I don't know!
But if it reads warm when it's cold, or doesn't fluctuate, that might be a sign.