Help please leaking air con!

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

On holiday with my husband who is recovering from surgery, so is unable to help.
Our 2014 Defender 90 has a very wet passenger footwell, definitely not coolant, it emanates from behind gear stick in the centre console, so am fairly sure it’s air con. The air con is still working (thankfully in this heat) but I just don’t know how to get at the pipe to check if it’s become unattached or blocked.
I have looked underneath but can’t ifentify any pipe with an open drain end.
Any simple, helpful instructions would be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you

mojo247 · Jul 17, 2018

could just be condensation from the aircon coming through the facia? not sure it would work as well if it were leaking?

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

No, it’s a significant amount of water, not just a small amount. The mats are thoroughly soaked, and the floor underneath is running with water. Have to leave the door open and the mats folded back to get them to dry.

mojo247 · Jul 17, 2018

with that much "water" can't see how the aircon is still working?

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

Well it is! Defender air con is never the best in the world, but when it first started to leak it was a particularly hot day 30+and it was on re circulate and full fan. It maybe that the condensate pipe has either become detached or blocked. With respect, I need to know how to locate and check that.

mojo247 · Jul 17, 2018

I could be wrong but I don't think aircon systems are full of water? Some special coolant or something. Might it be coolant from the heater matrix

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

I believe it’s the air con condensate.

tottot · Jul 17, 2018

I do not know the in's and out's of the aircon system but I believe the "evaporator" is sited just above the passengers feet.It must be water coming out as any gas will just vanish in the air. I recon the drain pipe has come off the evaporator box and leads out in the footwell area.

gstuart · Jul 17, 2018

Hi

Don’t know how useful this will be ref aircon,

On other landies basically the aircon matrix will have a tray underneath it to catch the condense , which then drains away

If the condense pipe becomes blocked it won’t allow the condense tray to drain away and end up dripping on the floor

Also as mentioned the condense pipe may have come off and again allowing condense to soak the carpets

Not sure if there’s a pollen filter fitted on these , if it has would be easy to check to see if the pollen filter is wet or not

Sorry if that’s not much help

Also just found this

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tdci-puma-110-xs-aircon-condensate-in-pass-footwell.282076/

https://rczkdw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mHXL7JYCYkxj1LP3i2hcxHEwp3OkX_EY1lkCd-l-RJh0fuCEHVb46RLaX983O5gW0DGGR3Yr7_YOHNEOKgGxRuG8KWexJQlMwjI23VOZmfdiwMKtfWZVg1vXoPJ5Guv0s7U_OZmqWUticxXbB7T2_5aS7fC_6To8TI_joISIcAUf_ENN2HRVr3BM5PfQiAaGF/Leak procedure.pdf?download&psid=1

potus · Jul 17, 2018

As above, if its water then it'll probably be condense from the AC heat exchanger (provided it's not engine coolant). AC systems operate with refrigerant and if this leaks then the AC will not work.

Blocked condense drain ?

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

tottot said:
I do not know the in's and out's of the aircon system but I believe the "evaporator" is sited just above the passengers feet.It must be water coming out as any gas will just vanish in the air. I recon the drain pipe has come off the evaporator box and leads out in the footwell area.

I think you are probably right. It was operating at max just prior to the first trace of water.
What I need to know is how to check/reattach the drain pipe!

AJD · Jul 17, 2018

gstuart said:
Hi

Don’t know how useful this will be ref aircon,

On other landies basically the aircon matrix will have a tray underneath it to catch the condense , which then drains away

If the condense pipe becomes blocked it won’t allow the condense tray to drain away and end up dripping on the floor

Also as mentioned the condense pipe may have come off and again allowing condense to soak the carpets

Not sure if there’s a pollen filter fitted on these , if it has would be easy to check to see if the pollen filter is wet or not

Sorry if that’s not much help

Also just found this

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tdci-puma-110-xs-aircon-condensate-in-pass-footwell.282076/

https://rczkdw.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mHXL7JYCYkxj1LP3i2hcxHEwp3OkX_EY1lkCd-l-RJh0fuCEHVb46RLaX983O5gW0DGGR3Yr7_YOHNEOKgGxRuG8KWexJQlMwjI23VOZmfdiwMKtfWZVg1vXoPJ5Guv0s7U_OZmqWUticxXbB7T2_5aS7fC_6To8TI_joISIcAUf_ENN2HRVr3BM5PfQiAaGF/Leak procedure.pdf?download&psid=1

Thanks, whilst not actually relevant to this problem, a lot of very useful information there which I will save for future reference.

gstuart · Jul 17, 2018

AJD said:
Thanks, whilst not actually relevant to this problem, a lot of very useful information there which I will save for future reference.

No worries and indeed it was just a generalisation ( I’ve got a discovery 3 )

So understand of the ac leaking through the dreaded condense drain pipes blocking or coming off

Have u got a pollen filter fitted, as if u do that will at least tell u , ie , if the filter is wet or not and narrowing down the issue

Hope u get it resolved

AJD · Jul 20, 2018

To everyone who tried to help, many thanks.
However, if was obvious that I wasn’t going to be able to fix it, so brought the Defender back for a friend who is a motor engineer to look at.
The problem was a rubber drain situated above the gearbox. It had obviously become clogged up, and when it was squeezed, a considerable amount of water was released.
Air con is now working fine, and passengers feet are dry!

Help please leaking air con!

AJD

Member

mojo247

Active Member

AJD

Member

mojo247

Active Member

AJD

Member

mojo247

Active Member

AJD

Member

tottot

Well-Known Member

gstuart

D3 Grandad

potus

Well-Known Member

AJD

Member

AJD

Member

gstuart

D3 Grandad

AJD

Member

Similar threads