Water Dripping - Please Help

[nmorgan]

Hi,

I have a 2.4 K Reg which has been a nightmare to date.

Went to Cornwall a few weeks ago, when I stopped to top-up fuel,
noticed water dripping under bonnet. It seemed to be coming from some sort of metal outlet pipe toward. When in front of the vehile, the pipe is toward to back right hand side of the engine housing (not part of engine), perhaps could say would be coming from lower dashboard.

I havnt used the aircon at all, could this still be the aircon ? I checked the water level in radiator and just had to put a little water in.

THanks for help in advance.

Nick

[TonyN]

If is on the passenger side, about where their feet go, its the air con vent. but it doesn't usually do anything unless its hot and the air con is on.

Unless the water is coming from somewhere else like the heater matrix, and running down to the aircon unit..

[nmorgan]

I had the heater matrix done recently, do you think there has been a botched job along the line? The water did seem pretty clear.

[TonyN]

Dunno if they botched it, but are you sure the aircon wasn't on at all. make sure the air con pulley isn't jammed on, and its been running without you knowing.

If the matrix is leaking, it'll leak all the time, leave it running with it on hot and see if it still drips.

Hope they really changed it, and not just stuck some rad seal in there and gave you a bill.

[nmorgan]

It was defo changed, I personally collected the reconditioned unit from radiator specialist. I also saw the car with the whole dashboard off. They tried all sorts to get the heater working but matrix was chocka with crap.

So I must tunr the heater on, make sure the aircon is off and see if it still leaks ? Would the front passenger foot matts not get wet if Matrix was leaking ?

Thanks for your help.

[Tallyman]

If the matrix is leaking, then yes, it's more than likely it would run inside the car, not outside. Next time, try to find a dry spot to stop and don't move the car for 10 mins or so. If it is the aircon drain, then it will all be in one place just behind the n/s wheel. If so, nothing really to worry about. If it was coolant it would probably be whatever colour antifreeze you've got in the car but if clear then almost guarnteed to be aircon condensation.

[openback]

have you tried letting the truck idle and turning the aircon on and off,leaving at each for a while, to see if the it makes any difference to the engine note, may indicate if it stuck on.

[MTpockets]

I have been told that if there is a pinhole leak inside the matrix where the coolant runs through it...... it will eventually overflow after filling up the heater box, and that its overflow is plumbed to the air-con drain.
I am quoting my mates father who is a diesel mechanic with a lot of experience. This may be an avenue to follow. I am not 100% sure if my mates father is right, but it makes sense.
cheers
Les

[TonyN]

I have been told that if there is a pinhole leak inside the matrix where the coolant runs through it...... it will eventually overflow after filling up the heater box, and that its overflow is plumbed to the air-con drain.
I am quoting my mates father who is a diesel mechanic with a lot of experience. This may be an avenue to follow. I am not 100% sure if my mates father is right, but it makes sense.
cheers
Les

There are holes in the bottem of the heater box that it usually leaks out, but it does connect to the aircon box as well, but it'll probaly drip out from between the two. Its not a water tight seal, they just push together. If the leak is higher up it could be quirting towards the aircon half and then running out.
But if its a new matrix, its very unlikely to be leaking aleady! Maybe the hose connection though the bulkhead are leaking, and its running down insidethe car and then out the drain.

[Djandco]

Or was it raining?