Air conditioning drainage in fiat Ducato - help

[Bob W]

Just had great few weeks slowly driving our Hymer t598 to the Italian Lakes. It’s been hot and humid and when the air conditioning is on water collects in the drivers door footwell not just the usual pool of water under the vehicle when you stop.No evidence of any important fluid leaks and no warning lights. My thought was it must be due to a blocked air conditioning drainage tube or faulty pressure relief valve. The mechanic in the Fiat Professional workshop in Colmar said “ imposseeble!! it must be a leaking fridge or water tank.
Anybody come across this problem or have any thoughts.
Doesn’t happen if we have the air conditioning off and interestingly hasn’t happened today when it has been a little cooler and less humid.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Does it drain under the van too?

I bet the drain pipe has dropped off the pan or possibly a leaking joint. It won't be blocked.

 

[Landy Andy]

I noticed a drain tube fitted to the bottom of my fan assembly yesterday. If it’s the same part, just drop the center dash glove box as if you are changing the pollen filter

 

[tacr2man]

Just check that it hasnt got two drain tubes, as usually there is one if in middle , and two if side mounted .

 

[Bob W]

Thanks for those thoughts Andy, Richard and Anne. i’ve Looked under the van but can’t see anything obvious. a small amount of water does appear as usual when you stop but it’s much less than the amount in the doorwell.
I’ll take a better look when I get home.
Cheers

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[Bob W]

Right - time to fessup now. I’m no mechanic so when you say “ it should have 2 drain tubes” and “ the drain tube has dropped off the pan” what and where is it and what and where is the pan.
The manual is obviously no help at all so what should I be looking for?

 

[joka250]

The moisture that drains from the air conditioning is condensate build up on the evaporator. The evaporator is sited adjacent to and in line with the heater matrix which is positioned within lower dash area, usually centre or passenger side.. Have not worked on a Ducato but would expect to find a pan below matrix/evaporator with a hole at its lowest point and unlikely to be bigger than 8mm. From this outlet will be a flexible hose from which water drains, this hose will probably emerge into engine bay through bulkhead and should be quite low down and fairly visible. The hose or pan outlet will be blocked by grunge, a common problem. It needsclearking but whatever you do don't poke something rigid up the tube as it is very easy to damage evaporated. Ideally if you can , access from above, do not remove hose unless certain you can replace it. You might get access via the housing for the cabin filter, which might by now be soggy.
Some of the above is general guidance but applies to majority of vehicles. Do notconfuse drain tube with larger bore drain tubes that run from below windscreen but they are worth cleaning outperiodically.

 

[Landy Andy]

If you look at this post

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/x250-pollen-filter-change-in-pictures.80174/

It shows you how to access the pollen filter. When I did this yesterday I noticed a drain tube from the center of the lower part of the assembly, that went through the floor to outside.

 

[Landy Andy]

Think you can just about see the black rubber tube

Located in the center of the air box

 

[DaveandJen]

If its been very hot and humid when the air conditioning has been in use it’s very possible that you will get a collection of water in the areas as discribed because the air flow needs to get back to the AC unit to remove the water from the air which is part of the AC / dehumidifier process and sometimes this does not happen because the air flow misses the foot wells so expect your system is working correctly unless any blockages can be found.

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[Richard n Ann]

Sorry, could be blocked then if it's only 8mm. All the AC drains I fit are bigger and never block

 

[Bob W]

Just an update on the air con issue. On a twisty but high speed alpine road at the side of Lake Lucerne we had a coming together of wing mirrors which resulted in ours being knocked off and smashing our quarter light on the passenger side and showering us both and the dog with glass. I pulled off the road at the first opportunity and parked up to asses the damage. Fortuitously I had parked 200 m from a Fiat Professional workshop in Goldau. The boss and his mechanics were brilliant- express order of parts from Italy and we were on our way 24 hours later!
Whilst we waited we were invited to stay in their car park overnight and had use of electricity and toilet facilities. I got chatting to them and they had a look at the air con problem. The drainage tube from the bottom of the heater/fan unit to a hole in the bulkhead had disappeared ( or never been fitted!) and as a result water was tracking down under the floor beneath the drivers feet and into the doorwell. New drainage tube fitted and problem solved.
Hope none of you have problems in Switzerland but the team at Chrabel Garage Goldau were brilliant.

 

[62272]

I have read this thread as I have a Hymer T674 CL Fiat Ducato coach build 2014, and have the very same problem whereby the driver’s footwell leaks water when the air con is on in warm climates.

The padding under the driver’s floor area is soaking following my recent European trip.

I have stripped the cowling around the base of the central consul area (removal of central glove box), and the air con drain spout under the heater/air pollen box has nothing attached (no pipe). There is a corresponding hole in the floor pan, roughly under this spout (3”- 4” gap). A few quick pics emailed to the local Fiat professional dealer confirms that the part number 1343755080 air con drain pipe, is missing. £11.22 (+vat), ordered.

Don’t know if this is due to Hymer forgetting to fit one, or a sloppy mechanic ?

Thought this would help others as it could be a common problem.

 

[terryway]

My 2014 elddis acardo 125 also had the same problem. The drain pipe Had never been fitted and condensate soaked the cab floor. New pipe Peugeot part no 6441W3 £11.27