A/C Condensation Line

maybe it's the new refrigerant they are using. maybe it's so cold it just causes condensation. if you put your hand on the evaporator box when it's dripping and hot/humid out the thing is ice cold.

 

ok so what you guys are telling me is that basically I'm screwed LOL

 

If you find the solution let us know...I've been battling this exact issue for years now.

It's a 'feature' on the Tacomas lmao

Hint: look at my user name lol

 

yea, with the florida humidity, it's bound to happen

i got a few drips today too! i'll let you know if the evaporator cleaner does anything

 

I did, that's why I'm scared lol

 

Here could be the other issue, dirty filter in HVAC system (OP says this is new so should not be a problem). In an older auto, the evap coils/fins could be clogged, or ac is low on charge. Here is more info:
https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/evaporator-freeze-up/
If evap is icing and too cold the air blowing through ac will be much colder that the 45 deg design and could cause duct condensation. You can buy an AC vent temp sensor at auto parts store and measure, should be about 45 deg
https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-...mometer/p/surebilt-test-thermometer/66749_0_0

 

FWIW, I live in Hawaii where most people use AC in their car all the time, either too hot or humid. Most of my autos are 20-30 years old and would take them to AC shops when AC did not work. Could never find a good shop, all very expensive and the repair was not good. Started doing my own AC work. Got a set of gauges, a vacuum pump, and you tube. I have replaced all of the componets of an AC system, including evap, condensor, compressor, expansion valve, hoses, dryer. An AC system is really not complex. A set of gauges (low/high pressure) can tell you what the problems is. One thing that is often over looked is the expansion valve. It is located in the evaporator box (blower box) and is where the high pressure refrigerant expands to low pressure and in doing so provides the cooling to the evap coil. The expansion valve is a very small orifice (pin hole size) and can clog. If you ac gets cold, then stops after a few minutes it could be the expansion valve. Expansion valve is a less than$100 part but usually very hard to get to and requires reclaiming the refrigerant, replacing valve, replacing dryer, vacuuming system and then recharge. Most AC gauges have instructions on how to use and what the readings mean. Always practice safety when working with an ac system as the presssures are high and refrigerant can blind you. Safety glasses or face shield, gloves, long sleaeve shirt ect.

 

I completely understand what you are saying, but my truck has a year to go on the 3/36 warranty and after that I have a Toyota extended warranty that takes me out to 10 years/100,000 miles. I also live in a climate where my AC is in use 12 months of the year (south Florida), which was one of the reasons I decided to buy the extended warranty (from a discounted source, not my dealership).

 

Run it in recirculating mode that way it’s not trying to constantly dehumidify the incoming air only the air in the cabin. The exterior of the “box” where the evaporator is is collecting condensate on the outside of the box. The “fix” if you still wanted outside air would be to insulate the box but that would be a royal PITA.

 

Agree, I just bought a 2023 Tacoma and did purchase the extended 10 year warranty. I am tired of working on my old cars and a friend has a 2019 tacoma and the evaporator started leaking. His truck was one month out of the 36 month warranty so he had to pay the $1,200 to fix. Bigger job than I would want to do as in the tacoma apparently that involves removing the entire dash. AC is very simple and not many parts in system. The problem is getting to those parts.

 

Seeing it is first time, I think it is probably a drain issue. The air box can get leaves, scum and floating debris. These items could move around at the bottom of the air box and at times cause a clog, and at others not. Other issue is it could be a partial block and once the air box gets partially filled with water, there is enough pressure for the drain to start working, however this cold water sitting in the bottom of the air box can lead to condensation on the outside of the box due to the higher heat transfer rate of the water. Try taking a shop vac hose to the drain under the car. One car I had had a plugged drain line and I used the vac with AC running, the bottom of the air box was full of water and the shop vac pulled out all the debris and water. I also removed the duct filter at the air box and stuck in a small hose attached to the vac to remove any additional debris I could reach.

 

used a can of kool-it. drain is draining fine. everything smells clean, and it still drips....

 

If the a/c drain is "sweating" then the evaporator housing probably is too (dripping under the dash). In the past, humidity and heat extremes I have encountered caused this to happen in other cars I've owned. The only way to reduce it is to insulate the areas and lines that sweat with some A/C tape. Make sure the drain is wide open with no restriction because cold standing water will make it sweat.

 

makes sense. i'm in and out of my truck constantly in the heat/humidity so it's got to be very hard on the a/c system.

 

Does anyone have pics of where this hose or box inside the truck that drips on the passenger side. Maybe some insulation around the problem would stop the condensation from falling on floor. just saying

 

now it seems to be dripping from the blower motor or maybe the passenger side floor vents or perhaps the interior intake vent...? who tf knows. tried pouring water into the outside intake vents and it all drains perfectly fine. my condensate drain line is not plugged at all. guess it's just condensation which is dumb. you'd think toyota would have noticed this when testing their vehicles.

 

Yes, I agree with you that Toyota would/should of done something about this problem which is in the 8 years of the 3r Generation. I had a 2nd Generation and never had water inside on the passenger side like this Taco. Maybe the 4 th Generation will be better for those new owners.

 

I don't have this issue, but simply put it's condensation. Warm air touches a cold surface, water vapor turns into water and eventually drips off that surface. The solution is to figure out what cold part is in contact with the warm air and insulating it.

 

any ideas on what to use to insulate it? heater tape? it's the evaporator box. it's ice cold to the touch.

 

No: Unless you let an entire mouse or bird's nest that was in there on top of the filter drop down into the chamber while you were changing it and ignored it.