Weird AC problems and water on floor

Great move on the dealer this time. It’s better to leave it alone. My 2017 has it since new and it’s still blowing ice cold air even at 106’f weather yesterday while waiting in line (long line) at Starbucks . It just doesn’t do it as of ofter as before though.

 

So I don’t think it is mold or debris in the evaporator core area but if I have time tomorrow I was going to drop the blower motor and have a look around. South of the filter was very clean when I looked last week.

Also, I stand corrected about the blower motor housing temp. While running the ac, this only gets cool when in recirc mode.

Could it be possibly the duct that supplies the passenger dash vents is condensating (sp?) and dripping down? Seams like an awful lot of condensation for this but I don’t understand where else the moisture could be coming from.

 

and why wouldn't you think it is the evap? I mean to convert gas to a liquid occurs from either condensation or saturation. You are not making clouds so it has to be condensation. Condensation occurs when air temperature drops below the dew point. The only places that is going to happen in any quantity is your evaporator. Unless your blower is really compressing air and there is some point beyond that compression that the air can expand, no where else in the HVAC system cools except the evaporator. Now if you live in fla or other tropical areas that will get fog blowing our your vents at start up, but that doesn't last long.

 

I agree 100% that the evaporator core condensates. I also do not believe it is where the condensation leaking on my passengers floor is coming from. The evap core is behind the radio area with the drain outlet at the bottom of the plenum. All points above the drain outlet and around the drain tube remain dry while the condensation problem occurs. The only condensation in the cab is coming from the area above the blower motor. Only thing in that area that would get cold/cool would be the passenger vent ductwork but I have a hard time seeing how that ductwork would condensate but not the driver side or the vents on the dash. (I have seen the vents actually collect condensation when ac running and windows open on other trucks but not the Tacoma)

 

My friends Scion TC, made by Toyota, had leaking water on her passenger floor. I searched YouTube and found it’s a common issue. Unclogged a drain and problem fixed.

 

My truck has an issue where water keeps dripping on my foot on the driverside. The outside of the heater box is getting so cold that water is condensing on it.

I had my dealer look at it. First time... they released my truck with no problem found. Second time, I showed it to them and they took pictures. They told me that they got Toyota corporate involved and they would get back to me. Never heard back. Anyways... it's still happening. I put a towel under my heater box and change it out every week or so.

 

Mine is at the dealer now getting looked at again. I showed the service writer the water on the floor when I got there and he agreed it was abnormal and that he saw it, last time they couldn’t duplicate the problem supposedly.

He told me that I should not use fresh air when running the ac and that should minimize it but would still have a tech look at it tomorrow. I don’t remember seeing anything in the manual about not being able to use fresh air setting with ac but now I have to double check.

 

I got the truck back last Wednesday and haven’t had time to post.

The dealer service “director” called me to talk through the issue and asked me to try something for the next few days. Bottom line, they couldn’t find anything “wrong” but were able to duplicate the condensation by leaving it idling for hours. Didn’t even move the truck from where I parked it, even though I explained it happens much worse while driving and told me it wasn’t that bad.

The service director asked me to only use the ac in auto mode and adjust the temp for comfort, not the fan speed manually and to only use recirculate mode and always keep windows closed. Said this will eliminate the problem. Never heard of this in any other vehicle, cannot find any mention on OM and completely disappointed that was the best solution.

Fast forward, I have tried his recommendation and haven’t noticed any significant improvement, see picture of drips using his settings. I have called the service department the last 5 days they were open and cannot even leave him a vm because his mailbox is full, asked secretary and other service advisor to leave a paper note on his desk. About to try another dealer but really don’t want to start from scratch diagnosing. Open to any suggestions for dealers between Plymouth and Boston

Any ideas on what else to look at? I tried to find the other post that started the other day with a similar issue but wasn’t having any luck. My biggest concern is electronics in the dash getting wet and being expensive down the road.

Thanks for the help and ideas and sorry for long post.

 

Found the other thread although not much additional info.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dripping-inside-cab-on-passenger-side.732438/

 

Make a video from under the dash of how it forms. Mount a GoPro so you can see where you think it is coming from. You may find it it coming from somewhere you don't expect. Much easier than disassembling the dash.

 

You mentioned windshield replaced. Any chance they were into the dash, or have you had any other work done in the dash area. I had a claim as an adjuster where there was water coming into the passenger floor after being t-boned in the a-pillar. Turns out small crack in the housing caused the leak.

Maybe you have a defect in the housing or it was damaged if someone was in that area? Wild thought

 

Mine drips on the passenger floor when I make a hard right turn. Lines are all clear.

 

I have done a water test with the hose, sprinkler and car wash and no water has come into the truck. Only time there is water is when ac is running. I was hoping for an easy answer with the windshield but no luck.

I don’t have a GoPro but not sure I could get it close enough to see where it is coming from. My next thought was to remove the glovebox but looks like I have to play with the airbag to do so…maybe someone knows better.

 

I guess I'm confused. I think the dealer is correct that when running the A/C if you don't have your windows closed and recirculation on, it will create a ton more condensation in the cab. A great example is if you let your house cool off with the A/C then go leave all the doors open, you house will be wet everywhere! Not saying you don't have a problem, but it does make sense not to do those other things.

 

I’ve seen a little water on my passenger side floor as well on a few occasions after running the AC. Been driving 45 years never had that happen in any other vehicle. Dealer saying only run on recirc is nonsense never had to do that before. I have started to turn AC off and let fan blow a little while before shutting off the truck based on other posts.

 

So I understand and agree with how condensation works, not trying to sound rude. What I don’t understand is that the condensation is only accumulating and dripping behind the glove box. The evap core housing is not condensating.

In past vehicles with windows open and ac running, I would see condensation on the vents where the cold air was coming out. Also, I have never been told or read in an owners manual not to use ac when fresh air is selected.

 

Not rude at all! Good luck with it, sure sounds like a weird one.

 

Finally got through to service director at dealer. Have an appointment setup for 9.8 tentatively with the local Toyota engineer onsite as well. Hopefully they can get to the bottom of this.

Yesterday I poked around a little deeper and realized/confirmed it has to be the refrigerant line feeding the evap core between the firewall and the evap core causing the drip. The ductwork is not sweating when it drips but I could not see the refrigerant lines. Not sure if anyone has pictures of this area opened up but I assume there should be insulation on those lines. I couldn’t see in very well and didn’t have time to go any deeper.

 

Update from dealer today:

Dealer agrees the refrigerant lines are what is sweating behind the dash. They have had the truck in the shop all day but cannot “find something to insulate the lines with”. When I asked what was there for insulation from the factory he said no insulation is included from the factory. I am curious what the paperwork looks like and will be surprised if Toyota pays for some Home Depot pipe insulation to be installed. I imagine they are into the dash pretty deep to access these lines.

My only experience with ac lines in the cab is on older Internationals and they all had foam pipe wrap to insulate. Does anyone have any experience or pictures of these lines so I can verify what it should have? Maybe it not being insulated is the problem from the factory in the first place. I really do not want to end up with these lines wrapped in shop rags so the drip doesn’t make it to the floor anymore. Any help is appreciated.

 

I wonder what caused that line to sweat. Out of the hundred of thousands Tacoma’s sold , yours seems the one having this.