AC dripping

[landarcht]

I noticed a weird high pitched screaching yesterday but went away after a few seconds.
See picture attached, is this box under the passenger side glove compartment part of the AC condenser box? It is cold and has some condensation and was dripping and making the carpet wet.
I'm not sure what's wrong? AC seems to work correctly.
Please advise.

 

[Simplespirit]

You'll need to remove the cover and reseal it. While you have the cover off clean it out and make sure the drain line is clear of debris. Also, if you don't have cabin filters it's worth the small cost to upgrade the cover to the 2 piece and add the filter option.

The replacement cover parts are 88891-60040 and 88891-60060 for the cover and 88578-47040 for the seal if you want it. Some people just use gasket maker. You can get cabin filters on Amazon.

 

[landarcht]

I don't have in cabin filter.
How difficult is it to reseal the box and clean drain line? Is there picture instructions?

 

[Simplespirit]

Not too bad. You pull the glove box and then you can see the panel. Multiple screws with a couple that can be difficult to get at and may require some creativity. You can run a coat hanger or piece of stiff wire up from the engine bay. The exit is on the passenger side firewall. Compressed air can also be used. You can vacuum out any debris from inside.

 

[Spike555]

You can also clean and dry the outside of the seam, then run a bead of silicone and seal it from the outside.
If you use clear silicone and smooth it with your finger you can make it look good enough to not see it.

 

[TXSunDevil]

I don't have in cabin filter.
How difficult is it to reseal the box and clean drain line? Is there picture instructions?

I did it this week and it took me less than 30 minutes. I did purchase the seal from Toyota. If you do a search you can probably find instructions. Basically pull 2 glovebox screws. Remove glove box. Remove 3 screws holding upper trim piece carefully disconnect airbag sensor and plug from trim piece and set aside. Remove the power antenna relay 2 bolts. Remove 8 phillips head screws from around the evaporator cover. Disconnect clip on the left side of the cover. Carefully pull off cover. It is tight but it can be done without too much force. Install new Toyota parts and using shop-vac suck out any debris that is inside. Use a piece of weed eater line to clear drain line that runs into firewall. Reverse steps to reinstall.

 

[brizzle]

Thanks @Simplespirit this is something I was trying to figure out.

 

[Simplespirit]

No problem. This is one of the first things I went through after buying my 100.

 

[landarcht]

So I talked to a reputable AC specialist, he said the evaporator may have gone bad. Anyone know what's the ball park price for this job if the evap. needs to be replaced? I just want to have an idea so I know I'm not take for a ride tomorrow once he gives me the estimate.
Also, does the LC 100 have two evaps? One for the back as well or just the front one off the passenger side?
Because the drain seemed to have stopped leaking after just once occurrence and still cold. Although the back usually tend not to be as cold.

 

[TXSunDevil]

The LC does have 2 evaporators. I would be leery of anyone thinking the evaporator is bad because it is leaking water. I was thinking maybe your blower motor is on the way out that is why you heard the squeaking and it was running slow causing the evaporator to get colder than normal and make additional condensation.

 

[landarcht]

Is blower reasonable cost to repair?

 

[Dwight S]

Has the noise repeated? If not, it may have been debris in the blower fan, under the dash. Here's a link showing the blower motor.
HVAC Fan / Blower Chirping / Screeching Sound

A search may yield more results to help you.

I would start by removing and cleaning the blower motor of any debris.

If your A/C is working fine, it isn't the evaporator. The drip is coming from the bottom of the evaporator cover as mentioned above. Pretty easy fix, if you have the will to do it. 30 minutes to an hour, taking your time.

Take the part number listed above to the dealer, or you could use some type of form-a-gasket from a autoparts store, but the correct way to fix it is with the "cooler packing" listed above.

Here's quick instructions I shared with someone else a month or two ago...

To get to the evaporator, remove the glove box first, two screws underneath. The evaporator cover is a pain to get out. 8 screws hold it on. Two in top corners, 2 bottom and 2 each side. There is also a bolt in the lower left corner going through the edge of the dash, a metal brace behind it and the bolt is up against the evaporator cover. Remove antenna relay from cover and disconnect harness. Gently pull cover loose from the evaporator housing. It WILL NOT drop out. It takes some twisting, cussing and pulling. You will need to gently pull out on the bottom of the dash cross brace, where glove box attaches and the metal brace you removed the bolt from. I slid the cover down some to clear the top part and rotated it clockwise. Then pulled the brace out gently and lifted the cover out through the glove box hole.

While you have the cover off, vacuum out the debris in the evaporator housing, you'll see what I mean when you open it up.

The old gasket is in the groove on the evaporator housing. On the new gasket, one end is slightly fatter than the rest. That end goes up in the groove in behind the metal brace, left side. Can't really see it too well.... the gasket is friction fit and kind of hard to get it seated. I used a small controls, flat blade screwdriver to push against the gasket and seat it. My fat fingers wouldn't do the trick. The housing went back in easier than I thought it would.

 

[Runner2aCruiser]

I would make sure the ac drain tube is not clogged. I had the same symptoms in mine and that was all it was

 

[Gnarwgn]

@landarcht @Simplespirit @Spike555 and others -

Trying to resurrect this thread, its one of the better/more clear discussions on this subject that I have found, thanks everybody for the contributions. I have a couple clarifying questions:

I completed this improvement first thing last summer after noticing the same issue (dripping on passenger floor). The thread I was referring to suggested the cooler cover already had the 'Cooler Packing' (88578-47040) installed. So I didn't order that piece, and just ran with the 2 cover pieces @Simplespirit mentions above. The drip persists, so I need to go back and install the Cooler Packing (88578-47040) aka 'seal' it would seem, sound correct?

Last question - if I understand the system correctly, with the seal installed the only place the condensation can go is out the drain line correct? While I'm at it should I attempt to clean or clear the drain line, and if so how do I do that? Rig has 155k, I'd honestly be surprised if it was clogged but would rather take a comprehensive approach.

Thanks!

 

[Spike555]

A clogged a/c drain is 99% always from the outside, the nipple on the bottom of the drain under the truck becomes caked with mud.
The water is just gravity fed so if there is any restriction it will back up and drain elsewhere once the drain tube is full.
I'd replace that seal, make sure the drain is clear under the truck and keep going.
To clear the drain under the truck all you need to do is wipe the nipple with your finger, you can use a pipe cleaner to remove out the tube if needed. But doubt you need to do that.

 

[084runnerltd]

Similar situation.....7 hour road trip yesterday with A/C on the whole time, along with rainy weather and a car wash.

Noticed water dripping out under the passenger side seat, assumed it was just water, no big deal. Then I have my wife drive and my OCD kicks in, I soon find that the passenger side front floor board was extremely wet!!

A/C works fine, and it appears the drain works fine too.

Doesn’t seem like a heater core issue either, as there is no coolant smell or fog...just seems to be water.....??

 

[CruiseLanderAZ]

Sounds like it may be a windshield leak. Recently have it replaced? Is yours OEM or aftermarket?

Similar situation.....7 hour road trip yesterday with A/C on the whole time, along with rainy weather and a car wash.

Noticed water dripping out under the passenger side seat, assumed it was just water, no big deal. Then I have my wife drive and my OCD kicks in, I soon find that the passenger side front floor board was extremely wet!!

A/C works fine, and it appears the drain works fine too.

Doesn’t seem like a heater core issue either, as there is no coolant smell or fog...just seems to be water.....??

 

[084runnerltd]

Sounds like it may be a windshield leak. Recently have it replaced? Is yours OEM or aftermarket?

I did have the windshield replaced about 1 year ago when I purchased the vehicle.

It is typically stored indoors so it is possible that it has been leaking on rare occasions over the last year.

What is the best way to check? Just run a hose around the windshield and see if any water comes in??

 

[084runnerltd]

I left the vehicle outside during a storm last night to test the theory, what do ya know, passenger floor is wet.

The replacement windshield is not OEM.

Is there a way to prove it is the windshield, I had replaced about a year ago and figure I will get some pushback from them.

The car is always garaged and normally it is just me driving it, so I never noticed the leak....


Thanks

Sounds like it may be a windshield leak. Recently have it replaced? Is yours OEM or aftermarket?

 

[CruiseLanderAZ]

See if your insurance will even consider replacing with OEM. I hear it can take some convincing. Lot of threads on here describing the common mistakes made with installing them that can lead to a bad seal.

I left the vehicle outside during a storm last night to test the theory, what do ya know, passenger floor is wet.

The replacement windshield is not OEM.

Is there a way to prove it is the windshield, I had replaced about a year ago and figure I will get some pushback from them.

The car is always garaged and normally it is just me driving it, so I never noticed the leak....


Thanks