passenger side water

[tryon]

My son has a 03 Wrangler and is away a college and the car has had to sit out in what was a very wet spring here in the Chicago area. Yesterday my wife said that the fog lights were on. When I went out to check the car and opened the door it was like a steam bath inside. After jigling the light switch the fog lights went out, but still flickered when I would move the switch. Upon further checking the passenger side floor had standing water. The car has a hard top that does not leak. I started the car and when I turned on the air conditioner is sounded like the fan was splashing in water. When I drove the car around the block several times the swaying must have sloshed all the water out and I could not hear it again. I theorize that the high humidity along with 90 degree heat had caused some oxidation on the switches in the steering column. After spending a considerable amount of time just rotating all the light and turn signal switchs, the intermittent fog light problem is getting better. Help with the high water on the passenger side. Also, even after a rain and the pavement has dried up, there is a small puddle of water located about the middle of the car on the pavement. After about two days of small drops on the pavement it finally stops. I layed on my back and looked under the car but could not find a source of the dripping. I suspect that the water inside the car, the air conditioner fan, and the dripping under the car are somehow realated.

 

[prof_fate]

Sounds like the drain under the hood on the firewall for the HVAC ductwork is plugged up with debris from sitting out in the rain. Was it parked under trees? This is open to the elements via the vent in front of the windshield. Rain will get in there as will condensed humidity when the AC runs in the summer.

With the rain and sitting in the rain you probably got leaves or pine needles in there and they've plugged up the drain. It needs cleaned out.

How badly plugged it is will determine what you might have to do to clean it. Simple fix is to locate the drain hose and run a stiff wire up in there, perhaps with a loop on the end and try to 'fish' out the debris. You may just push it back and things will plug again during the next rain.

I've removed drains on other vehicles and it's usually not too difficult, then you have better access (usuallY) to the hole in the firewall/HVAC box.

The ultimate solution it so remove the box and cleain it out with a vaccum/compressed air, but this can be a real nasty job on some vehicles.

 

[sonofasailor3]

I also had water dripping into the passenger side on my '05. There is a plastic snorkel type tube on the firewall, right in the center. I removed it and it was totally filled with leaves and debris. After flushing it out and replacing it, I only have an intermittent drip. When I get time, I'll try the HVAC tube trick, although I was once told that you shouldn't run anything up the tube because it would damage something. I figure with a loop on the wire, and being gentle, I may be able to clean it.

 

[tryon]

I must be an idiot. I cannot find any shorkel tube. Below the vent on the top there is a oval shaped plastic piece but I cannot find or locate the outlet. Help!! Although we have a lot of trees, the car is not parked directly under any of them. Once again, where is the drain hose located on the HVAC unit? The only thing that I can locate is a plastic tube about 1" in diameter that comes out of the firewall about 1" and is located directly below the water lines and air conditioner lines that go to the HVAC.

 

[SteelHeadz]

There are 2 drain hoses. 1 for the HVAC housing and 1 for the fresh air intake. The HVAC drain is located on the passenger side firewall in the engine compartment. It's a small plastic tube that protrudes out of the firewall lower section. The other drain tube is located almost directly behind the engine valve cover on the firewall. the bottom of this tube comes to a point that ends up accumulating small debris and eventually plugs it up..

 

[sonofasailor3]

Thanks for clarifying the name of the "snorkel". It IS the fresh air intake tube, and the description is perfect. It starts as an oval shaped piece of plastic, then tapers to a point.

 

[tryon]

You guys are the greatest! I finally found the drain and yes it was completely clogged. When I finally was able to clear the obstruction, about 2 cups of water and gunk came out. Thanks again to everyone for the help.