Land Rover Repair: AC condensation leaking into cab, landrover freelander, polystyrene insulation

Question
Good Morning, I have a 1999 Landrover Freelander and have recently noticed H20 dripping down from under the dash on the passenger. Came from just where the underside of dash makes the bend into center console I also noticed that the cab windows constantly steam up.  Pulled up both front rubber mats and the carpet is soaked on both sides!!! Is there some drain off from AC that could be plugged, and how do I get to it.  THANKS!


Answer
Hi Richard,

the compressor and condensor are both in the front of engine and only the evaporator and air inlet unit is on the firewall.  This could be the sourse of your leak.  

Here's what I found:

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The cooling unit directs the flow of air, from the plenum or the vehicle interior, through the evaporator to the heater assembly.

The cooling unit is installed in place of the air inlet duct used for non air-conditioned vehicles, and contains the evaporator, inlet and outlet pipes connecting to the thermostatic expansion valve through the bulkhead and the evaporator temperature sensor. It also incorporates the water condensate drain and the fresh and recirculated air inlets.

A control flap, operated by a recirculated air motor, opens and closes the fresh and recirculated air inlets. On the downstream side of the evaporator, the casing is lined with polystyrene insulation.

The fin and plate, brazed aluminium evaporator is installed in the cooling unit behind the passenger's side of the fascia, to absorb heat from the exterior or recirculated inlet air. Low pressure, low temperature refrigerant changes from liquid to vapour in the evaporator, absorbing large quantities of heat as it changes state.

Most of the moisture in the air passing through the evaporator condenses into water, which is drained away from the air inlet casing via a drain tube routed to beneath the vehicle.
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There was no mention of the location of the drain tube and I have no diagrams showing it.  My guess would be that the drain tube starts on the air inlet inside the engine compartment and runs down below the unit.  At least that's were I'd put it...now what LR did with it...  I hope they did not install a drain tube on the interior side of the unit.  

Best of luck,

JohnMc