Leakage in passenger seat

[tribal python]

Hey, since 1-2 weeks, I seem to have water coming in on the passenger side on the top left side. It seems to happen only when I use the AC unit, so I have checked the AC drainage, but that seems to be not clogged. I am unsure where it might be coming from now...

Help is much appreciated.

[odd meteor]

Have you checked if the ac lines are properly insulated? That could be a cause

[brittle ivy]

Year make and model goes a long way.

[tribal python]

Volkswagen up 2013

[wary wigeon]

GG @tribal python, you just advanced to level 4! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal python]

Sorry my bad, thought I had added that information

[tribal python]

I have not checked that yet, I will check that, thank you. There is also a hissing sound when the airco is on

So it might be a leak in the airco itself?

[odd meteor]

That’s a possibility too

[tribal python]

I should probably just pay the garage to solve this issue for me

I am not a car mechanic haha, but checking the AC drainage was something I could do myself

[tribal python]

I just started my car and put the AC on max and waited a few minutes. It seems to be not clogged, as there is a lot of water coming out of the bottom (it is of course supposed to do this)

.

Would it help to use a compressor on this AC drain on the bottom?

To clear out the whole pipe

[tribal python]

I could also try this:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lMSuiyN0Ixk

[odd meteor]

That’s just a heat shield usually the ac drain hose looks like this

[odd meteor]

I wouldn’t do this yet, without fully knowing where the isssue is

[tribal python]

Why does the condens from the airco come out of there then?

[tribal python]

hmhm, then I need to look further to fine the actual pipe haha

[tribal python]

Thanks for your opinion 🙂 I'll first do the other thing then

blowing air in the ac drain hose seems to have a good chance to solve my issue

[odd meteor]

The ac line is probably under the heat shield and is just leaking through it.

[odd meteor]

Not a bad idea thinking about it. You can check for any possible cracks, just don’t use really high pressure

[tribal python]

ah, I hope I can find the hose itself then

[odd meteor]

I wouldn’t worry for the bottom side, water is suppose to come out from the bottom, so that means there’s no clog, so it means the issue is in the passenger area where the leak is

[tribal python]

yeah I think so too

blowing air from the bottom can still solve the leak in the passenger area right?

I hope I do not have to take off the whole heat shield to find the tube

[odd meteor]

No, sense water is still coming out it means there’s no clog, it’s better to do it through the passenger side, which I think the video you sent was doing. It won’t fix anything but it can help identifying the problem, if there is a crack/hole in the hose. If there isn’t then it can mean insulation issue or a few other things

[tribal python]

I also found this solution online:

"sounds like you're having the same problem and i just found the cure last night. inside the engine compartment behind the exhaust manifold there is a little flap on the firewall shield. its a little left of center looking in the engine and a little more than halfway down. open that flap and then there'll be a rubber flap. lift that flap and watch the water gush out! not sure why mine wasn't leaking, didn't appear to be clogged. so i may have to do this every couple of days to make sure all the water is out."

Might be worth a try as well, I saw a video about it earlier today

[tribal python]

Okay thank you. I appreciate your help

[odd meteor]

No worries

[tribal python]

@odd meteor I think I have a large problem… the leak comes from above the sponge and there is no way I can get access there 😞

[odd meteor]

Did some research, something about a seal issue or pan related

What car is it?

[tribal python]

Volkswagen up 2013

I guess I'll just have to bring it to the garage and pay a few hundred bucks

[odd meteor]

From research it could be the HVAC box, that has a leak and it could be loose

[tribal python]

I will check it out, thank you once again

[odd meteor]

No worries bro, let me know how it goes. Wish you all the best with it. If you got any other concerns I’m more then happy to help

[tribal python]

At first I was hoping it would just be the evaporator drain, like in this picture

But I can't even find it in my car

I also can't find any fix about a leaking HVAC box, can you find anything?

[odd meteor]

I’ll take a look

I’m out rn, I’ll take a look when I get a chance

[tribal python]

Take your time, all good

I'll keep searching as well

[tribal python]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Gxa3F612S7E

Do you think this still could be it? The AC drain at the bottom?

So the AC drain hose is under the heat shield?

[wary wigeon]

GG @tribal python, you just advanced to level 5! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal python]

Because there still comes water out at the bottom, so it is not fully 100% clogged then

[tribal python]

I atleast now found a video on where to find the AC hose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG33hlWv6m4

[brittle ivy]

Wow this thread got long. Are we sure it’s water

And not coolant?

[tribal python]

Yeah it is 100% condens of the airco

If I put the airco at 4, the water starts dripping after 1 minute

[brittle ivy]

Yeah gotta be something plugged then. Sorry champ I would take it to a shop. Something is not draining correctly or routing the water correctly

[tribal python]

Do you not think unclogging the AC drain might fix the problem?

[tribal python]

I will atleast still try to unclog the AC drain tomorrow. I'll get a can of air spray

Still not sure where the hose is, but I'll hop under the car tomorrow and try to find it

Just one more question for now

Is the AC condens really normally coming out of the firewall? You can see it in the picture I took, you can see a little bit of condens

Cause if the water comes out of there and it is normally not supposed to come out there, then the conclusion is that the AC drain is clogged right?

[mint prism]

hey dude late reply but my guess is that it might be clogged , or disconnected ac on the hose blocked or damaged panel drain might be also hvac housing leaks

[wary wigeon]

GG @mint prism, you just advanced to level 3! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal python]

Hey yeah, I also think it is clogged. But I am unable to find the AC drain hose

Today I went under the car but I could not find the hose at the bottom of my Volkswagen up 2013

I did buy a can of spray air, so if I find it, I can probably unclog it myself

these are some pictures I took from under my car, but I do not see a hose anywhere 😦

Could it be in the hood?

[mint prism]

which hose exactly you've been looking for?

[tribal python]

The AC drain

So this for example

[mint prism]

did you check near the firewall?

might be also under the passenger side footwell

[tribal python]

YEah

You can see where it leaks at the firewall, in the middle of the car... it is not supposed to drain the AC there

[mint prism]

ahh makes sense now

i think it not might be draining properly man

[tribal python]

I really do not know what to do now. I checked everywhere in the passenger side, but I do not see a drain there

[mint prism]

clogged cowl drain i think so

or seal leaks? maybe

[tribal python]

the cowl drain is fine. It leaks when I turn on the airco

cowl is fully dry and empty, not clogged

So I think it is just the AC drain being clogged. But I can't not find the hose for it to unclog it

[mint prism]

okay so it has nothing to do with the cowl so it's then AC drain hose is being clogged, disconnected, or missing

[tribal python]

Indeed

[mint prism]

praying you get it fixed as soonest as possible man!

[tribal python]

I hope so too, was hoping I could really fix it myself

[tribal python]

Do you know where the condensate drain hose is located for volkswagen up 2013?

[mint prism]

it's usually here i think so

inside passenger footwell or behind firewall hope that helps

[tribal python]

so there is not a hose?

possibly behind the firewall indeed

it is not inside of the passenger footwell sadly

[mint prism]

possibly then behind the firewall let me know how it goes keep me updated with the vw hope it goes the good way

[tribal python]

I will let you know, thanks!

[tribal python]

https://youtu.be/38u1_LNWqvg?si=Zws26zbBQFkl_95k&t=81

I think I found the hose, in a place I never expected it...

so there is no hose at the bottom of the car, no wonder I could not find it

[mint prism]

just watched the video and yeah i thought vw up's usually had it underneath the car

[tribal python]

Is it a bad idea to cut open the fire shield at that place?

And can I just leave it open? or do I have to seal it afterwards again?

[mint prism]

So it’s okay to cut it for access but make sure to properly seal or cover the opening again afterward.

[tribal python]

How do I properly seal it again?

[mint prism]

i would say Clean the edges first then go for the high temp aluminum foil tape over the cut maybe use a silicone aswell up to you

[tribal python]

Is it okay to leave it open for a few days and drive around with it?

I can order the alu foil tape, but it will arrive wednesday then I hope

[mint prism]

yeah totally okay but keep out for the increased heat or noise in the cabin usually don't drive in the heavy rain or wet conditions might make the situation worse

once the alu foil tape arrives seal it right away

[tribal python]

It is currently really warm in the Netherlands, and there is no rain expected, so that is perfect

[mint prism]

perfect

glad this helped you and i hope it did

[tribal python]

ill try tomorrow and let you know

[wary wigeon]

GG @tribal python, you just advanced to level 6! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[tribal python]

I think I found the hose. I cut open at heat shield at the passenger side

I pinched the hose a few times, and I tried to pull it upwards to I can spray air into it, but it looks like it is stuck somewhere below

Talking about this hose

[tribal python]

Any ideas on what I could do now?

Should I try to find that hose at the bottom of the car?

Or can I do anything from here

@brittle ivy @odd meteor

[tribal python]

I found where the tube goes down to the bottom I believe, but it is veryyyy hard to reach

[tribal python]

I also think it goes under the heat shield... I do not know what to do anymore

[brittle ivy]

Did you look? Is that what these pictures are?

[tribal python]

yeah

[edgy gust]

“It uhh must be the water” @stuck temple #3

[tribal python]

it is condensate of the AC

[odd meteor]

😭😭

[tribal python]

I found the actual AC drain hose, but was not clogged 😦

It was indeed behind the firewall

Since the AC drain hose was not clogged, not sure what else I could do myself

[brittle ivy]

How do you know it’s not clogged?

What did you do to determine that?

[odd meteor]

Cuz water was coming out of it

[odd meteor]

I would take it to a mechanic tbh, I would bring a towel with you if you want to use the ac, so the water doesn’t make a big mess

[tribal python]

condensate came out of it and I used a compressor

and even after using the compressor the water was leaking inside

[tribal python]

yeah I will see what they have to say tomorrow morning

[odd meteor]

Really sorry, wish I could help you out more

[tribal python]

It is okay, atleast we tried 😄

[brittle ivy]

Can you have someone listen to the inside of the cabin and listen to air?

Maybe you have a split in the hose?

[tribal python]

sometimes I hear a hissing sound from the airco as well

but that might be due to a low level of airco liquid

I checked and the last time they filled the airco with new liquid was in 2021... whoops

[brittle ivy]

No no I mean. With you putting compressed air

If you hear it in the cabin.

[tribal python]

tbf, we didn't check it, but I pressed air like 20-30 times, I'm 100% sure it is fully cleared out