2007~2015 CX-9 A/C draining direct to passenger footwell

[jase7678]

It’s been a while since my A/C drain got clogged and, unlike last time, I approached the task with confidence and therefore didn’t read the forums before tackling. I recalled reading references to the use of an air compressor but forgot the salient parts about this not being the best route and, if used, to use light pressure (a vacuum being the preferred approach).

I’ve come to own an air compressor since performing this operation the last time and gave the drain pipe several long, high pressure blasts with glee.

This was entirely the incorrect approach and now water drains onto the passenger carpet mere seconds after having the A/C running.

I presume I’ve caused something to become unsituated. Can anybody recommend / point me to info source on how to strip back necessary pieces to remedy the situation please?

Thank you.

 

[jase7678]

Took the afternoon off work today to see if I can fix the problem I created by blasting the A/C drain hose with air pressure.

Looking at the blown up drawing of the A/C Unit it seems I must have dislodged the drain hose. I'm hopeful this is accessible from the passenger footwell.

Does anybody have any experience or hints & tips they could share?

Thank you.

 

[puma]

if it didn't leak when you blasted it, than my guess is it is still clogged. If water runs only with AC on, that means it is still full. Did you do it in the first place in a preventive matter or because you were hearing the water slouch around?In any case, that hose should be behind the carpet on the passenger side but it is just a guess.

 

[jase7678]

if it didn't leak when you blasted it, than my guess is it is still clogged. If water runs only with AC on, that means it is still full. Did you do it in the first place in a preventive matter or because you were hearing the water slouch around?In any case, that hose should be behind the carpet on the passenger side but it is just a guess.

Hi @puma,
I blasted it because it was overflowing in the usual manner of cornering when the drain is blocked. So I blasted it with the air compressor and lots of water ran out onto the driveway as expected. Thing is, not 2 days later my wife comes home and tells me our nephew said he could see water running down the transmission tunnel onto the carpet. I couldn’t believe it. So I fired up the A/C and low and behold water starts running down the transmission tunnel in passenger footwell while the car is stationary on the driveway so I figure that, as soon as moisture comes off the evap, it’s just running into the foot well as opposed to collecting until there’s a good amount of water and coming out under cornering. All assumption by the way because the parts diagram doesn’t make it easy to picture exactly what it looks like in there and where, when it’s blocked, water sits - presumably for a long time but maybe it starts overflowing as soon as it’s blocked??? I just imagined there was some sort of unintentional reservoir based on the amount of water that runs into the fan when it’s blocked.
Heading out to car now.

 

[jase7678]

I’ll try hooking the shop vac up to the drain tube before starting any dismantling just in case the problem is the original blockage falling back into place.

 

[jase7678]

Ok, status update. Put shop vac with reducer down to beach inflatable pump hose and shoved it into the drain. No water evacuated.
Removed glove box and panel below this and got some good video of the inner workings. Spotted the evaporator which is probably around the same height as the glove box - I’d expected it be somewhat closer to the floor. Could not spy any tubing.

Ran engine and A/C keeping any eye inside the footwell and below the car. For a long time no moisture anywhere. And then dripping from the drain pipe!!!!

At this point will consider it fixed and put it down to Heck Knows What Was Going On!

Fingers crossed it behaves itself.

Will upload some stills from the video later to share the inner gubbins.

Have to say I got a kick out of seeing the lid over the cabin air filter retract when operating recirc mode! #ImABigKid

 

[rowlands57]

If the issue comes back you could try to snake a thin weed trimmer cord up the drain from below. If that shows up inside the 'box' then you should be good. If the cord shows up elsewhere that would be the point where the disconnect happened.

 

[jase7678]

If the issue comes back you could try to snake a thin weed trimmer cord up the drain from below. If that shows up inside the 'box' then you should be good. If the cord shows up elsewhere that would be the point where the disconnect happened.

That’s such a smart idea! I’ll definitely do that. I’ll see if I can befriend a proctologist in the meantime and borrow their camera