Had water recently in the passenger footwell. So after some time on Google I figured my A/C drain was clogged because there wasn't any water underneath the car—but today I discovered water is dripping out at a too rapid pace directly from the red temperature flap lever and down the hump into the pax footwell. I'm thinking I'm screwed. Any HVAC experts out there?

Hot and bothered in NJ,

Hi Rick,

Yeah it's definitely leaking from that red lever that the temperature flap cable is attached to—I can see it. I'm not thrilled to say the least. I started with all the usual suspects in a "water ingress" situation. I checked the front sunroof drains—they worked. Cleaned the plenum drains under the battery and brake booster—no obvious water trapped there. I got down to the a/c funnel and my local mechanic blew that out. The floor rug gets wet from the top vice below which may be the only saving grace since there's no evidence of water near that comfort control module. This vehicle is a 2000 and I can imagine having to replace, or at least disassembling, the whole heating and A/C unit would cost more than the car is worth.

I kind of thought I had my head around this but now I want to drive it off a cliff. I'll attach a picture but I don't know how it will come out on your end. If you can see it—water drips from that red lever onto the top of the hump and down to the footwell.

Thanks for the quick response,

john

Hi Rick,

You are correct sir! I do have the Manual A/C system. I showed my mechanic the location of the drain plug as depicted in my Bentley manual two days ago, when I was getting a brake job, but he couldn't see/find it under the catalyst heat shield. I later Googled it and it appears you just have to "feel" for the plug. Yesterday I was face to face with the Evap drain guide (I was calling it a funnel) and had my mechanic blow some compressed air between it and the sealing lip that goes into the bulkhead. I saw a bit of water hit the ground underneath the car and could definitely see the air blowing dirt on the ground below the car. I'm pretty confident that the drain is working because of the air that was hitting the ground. But I'm getting the leak upstream of the drain guide right from that temp control lever. My wife says to drive it over to VW and let them see it leaking before I put the glove compartment back in.

Any time I read "Remove instrument panel" I see dollar signs. Especially when the smallest component I see in the manual where the water is dripping from is the "Heating and A/C unit".

Appreciate your help,

john

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear you got it straightened out.

Rick W
Bentley Publishers