TSB Footwell Water Ingress - cabin filter IATSB002996

[Mules]

Same same - just had my dash out in Perth, Western Australia, to fix the issue of AC condensation leaking into the passenger footwell. Evidently a 2-3 day job if you believe the dealer. 5 hour drive back to Albany didn't reveal any issues and I swear the AC was running cooler. So far so good.

 

[OGrid]

The correct fix is actually modifying the actual drain point / lip within the heater box unit. Lagging is 50% the issue, heater box designs the other. Hence the real fix not been done by dealer as they lost too much time apparently and IA not willing to pay for it. SLRV told me this when I took it in to get the issue fixed, only to leave with no fix. Anyone else had the AC condensate issue fixed by SLRV this year?

I’m still in a holding pattern by Purnell in Sydney on this.

IA apparently ‘working on a fix’. They’ve been looking at this for 1.5 yrs now.

 

[Skydance]

The condensation is due to close proximity of hot and cold pipes next to the centre dashboard on the glove box side where the foot vents are. I have dismantled the dash to look for myself which takes 3/4 hour if you’ve done it a couple of times. Nothing to do with drains because the drain issue is to do with Safari window drain hose which is on the opposite corner.

There are 4 types of leaks on this forum. Safari window seal and detached or blocked drains, door seals, leak coming from the fresh air inlet from rain via the cabin filter (the TSB with cabin filter change may solve this) and finally the condensation drips from the hot/cold pipes.

The last one, condensation fix is much simpler than dismantling the dashboard etc. All the dealer needs to do is to purge the coolant tanks using a vacuum or you can do the bleed yourself. Then wait till the following day and on a cold engine, top up both coolant tanks to the max level. Obviously you can insulate the pipes, that would work too but doesn’t fix the core issue.

3 months since doing the above, (might need to do a couple of times) and I no longer have any condensation drips on my rubber mats anymore. I’m very sure this has solved it. I will wait till summer to fully test but so far so good because I used to get drips from just demisting the front windows on a cold day.

If you think about it, not everyone has condensation drips and not everyone has HVAC heating problems. The problem is the HVAC, steering fluid and some brakes fluid are not bled properly even they say it is done via vacuum. In hotter countries, you probably don’t use the heater as much as in the UK so won’t notice but heater needs to work to balance the pipes and the HVAC to work properly.

 

[ORSO]

is it possible to repeat the coolant tanks bleeding procedure for a diesel engine?

Thanks

 

[Clark Kent]

is it possible to repeat the coolant tanks bleeding procedure for a diesel engine?

Thanks

The procedure is here @ORSO
Take note of the common, petrol and diesel steps.

 

[OGrid]

The condensation is due to close proximity of hot and cold pipes next to the centre dashboard on the glove box side where the foot vents are. I have dismantled the dash to look for myself which takes 3/4 hour if you’ve done it a couple of times. Nothing to do with drains because the drain issue is to do with Safari window drain hose which is on the opposite corner.

There are 4 types of leaks on this forum. Safari window seal and detached or blocked drains, door seals, leak coming from the fresh air inlet from rain via the cabin filter (the TSB with cabin filter change may solve this) and finally the condensation drips from the hot/cold pipes.

The last one, condensation fix is much simpler than dismantling the dashboard etc. All the dealer needs to do is to purge the coolant tanks using a vacuum or you can do the bleed yourself. Then wait till the following day and on a cold engine, top up both coolant tanks to the max level. Obviously you can insulate the pipes, that would work too but doesn’t fix the core issue.

3 months since doing the above, (might need to do a couple of times) and I no longer have any condensation drips on my rubber mats anymore. I’m very sure this has solved it. I will wait till summer to fully test but so far so good because I used to get drips from just demisting the front windows on a cold day.

If you think about it, not everyone has condensation drips and not everyone has HVAC heating problems. The problem is the HVAC, steering fluid and some brakes fluid are not bled properly even they say it is done via vacuum. In hotter countries, you probably don’t use the heater as much as in the UK so won’t notice but heater needs to work to balance the pipes and the HVAC to work properly.

Well then, I guess I’m the 5th type of leak.

I’d posted this previously. The photo is from approx 4.5hrs of driving. The water on top of the foot mat is only minor in comparison to what is underneath.

 

[Skydance]

Well then, I guess I’m the 5th type of leak.

I’d posted this previously. The photo is from approx 4.5hrs of driving. The water on top of the foot mat is only minor in comparison to what is underneath.

View attachment 7890725

Where is it from? Are the droplets coming from side of the footwell near the foot heaters? (Looks like it) Does your heating work? Must be warm in Australia?

 

[OGrid]

Where is it from? Are the droplets coming from side of the footwell near the foot heaters? (Looks like it) Does your heating work? Must be warm in Australia?

Yeah, summer ending here and into the start of Autumn now. Yes, some of water entry appears to be from the side of the footwell, but I have a feeling there is an additional entry point into the footwell.

The vehicle’s AC works fine, blowing cool and hot air as required. No issues with the functionality. Pressure tested, AC bleed (multiple times), etc.

 

[MattA]

One thing I do know after working in the automotive repair industry for the first part of my work life is that if these leaks don’t get fixed and quickly the existing Grenadiers will be stinking rusty pieces of crap in a few years and sales will be none existent
I sure hope they can lift their game in a big way and fast

 

[Skydance]

Yeah, summer ending here and into the start of Autumn now. Yes, some of water entry appears to be from the side of the footwell, but I have a feeling there is an additional entry point into the footwell.

The vehicle’s AC works fine, blowing cool and hot air as required. No issues with the functionality. Pressure tested, AC bleed (multiple times), etc.

I meant have you bled the coolant and topped up coolant on both reservoirs on a cold engine. Not the A/C. As I see it, the entry point on the side of the centre console (glove box side) is from the condensation of the pipes directly behind it.

To further my guess, I presume you get this leak or drops of water even if it doesn’t rain? When was the last time you checked the coolant levels?

 

[OGrid]

I meant have you bled the coolant and topped up coolant on both reservoirs on a cold engine. Not the A/C. As I see it, the entry point on the side of the centre console (glove box side) is from the condensation of the pipes directly behind it.

To further my guess, I presume you get this leak or drops of water even if it doesn’t rain? When was the last time you checked the coolant levels?

Yes. Coolant has been bled more than once.

Yeah, no rain and the water still appears. Only appears though when the AC is running though. I don’t believe it to be the condensation issue others have reported here (though that issue may also be in there), as the volume of water is significant.

Thanks for the thoughts. I’ll let the forum now the outcome. I’ve chased them up again yesterday.

 

[OGrid]

Same same - just had my dash out in Perth, Western Australia, to fix the issue of AC condensation leaking into the passenger footwell. Evidently a 2-3 day job if you believe the dealer. 5 hour drive back to Albany didn't reveal any issues and I swear the AC was running cooler. So far so good.

Would you be able to tell us how much water was pooling in your passenger’s footwell? Thx

 

[Mules]

Would you be able to tell us how much water was pooling in your passenger’s footwell? Thx

Nothing nearly as bad as yours by the looks of things - it was really intermittent dripping on a longer drive. You'd have hardly got your feet wet, but needed fixing nonetheless.

Yours looks like a small flood! Hopefully it gets resolved asap