Water Leaking from Passanger Side

cwendland · 05-23-2010, 05:38 AM

I have an 04 lx 4x4 with around 40, 000 miles on it, just purchased like a month ago. I have one question that I hope somebody can help me with. After I drive the car and get home I notice a constant drip coming from the passenger side , about where the firewall is. It seems to do this after I use the heat in the car. Does anyone know what is causing this??? any help would be appreciated. Thanks

beebopalooza · 05-23-2010, 08:30 AM

If it was the air conditioner I would say condensation I don't know about the heater though.

I just bought an 04 also are you at all nervous because its a kia?

04SorentoLX · 05-23-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwendland

I have an 04 lx 4x4 with around 40, 000 miles on it, just purchased like a month ago. I have one question that I hope somebody can help me with. After I drive the car and get home I notice a constant drip coming from the passenger side , about where the firewall is. It seems to do this after I use the heat in the car. Does anyone know what is causing this??? any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Welcome, two things. Please clarify what you mean by USE HEAT. And do you have Manual or AUTO-CLIME

1) HEAT = dash front facing vents and or floor. NOT windshield. Greenish is HEATER CORE MIA. Need new one. If you have AUTO-CLIME it might be kicking in A/C and you will get clearish water for sure normal.

2) DEFROSTERS= always kicks in A/C and you will get clearish water for sure normal.

pulsar86 · 05-23-2010, 02:54 PM

I agree with the above post it depends on your aircon and heating type but if it is clear , most likely from aircon condensation , have a look where the drip is coming from and if you see an open ended hose near the firewall then that is the outlet hose for the drain from the aircon evaporator in the cabin[ aircon can come on automatically with defrost etc on auto climate control systems also on some manual systems, normal].. If the drip is coolant [green] then check heater hoses and connections at firewall.

cwendland · 05-23-2010, 08:56 PM

I have a Manual heating type....I normally have the heat on the combined, windshield defrost and floor combo. The water that comes out is a constant drip, it makes a stream to the drain when I park in the garage. If you look over the air filter and down a little on the firewall there is a tube that comes out. It is not open ended though, the water seems to be leaking from around it. I am very stumped. Any thoughts with the new info I hac=ve provided?

pulsar86 · 05-23-2010, 10:13 PM

I know on the manual type aircon on my Cerato that the aircon does come on when defost is selected, the drain for the aircon evap on your car would be on the passenger side near the firewall because the evaporator for the aircon is located behind the glovebox area. TRY this run your engine with just aircon on no heat and watch where the water drips from, is it the same area or somewhere different from where you see the drip now? If the water is cold to touch it is from aircon. I think it sounds like it must be from the aircon but I'm not sure exactly how the tube from the evap on the Sorento exits. maybe a length of hose from the drain line is missing because usually most aircons have a hose that hangs around the firewall area just below floor level. At least if the water is clear it isn't coolant.

pulsar86 · 05-23-2010, 10:29 PM

Here is a picture of the aircon with the evap drain arrowed, I think usually there would be a hose to take the water from the arrowed area to below floor level, this might be missing on your vehicle. Could a Sorento owner please help out and let us know if there is a hose from the drain at the firewall to below floor level.

gee6 · 05-24-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pulsar86

Could a Sorento owner please help out and let us know if there is a hose from the drain at the firewall to below floor level.

No there isn't. Just a small rubber 'elbow' at the firewall to direct flow downwards. About 2 in long.

04SorentoLX · 05-24-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwendland

I have a Manual heating type....I normally have the heat on the combined, windshield defrost and floor combo. The water that comes out is a constant drip, it makes a stream to the drain when I park in the garage. If you look over the air filter and down a little on the firewall there is a tube that comes out. It is not open ended though, the water seems to be leaking from around it. I am very stumped. Any thoughts with the new info I hac=ve provided?

Yes you answered your own question based on what I posted in the first reply. But will do it again for you.

MANUAL system
GREEN = COOLENT and heater core is GONE and need new one.
Clearish water= A/C run off.

I said HEAT= dash front facing vents and floor, NOT Windshield. No A/C kicks on. Drops of anykind not normal in a MANUAL SYSTEM. Auto-clim clearish drips normal.
I said DEFROSTERS= A/C always kicks on. Clearish drips normal.

You said you use the COMBI (windshield/Floor/no dash) setting. Why are you very stumped?

HINT: if you use another setting like COMBI dash/floor, you will not get drops and will get better MPG too.

pulsar86 · 05-24-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gee6

No there isn't. Just a small rubber 'elbow' at the firewall to direct flow downwards. About 2 in long.

Thanks for the info i have never had a good look at the set up on the Sorento. Most cars get the outlet down below floor level, How low down is the outlet? It must be low otherwise the drained water would get blown around in the engine bay. I can't see the position by the diagrams on kiatechinfo.