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A/C drain repair questions...

90K views 70 replies 46 participants last post by  prkerbelf  
#1 ·
Straight out: Wouldn't rain water enter the large firewall hole once you remove the OEM drain pipe? It seems to me that you are getting rid of the A/C drip but creating a larger hole for water to get in.

On a side note, just discovered I had this problem tonite. I am VERY pissed. I can easily do the repair myself, but I am worried the carpet will mold over. Then again I don't want the dealer to replace it because I feel that will result in many more problems from ripping up the truck. Anyone done this problem and dried up the carpet and no more problems? My carpet is damp, the foam underneather is damp to the touch also. I figure if I dry well, use a hairdryer, and disinfect I should be ok. Any hope?

Thanks,
-Cyrus
 
#2 ·
Well, I understand your grief. I can't give you a direction to go as far as dealer repair (with possibilities of bad work) or self repair.

I can show you what I did in order to insure that once the water passed the tip of the drain nozzle there was no path back into the cab.

Removing the drain hose and leaving the large hole wasn't an option in my book and taking a piece of drain tube and putting it inside wasn't an option either as it will eventually kink.

So, I fabricated my own drain tube elbow that fits inside the factory rubber hose. Once installed, you can't even tell there is a modification under it.

Photos speak well. If you'd like, I can give information on parts, sizes, and lengths. Or, If you do paypal, I can give you a completed assembly for cost and let you pick up shipping. I'll make no profit, but I'll know another fellow Titan owner won't suffer from wet carpet due to condensation again.
 

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#32 ·
I just used a small piece of garden hose. No problems to date but what a crappy design by Nissan. My floorboard was wet for weeks befor that and what a nasty smell! Some good ol boy ingenuity got it fixed.:eyebrow:
 
#4 ·
bestatchess said:
Looks like a good idea. Is that 1/2" pipe and elbow?
yep.. 1/2" Copper pipe and 1/2" Street 90 Elbow. The tubing was 5/8" Outside x 1/2" Id Vinyl. The hose is a tough fit on the elbow, definately won't come off. Fits nicely on the Nissan drain tube as well.

I cut both the tubing and the pipe to 1-3/8" long. Only one number to remember this way.

The hardest part of this whole project would be the soldering if you don't already have the equipment.
 
#5 ·
95wolverine said:
yep.. 1/2" Copper pipe and 1/2" Street 90 Elbow. The tubing was 5/8" Outside x 1/2" Id Vinyl. The hose is a tough fit on the elbow, definately won't come off. Fits nicely on the Nissan drain tube as well.

I cut both the tubing and the pipe to 1-3/8" long. Only one number to remember this way.

The hardest part of this whole project would be the soldering if you don't already have the equipment.
Cool, thanks. I am going to change mine to your setup. I have my OEM drain/grommet slip-lined with plastic tubing at the moment and it does have a tendency to kink, so that the tubing is not open all the way at the bend.
 
#7 ·
Guys,

I need some help. I think I'm having the AC drain problem.

I've made a mistake in trying to fix it, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER!!! They said it was the trim molding around the door...WTF!?!?! There's no water over there, it's under teh Husky floorliner-MORONS! I didn't know this when I was at the dealer b/c they didn't have my ticket ready when I left-they mailed it to me. It arrived in the mail today and when I read the repair work, it didn't match what the service manager told me they did, and it wasn't what I told them to check. So I immediatley lifted the Husky floor liner on the pass. side of my truck to find what there-WATER!! go fingure...

So, I've lost faith in them, once again...

Where do I find this drain tube for the AC? I'm assuming it's on the passenger side, since that's where the water's leaking.

What are my options, besides the one in this thread, to fixing it?

Thanks!

And this set-up 95 Wolverine's got going looks pretty good.
 
#8 ·
The drain is on the firewall, passenger side. Look for the black rubber tube in the pictures above. If you can't find that tube, that might be your problem - mine fell off of the firewall after I barely touched it. I did a similiar fix on my unit to correct the same problem.
 
#9 ·
I'd put money it's the drain tube issue, especially if you're still using your A/C. DEFINITELY contact 95wolverine and hope he has one of those pieces laying around... I installed it on my titan maybe a month ago and it has been perfectly dry since (I try to use my A/C also just to make sure). His setup is great since it uses the factory tubing's seal and drain, and is totally inconspicuous.
-Cyrus
 
#10 ·
You might need to stand on a little stool or bucket to reach it, as it is way back there. I have long arms and it was quite a reach. I recently re-fixed mine with 95wolverine's fix. I also used two hose clamps to hold the plastic tubing on the copper elbow and on the A/C drain nipple (behind the black grommet). Perhaps not necessary, but I want this to be the final fix. I greased the grommet with a little white silicone grease and it made it easier to get over the copper elbow and back into place in the firewall hole.

The big end of the plastic grommet has an annular lip that fits in the hole in the firewall. The small end of the grommet is held by a plastic clip at the lower end. Be careful not to lose the clip when you pull the grommet off. Mine flew off when I jerked the grommet out and it took me a little while to find the clip.

I think 95wolverine's fix is the way to go as it maintains the OEM grommet. I originally slip-lined the grommet with plastic tubing and it kinked at the bend.

If you have the A/C drain leak, the padding around the firewall hole will be wet inside the cab, on the passenger side, up on the firewall. It runs from there down to the floor.

Here is a photo of the area to check for the leak:

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1929

If you can't reach the A/C drain from under the hood, you can jack up the front, pull the front passenger tire and remove the fender liner for more convenient access:

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9764

Or perhaps you could take it to the dealer and charge them $500 for conducting a seminar on how to fix this leak.
 
#12 ·
Thanks 95Wolverine, good idea and mine is bone dry ever since. :cheers:
 
#13 ·
i'm having wet(condensation) under my floormats on both the driver/passenger sides. I know most have it under the passenger side since the drainage is on that side. I've seen pictures of other members having puddles

I hope my problem is just the ac problem and not an additional leak.
 
#16 ·
SarkaZm said:
Damn, Just cleaned out my truck and noticed some condensation under the floor mat. Guess I am going to have to rip up the carpet and see how extnesive it is :crying: I hope it's not a lake under there! So there is not TSB out for this? I looked and couldn't find one.
They are negotiating with 95wolverine to write a TSB and license his fix. I think the proposed dash plaque that says "Wolverine A/C Drain" is the sticking point.
 
#17 ·
Just dug this thread up... well, Nissan called and said my repair was too inexpensive and included to much extensive work for the tecnicians. They also said that a permanent fix wasn't in the plans. Just kidding.

For those that need it, I do have a few more laying around. When I fabbed up the last set, I made extras didn't take but a few extra moments.

Again, for the mods.. this isn't self promotion as I don't make a profit. Merely a fix for fellow Titaneers.
 
#18 ·
i noticed this under my plastic floor mat (passenger side)... guess ill be going into my friend's shop this weekend and fixing this issue.... maybe i can fix some of these rattles too! :)

i love this damn truck w00t w00t!
 
#20 ·
ablexus said:
Does this affect all Titans?

Andrew

the AC leak inside the passenger side? It affected mine...I took it to the dealer this past week and they supposadly fixed the problem (hopefully they really did) and replaced my whole carpet...the dumb@$$es didnt replace the pad underneath though on the firewall and it was DRENCHED... so when I was under there I was like D@MNIT they didnt fix jack...but noticed nothing else was wet except the pad...so I will give it another look this coming week and if its not wet then they actually did fix it...
 
#21 ·
Okay,

I had the TSB done for this problem this past Friday at the dealer. I ran the defrost a bit on Sunday and that night checked the passenger side carpet and it was soaked. I haven't visually verified exactly where the water is coming from (which I'll try to do tonight), but has anyone continued to have water leaking inside after the dealer fixed this per the TSB?

Thanks,
 
#22 ·
We have the same issue, carpet totally ruined. The dealer has had our truck for two weeks, and hadn't figured out the problem, so they offered to go ahead and put new carpet back in, put the truck back together(the cab is totally gutted at this time) and see if it happened again(all at our expence). When we took the info that we found on this board to them, they still wouldn't believe it. Now, the are offering to give us the carpet for free, but are going to charge us labor to the tune of 400-500 bucks. They say that our extended warrenty doesn't cover this because it is not a hard body problem , and on top of that, they said they were not going to put the extension in, but were simply going to seal the firewall. Any suggestions about how to deal with this? Pam:soap:
 
#23 ·
just did this mod, when i took that rubber piece off, there was a hard plastic tube that sticks out about 1/2 inch from the hole...soo i just put the clear tubing over it.is that how everyone did it?
anyway what an easy mode to do, took about 15 min..
the easiest way is to take the tire off and fender liner, pull thrubber piece off and install copper tubing, there it is!!!!

thanks everyone!!!!!
 
#25 ·
If the A/C drain is the problem where would the first sign of water in the cab be?

Reason I ask is because my floor board is wet on the bottom (flat area). I do not see any signs of wafer on the mid front or upper front section of the floor board. I suspect my leak is dripping from the black box under the dash....
 
#26 ·
You'll notice the dampness on the passenger side floor board.
 
#30 ·
I noticed my 2005 leaking the other day. I brought it in to the dealer and the extension was added. Guess what? It still leaks. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. Does anyone have the parts to do the job? Thanks.