AC drain location/wet carpet fix
 

Hello all,

New member here. I do not own a Jeep but I work on a 97 Grand Cherokee from time to time. Recently I looked at the wet carpet problem that many seem to have. I removed the seats, passenger side front and back, lifted the carpet and found a pool of water. I removed about a gallon of water and the carpet took over a week to dry. Not sure how long this has been going on.

In addressing the problem I followed TSB 24-06-96
http://www.jeep-club.at/troubless/TSB/24-06-96.htm

More info on this:
http://www.aircondition.com/tech/questions/4/

The drain was clear so this was not the problem. I finally decided that the AC drain was allowing water to enter the cabin. The water was seeping in thru the firewall and running down from the drain housing. The AC drain runs horizontally. When the water slowly drains, it runs along the bottom of the drain and enters the cabin thru the firewall. Add to this normal movement of the vehicle and you can get lots of water in. The seal around the drain is just some foam. I found this foam to be deteriorated.
　
　
I tried sealing around the drain housing but water still entered. The best way to check for this is to place a paper towel around the drain housing. If water is seeping in, the towel gets wet.

I finally decided to fix this leak as I fixed a similar leak in my truck. In my truck, I placed a hose on the drain and let it droop down. So now no water gets in. The Jeep is a bit harder. The Jeep engineers decided that no one should see nor touch the AC drain. It is sealed inside a frame rail by the passenger wheel well. I took some measurements and located this buddy. See the pictures. Not sure how to post these pictures so I will do a couple per post.


Drain location Attachment 388597
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0693.jpg
　
There it is Attachment 388598
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0694.jpg
　
　
　

Deteriorated foam Attachment 388599
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0698.jpg
　
Plastic hose for fix. The black line lets me align the droop with the drain
Attachment 388600

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0699.jpg
　

　
　
　
Job done. Hose droops down and water cannot run to firewall. Water now drips in the front of the Jeep as braking action forces it forward.

Attachment 388601

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0700.jpg

I brazed the cutout to a piece of flat stock and I will cover the opening so you do not see that hole. Hope this helps some of the members here.

I forgot to add. DO NOT CUT any higher than my top cut. There is a frame member or something that sits just above my top cut. I lucked out and cut just below it. There is a channel that runs left and right just behind the brake line hose clamps. You can just see it in my first picture; black line that runs left and right. Use that as a reference.

Good luck with your fix.

Thought I'd post this picture of the cover plate in place. The unused hole at the top is due to the frame member I found just above my top cut line.

Attachment 388602

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...t/IMG_0705.jpg