This weekend I noticed that my front window steams up when I start the engine/car from cold. Not much, and it disappears quickly. Usually that is an indication of some moisture, if not actual water somewhere in the warm air circuit.

My AC has been flushed/recharged a few weeks ago.

So I took away the paravan (the plastic bit / cowling) in front of the window.




The good news, there is no dirt/leaves/debris here at all. But I can’t see any drains either. I suspect they must be fitted lower down near the heater?
Anybody knows where these drains are? I assume there are drains?

Jeroen

 

I hope your heater core isn't leaking...but I scoured threw the Workshop Manual and it failed to show any drain ports/tubes. I haven't been in it in awhile, so I don't recall if there is an inspection plate in the bulkheads to access that area?
You may have to drop the wheel skirt liner and check in there as well.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...r-time-223146/

The first photo shows a short corrugated hose sticking up from the passenger side footwell, on the right hand side of the transmission tunnel. There’s one on the drivers side also in the same location.

You *might* have to pull the center console to access those drains???

 

Thanks. There is definitely a problem with the drain. Today I started the engine and let the AC run on max for ten minutes. No water under the car at all.
The AC works really well, so I don’t think there are any problems with that as such. It must be a block somewhere.

I have found the following in the workshop manual:Condensate (water) which forms on the evaporator fins is drained out of the unit case through two drains, located either side of the unit underneath the evaporator. The liquid is routed to the vehicle exterior via flexible tubes which are located behind the firewall heatshield.

I will have another look. As it so happens, we are having a technical day here at a X308 Specialist in a few weeks. If anything I will ask him.

Jeroen

 

Well, I did happen to read something about those drains on another site, but they didn't specify the model, so I left it alone. I do recall them saying to take a flexible wire,..I'd use a fish tape myself, ..and run it up the tubes to clear them.

 

Thanks. My problem is finding the drains in the first place. Apparently they are hidden behind the heat shields. So I need to do some more investigations.

I have managed to find and check the drains from the open roof and the cowl at the front. Two rubberises each that end behind the left and richt wing front arch, hidden behind the inner lining. They are supposed to stick through the inner lining. But on both sides the rubber hoses were just hanging loose inside the panel. Which means water drains into the panel.



Here you can see the rubber drain from underneath the front cowl. It goes into the wing panel just underneath the bonnet lock

With the inner panel removed you will find two drain hoses on both sides

A lot of much and dirt collects here. I caught the rust just in time!

 

The A/C drains are hidden above the transmission. You won’t be able to get to it from the bottom side.

 

This is one of those,...what the hell were they thinking moments. I can understand it to a point, but couldn't they of made the lines a bit longer?

 

Practically in every car since nineties cowl drains that do not empty in to the engine compartment are drained straight out to the inner wheel lining. Full way hose is luxorious in this matter. Same goes with the sunroof drains too. What is out of my mind is why in those drain hoses there is rubber flap blocking the hose? It blocks the drain hose until there is enough water in the hose to force it open. What happens when there is some dust and mold with the water.. I've seen these flaps in hvac drains too. Guess how many floor mats I've dryed for this reason..

 

Whereas the cowl and sunroof drains are pretty straightforward, this heater drain is a real pain. I have spend some hour and a half on my back underneath the car (safely on jack stands). Could not find it. I had hoped to talk to a real X308 specialist here in the Netherlands (https://gg-autoservice.nl) this Saturday during this technical meeting. However the technical meeting got cancelled due to new and more strict Corona rules.

I spoke to him yesterday. He says it is possible with the car on the lift. I will see him in a few weeks, so I am looking forward to that.

Meanwhile I have sorted the other drains properly. My innerlining only had one of the two holes punched out. You can clearly see the contour of a second hole and there are even two hose clips on the back of the liner too. Somebody at the factory must have screwed up. Either the two hole liners were out of stock and they forgot to punch an extra hole. Which leaves the drain from the sun roof dangling inside the wingpanel. On top of some electrical wiring too.

Anyway, I punched the holes out and routed the drains properly. Also dealt with the bit of rust inside the wing panel. So at least all of that is sorted.


Panel rust proofed and sprayed

At long last, both drains exiting the inner liner

I will let you guys know what we find in a few weeks time. Thanks for all the help

Jeroen