2003 Cadillac CTS puddle of water forming under glove box

FUNKYROB

MEMBER
2003 CADILLAC CTS
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

Years ago when car was new I had a puddle of water behind the driver's seat. They said it was a drain tube that got disconnected. The car was new and under warranty still so I got a new carpet for free. Many years and miles later I have a similar puddle, but in a completely different area. How many drains are there for the A/C?

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CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,864 POSTS

The AC drain is normally on the passenger side firewall. It is only an inch long with a rubber three or four inch extension hose with a right angle bend. When it plugs up, condensation builds up in the drain pan in the heater box and overflows onto the passenger floor. Sometimes it will slosh onto the driver's side during hard right turns. I know Cadillac often has their own unique way of doing things, but for a drain to leak in the rear, I have to ask, ... Do you have a sunroof?

Caradiodoc

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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 4:53 PM

FUNKYROB

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4 POSTS

Nope, no sunroof. That's why I'm so puzzled to find out the drain tube is in the front.

I've got the whole passenger lower dash and glove box removed from trying to find the leak. I should be able to find the tube, though I didn't notice it last night. I did find the water is building up in a black plastic compartment where the fan is. I initially thought water was coming in from the outside where the cabin air filter is. (California has been having some heavy rains lately). Until I found a similar post here on an '05 CTS.

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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 5:29 PM

CARADIODOC

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To be fair, I'm not a Cadillac expert so I welcome anyone else jumping in here, but normally that AC drain tube is under the hood on the passenger side firewall. Squeezing it will open it up often releasing the debris. If no water comes out, there is usually a spring-wire ring that can be squeezed to release the hose. Then you can poke a pencil in the tube to irritate any debris. Usually that's all it takes to get a torent of water coming out.

Caradiodoc

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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 6:07 PM

FUNKYROB

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4 POSTS

Thank to the "find a manual" link, I purchased an online manual and I think I found the drain tube. There's a black rubber hose on the driver's side. It's behind the carpet to the right of the gas pedal. The out is glued to the bottom of the car while the in is connected behind the radio console area and was easier to removed. The tube is curved and kind of long so I shoved a wire down there. Seems to have done the trick, I blasted the a/c for a few minutes and no backup to the passenger side. I have an hour long commute in the morning so we'll see.

Now I have to figure out how to put the glove box and lower dash back.

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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 1:41 AM

CARADIODOC

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Very happy to hear you found something. As I said, Cadillac has their own way of doing things. One word of warning though. Before you put everything together, ... If that is indeed the AC system drain tube, the pan or box will probably take a long time to fill up. I don't think a week's worth of commuting will do it unless it's really humid where you are.

The AC system is only expected to lower air temperature by around 20 degrees. The real comfort comes from the humidity condensing on the cold evaporator in the heater box. That condensation drips into a pan and should run outside onto the ground. No water should stay in the pan because mold would become an issue. By "done the trick" do you mean water came pouring out? I hope so.

Also, when you get to the end of your commute, peek under the car, between and a little behind the front tires. If you see water dripping there, run into work with a smile on your face and buy everyone coffee!

Caradiodoc