I have an A/C condensate leak in the cab of my 97 Pontiac Montana minivan. How can I track it down?

Question

My 97 Pontiac Montana seems to have an A/C condensate leak inside the cabin. This leak occured after my car repair people did a lot of A/C work, replacing the evaporator (which is in the rear, left quarter panel of all places) and other parts under the hood. I took it back and had them look at things, but they couldn't figure it out, then winter came around and I forgot about it. Well, the problem is persisting and it's driving me crazy.

The low points of the carpet on both the driver and passenger side of the van get wet. I have removed the center console that houses the CD player to see if I can actually see water dripping, but I cannot. The volume must be pretty significant, because after sucking out the water with a wet/dry vac, the carpet will get wet again pretty quickly.

How can I find this leak and stop it!

Thanks y'all.

Below, Paul answered the question very well. When I examined in the area he talked about, I discovered that a rubber hose that was about 1" in diameter that is connected to a fan and to a metal pipe that comes straight down from inside the dash, was disconnected. It was a loose fitting pipe in that no clamps or anything were needed to attach it. It just slips onto the receiving nipples. Could the water have been coming from that? It seems that if it's not a clamped connection and judging from the diameter of the hose, that maybe it's for air, not for fluid.

Answer 1

The front ac evaporator drain hose is not installed correctly or has become plugged. That hose exits on the firewall just above the passengers side steering rack boot and has a bulb shape on the end to keep insects out. It should drip when the ac is on and it humid. The front evap case is just to the right of the center console between the blower motor case and the heater box over the center hump. Rats rodents some time eat there way up the hose and into the van looking for water so look for a hole above the steering rack right side boot where the hose was, now causing the water not to drain outside but down the carpet padding on the inside.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

there should be a drain hose on the system somewhere and it can get clogged look for it. Also make sure it is not antifreeze. Could be heater core leaking.

Answer 4

Remove the cover in the passenger side of the lower dash and you will see where the drain to the coil is at.....