moisture from lower vent

[John T]

For a couple months now I noticed moisture dripping from the floor vent on the passenger side of the tranny hump. right next to the " SRS" cover (I hope that makes sense)

The moisture is mixed with what I THINK is green paint from when I painted my truck about 4 years ago and got overspray into the exterior vent at the bottom of my windshield.

I know that sounds strange because it seems whatever paint was in there would have dried long ago. So I am open to suggestions for other explanations for the green stuff.

While I first thought the moisture was water, now Im not so sure because it feels somewhat oily. any thoughts?

Ill try to post a pic to help explain.

this is a '96 2500 totally stock 

 

[Me78569]

coolant?  

[gassernomore]

How is your radiator fluid level? Have you been adding fluid to it because it is lower? Might be your heater core and the green is anti freeze.

[CSM]

There should be a drain tube from the heater core / evap area somewhere in there.  I would check if it is plugged. As you say with paint, it could just be condensation, mold, and paint mixed to make a nice green stain that should be draining onto the roadway.

[Mopar1973Man]

Just rethinking a second. The drain is most likely plugged up. The Defrost setting will run the A/C compressor. It could be condensation. Check the drain for a plug first.

 

Edited December 17, 2015 by Mopar1973Man

[IBMobile]

When you turn on the heat do you get the sweet/sickly smell of anti-freeze or a film on the inside of the windshield when the defroster is turned on. If that is paint then the paint on the outside of the truck should be washing off also. 

[John T]

you know....i recently ran my defroster and I vaguely remember a slight antifreeze  smell.

But the plugged drain issue.... are you guys talking about the A/C evaporator drain just outside the firewall? or is there another drain.

Im hoping I don't have to pull my dash.

[IBMobile]

That's the drain. The  A/C evaporator is before the heater core. When you turn on the defrost mode the A/C compressor is commanded to turn on.  The air goes over the evaporator and the moisture is removed.  The dry air then goes over the heater core and brought up to temp, then thru the duct work to the windshield. If you have moist air blowing on the inside windshield then the heater core is leaking.  The fire wall drain is for the A/C evap.

Edited December 18, 2015 by IBMobile

[Mopar1973Man]

Yea I think he's right. Looking even at my old photo its going to push coolant out the vent more so than out the A/C drain.

[John T]

YIKES!?

[lrhull]

Heater core has a leak. Just changed mine for this winter. 

[John T]

is there any way at all to change it without evacuating the A/C?

[gassernomore]

You can if your new heater core pipes are on swivels. But, if you have gone thru all of that work to get to that point, you would be further ahead to change the a/c evaporator and core. IMHO..

Edited December 18, 2015 by gassernomore

[Mopar1973Man]

3 hours ago, John T said:

is there any way at all to change it without evacuating the A/C?

I highly suggest you just pull the entire thing down and open the HVAC case. I've found in several cases the evaporator is plugged up with debris. Could be from mice, pine needles, etc. But it will do you no good to change heater core and have the evaporator plugged up or blend door on a broken shaft etc. With the HVAC case out you can inspect all this stuff.

[John T]

i figured as much....

i had the evaporator changed a couple yrs ago (paid to have it done).

so i was hoping for an easier solution.   oh well... 

[Mopar1973Man]

Not hard at all to do just time consuming. I've got heater core job coming Sunday.

[John T]

Thanks Guys!

[dripley]

I have done it myself also and it is not difficult just time consuming as Mike says. 

[John T]

well Im waistdeep into it!

now I see where all the green was coming from. Not paint at all, but Im not sure what it is... copper?

take a look:

oh yea, you know those white plastic anchors along the windshield where the 5 screws go into to hold the dash in place? all of mine broke.

Im hoping its not hard to find a suitable replacement.

 

[Me78569]

Looks to me like the end of the core is leaking coolant.

 

Kinda blue for coolant but I suppose it could be the copper interacting with coolant.