355 A/C - Basic Question

I have fixed several issues on my HVAC but I am pretty naive when it comes to this part of the car.

After replacing the two temp sensors, flap motors and rebuilding the recirc flap boss, I have the car operating well in the full auto mode. Heats up and holds a temp, cools down and holds temp. Pretty happy.

Once parked and after the A/C has been running, I get a small puddle of water on the floor underneath the A/C box, front center of the car. I was expecting any condensation to be back in the rear by the compressor. But what do I know....?

Is that condensation normal near the front or is that supposed to be back where the compressor is?

Thanks for answering what I am certain many of your are considering a very basic question.

 

I don't have any first hand knowledge here, having not touched the AC on my 355 yet, but I do have a degree in physics, which means I'll speculate on just about any subject
:-O

So, here it goes. The water, as you've mentioned, comes from condensation. Condensation occurs on cold things, the compressor is the hot end of things, so I wouldn't expect to see condensation there. I'm not sure where the system goes from high pressure to low pressure, but for sure, it's going to be cold when it goes through the heat exchanger (which is always going to be somewhere near the cabin fan). So it's not surprising to me that condensation could appear toward the front of the car.

 

I said it was a basic question

Thanks.... I am NOT and HVAC guy and while I understand the basics of the system, I am not fully versed in what happens where.

Certainly condensation from the a/c coil in the HVAC box makes sense and what you described is obviously dead on.

However, on my other cars, the condensation pools directly under the compressor.....so I thought I would ask.

 

I'm not that familiar with the 355 but on the 348 I had to remove the insulation from the expansion valve and had this same issue. I bought a roll of the insulation put it on and it fixed it. If you need some PM me and I can send you some out. I have a ton

 

Nearly all of the condensation will come off the evaporator, which is in the front trunk/inside the dash. Sounds like your drain hose may be clogged or the evaporator housing is not sealed.

 

Hummmm Let me be a little more clear. When I say water on the "floor", I meant water on the garage floor....not the interior floor of the car. Your concerns / comments till apply? God I hate being so naive to the HVAC world....

 

Don't beat yourself up

Condensation forms on the evaporator coil when the A/C is running. Fill up a glass of ice water and watch what happens. Eventually the outside of the glass gets wet. Same thing with a cold evaporator coil. After a while, the condensation collects to a point where it needs to drain out. Water on the garage floor means your drain is working, which is a good thing. The evaporator being somewhere within the front of the car means the water will drain somewhere out under the front of the car.

As for your other cars, are the engines in the front? If so, the drain might be near the compressor which might look like that's where the water is coming from. Or it's super humid and water is condensing on the suction line coming off the compressor.

 

First off, is it plain water or coolant? (this is important!) If it's coolant then you have the problem I once had. There's this thing in there called a re-circ water pump. It helps draw coolant from the rear of the car. It has an O-ring that goes bad (common fail). Then it leaks. I think Ricambi has a rebuild kit for it. It's very simple. But you gotta get access to it and disconnect it (2 hose clamps). I replaced mine with a VW part. Which cost me like 50 bucks vs Ferrari hundreds. Let us know what you find. I'll see if I can find the P/N info if that is indeed the malfunction. Mike

 

Here's what it looks like. I tried finding a new O-ring which is impossible! So if you need a pump there's one on Ebay for 100 bucks. Good price.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-Ferrari-550-F550-heater-water-pump-F355-456-/390346931111?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ae27d7ba7#ht_1375wt_1165

 

Just in case.......here's a link for a new pump. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=vw+electric+water+pump&sqi=2&cid=5242470633213131695&ei=YlmFTtKXJ4eEiwSPr9G-Dg&ved=0CAwQrRI 85 bucks is pretty cheap. This has slightly larger outside diameter hose connections. The hoses WILL fit in them. Also you'll need to modify the electrical contacts to mate with the car. It's just a simple 12VDC motor. One Positive & one negative. Good luck. Of course I take the worst case scenario....cup's half empty.

 

Ferrari wants $818.00 for this silly little pump. What a rip off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It should be gold plated for that.

 

YOu have a VW part on your FERRARI!!!??? 8-O How Dare You!!!

LOL. jk

 

This POS part is made by Bosch. Noticed I saved 800 bucks? I need it for beer bro.

 

As a Rabbit!

 

It is water....not coolant.

I just wanted to make sure the drain for the A/C condensation was indeed straight down and directly underneath the HVAC box in the front of the car.

Thanks for the education & the link to that recirculation pump. Saved that in case I ever need one!

Now...onto the fan speed. It only runs on high

 

Well being the pessimist that I am could be the HVAC ECU. Or the center console control panel. I have replaced both in my car. ECU....common Failure. Iam