It seems my 456 is suffering from some water related issues: The trunk seems to be leaking and I am finding the very bottom of the trunk is wet. The upper areas do not seem to be affected and as such I cannot seem to locate where the water might be coming from. Any ideas?? Also, after running said car in the rain and using the air conditioning system to defrost the windows, I took a hard turn and quite a bit of water (cold) was ejected from the vents located in the transmission tunnel near the floor. I can only guess this means that the water drain from the airconditioning system is plugged, anyone know where it is located? Thanks, Dean
Dean- The drain hose is at the very bottom of the evaporator unit. Number 27 in this parts catalog illustration from Ricambi. Taz Terry Phillips Image Unavailable, Please Login
I saw this on the Ricambi website but was wondering how to access the tube. I am thinking of taking the black plastic grates off and seeing if I can poke around in the area to clear it.
Dean, I had a similar problem with condensed water sloshing out of the lower a/c vents in my 575. In my case the issue only arose when the weather started getting really humid. After some experimentation, I just closed the lower a/c vents (switched from dash and lower vents to just dash--using the a/c selector knob). Problem solved--I just think in humid/rainy conditions the water condenses faster than it can drain. Not sure about your trunk issue though.
Robie, I was operating with just the defrost on to keep the windshield clear of fog so I am assuming the lower vents were closed. I will try your approach and see what happens. Thanks
I took the kick panels off the car in the hopes of finding where the evaporator drain might be. Noted that both were soaked along the bottom from the evaporator condensate. On the driver's side, I can see the tube that looks like the item 27 in the Ricabi picture, but it does not seem to be connected to anything: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dean, I've indicated the common evaporator condensation vent on the picture you posted. I'm not sure where it vents on the 456. The other two go to the right and left aspects of the evaporator. Check the vent in the gas filler cap area to see if it's clear. That may be the cause of your wet trunk carpet. Barry Image Unavailable, Please Login
Dean- If you pull off the vent tube from the "T" connector, you should be able to blow air through the tube with a compressor and see where it exits. This should also clear it if it is blocked. With the "T" connector removed you should also be able to clear the two hoses from the evaporator with a small snake, if you have one, or with a doubled piece of wire so there are no sharp edges being inserted into the hoses. Alternatively, you may be able to rig a wet and dry vacuum to pull any clogs out of the hoses. Make sure the "T" connector itself is not blocked. Taz Terry Phillips
I have my car on the rack right now and I can't find the hose exiting out the bottom. Anyone have an idea of where it exits. It must be above the side shields as I have the main bottom shield off.
I noted that the referenced tube was probably the drain so I disconnected it and probed it with a wire. Found some sludge but did not seem bad enough to block flow. I decided to try the shade tree approach and I plumbed up my garden hose to the tube, hoping to blow it out. I was rightly plugged but did not withstand much pressure from the hose before a nice, clear stream of water shot from the bottom of the car. Had I thought about it I would have taken some pictures so I will know where the tube is in the future! As for the trunk, I think the source of the water is the gas tank cover, anyone have this cover out before? I took it off and found the gasket to be torn in many areas. Seems like someone had their way with this car: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I finally found the drain outlet, in plain sight. Its on the right side even with the front of the central resonator, right beside the oxygen sensor wire.
Dean, Dave- The evaporator drain hose clogging up seems to be a fairly common thing for late model 12 cylinders. Good sleuthing on both your parts. I am still trying to form a mental picture of your hose rig, Dean. Had to be a pretty good connection to prevent water spraying all over your interior. I guess a few towels would help, too. Taz Terry Phillips
Here is the drain location on a 2000 550, at least that's what I believe it is, can't think of anything else it might be. The battery vent is foreward of that behind the right front wheel well cover Image Unavailable, Please Login
I do not think as the others your evap. drain is the problem but you hit on it, perhaps, here. I had a similar leak, into the 456 trunk, very bottom. Rifledriver, did a cleaver thing where he put 'smoke' into tail light section, IIRC, and saw where the smoke came out :} he sealed that rear-wheel area....but there was another, less seen place from the gas overfill drain. THAT drain should be exiting directly into the exterior of the car. BUT seeming to have some spill into trunk. Sealing the cap hole, with tape, and doing a garden hose shade tree if you will, gave some success. So, I am with you on the drain area. However, make sure your trunk seal is good and tight too...replacements are only about $80 from Ferrari and I did replace mine too.
Dave, I have a drain there too which I thought was the battery vent. It makes more sense putting the condensation drain there rather than over the catalytic converters and resonator. I'll check to see where the water drips the next time I run my A/C. Barry Image Unavailable, Please Login
Had exactly the same problem with water entering the trunk when I first purchased my 456GT. When you open the trunk lid there is a channel running around the trunk opening (where the rubber seal is). This diverts the rain water away from the trunk itself. The top section of this channel has two metal joints which should be sealed and flush. They are located at the top corners of this channel. On my car one of these joints was not properly sealed, allowing water to run into the trunk. To test this, block the channel at both sides and pour some water into the channel. If the water dissapears it is draining through one of these joints. I just filled the (small) hole with silicone rubber compound and this stopped the water from entering the trunk.
I think I have found my problem. I used a hose to wet the car in several areas and noted that my trunk weatherstrip was torn along the back edge on the driver's side. I was surprised that the lower edge could allow water to enter the trunk. I tested this and noted that the water runs along the channel on either side of the raised edge the weatherstrip is attached to and then down through a small space between the body and the rear bumper. If the water is flowing at a high enough rate, it builds up a bit in the region around the rear part of the weatherstrip, allowing the water to enter through the tear. A real pain to find... Now I just have to get a new weatherstrip.
Weatherstrip is easy to find in parts section, and costs about IIRC $80. BUT, even when I installed, I noticed that within a few days of open-close trunk it got toasted/ripped again near the bottom rear of trunk: Seems the prev. owner who had some custom work done didn't have the trunk interior done 'correctly' so the trunk splits the stripping time after time. time to get out the arc-welder and just seal up those channels....always wanted an excuse to get a mig or something naw, just kidding...but sealing the channel is a must.
