Recently replaced the small water pump in the front boot. So of course checking under the car after each drive. No heater on there is nothing on the garage floor after a drive. If I crank the heater up during the drive, cool here this time of year, I have a small drip and puddle under the car after a drive. Antifreeze mix has the green, slippery feeling. This puddle is just water, clean looks and feels like water. So is this created by the AC compressor ? Which my understanding is ...... runs all the time unless the STOP button is pressed ? Any help would be much appreciated.
when I first bought my car.. the compressor was dead.. only after I got it repaired.. did I learn.. the compressor must be engaged to generate heat or AC.. if the STOP button is pushed.. only outside air will flow..etc.. even if you have the temp knob all the way full heat. personally I found this odd.. as all cars ive owned and currently own.. can generate heat without the compressor engaged.. personally I find this is a bad design.. why should the compressor require engagement to generate heat.. that said.. in the summer when ive had the compressor engaged for cool air.. i did notice water on the garage floor or driveway after a drive..like any car.. in regards to your question with the heat.. I would assume this would produce water on the floor too.. since the compressor is indeed on..
The location of the puddle may help to determine the source. When I got my car I had a bit of antifreeze after a drive. it was right under the expansion tank overflow drain. When the car was serviced it was overfilled. I removed a little bit of antifreeze and it hasn't come back. I too wish the car had a A/C switch to turn off the compressor. I guess that would be too "normal" for an Italian marque.
the compressor can be turned off by pushing in the stop button. but then you have no heat or AC at all. by default I leave mine off at all times. when I require heat or AC then I engage it. to leave the compressor engaged at all times is useless. and im sure a drain on power and fuel economy.
Location of the puddle is right below the drain vent on the HVAC unit up front. I recently had to replace the small return water pump located on the side of the HVAC unit up front. So it was easy to tell the prior leak was antifreeze and left a mess. This is clean liquid, just water. When I noticed the water, I immediately torn out all the front carpets again (carefully) to check my work on the new water pump, it is good and has no leak. Just wanted some feedback before I put all the carpets back in.
Go to Volume 3,Section-Air Conditioning in the factory Work Shop Manual.(you can download this as a pdf file for free) There you will find a detailed explanation of how the a/c works in concert with the heating system.
the heating only works when the ac compressor is turned on. the drain for the ac is below the front firewall and if you are getting a small puddle of just plain water from below the front firewall then it is from the ac drain and normal.
Just got it all back together, sunny and 60 plus tomorrow. Thanks for the input. As usual F chat rocks
