Jump to content

Clogged AC drain

TMD
 Share

Recommended Posts

TMD Enthusiast

TMD

Posted
Posted

My 2019 LT (5.3) has a clogged A/C drain and it's going to require a dashboard removal to repair it. The service manager said it's going to be a 3-6 hour job and will be warrantied, but I'm not too happy about the inconvenience of the whole thing. I'm a little disappointed that it's happening on a truck with 13K miles and not too psyched about a dash removal. I'm concerned about problems in the future. Should I be worried about the repair? Anyone run into this problem yet?  

  • Replies 37
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

chadman
chadman

Interesting. They can usually be cleaned out through the drain hole. Would have to be something misassembled or misaligned with it being so new. Dash tear downs usually leave you with squeaks and ratt

batman900
batman900

Any way to prevent this from happening? Anyone have a pic of where to snake from if it does clog?

TMD
TMD

I have never had it happen on any other vehicle I have owned, so your guess is as good as mine. I drove less this spring because I ended up working from home - that might have had something to do with

Posted Images

chadman Enthusiast

chadman

Posted
Posted

Interesting. They can usually be cleaned out through the drain hole. Would have to be something misassembled or misaligned with it being so new. Dash tear downs usually leave you with squeaks and rattles. Good luck.

  • Like 1
BIGDOGx Senior Enthusiast

BIGDOGx

Posted
Posted (edited)
19 hours ago, TMD said:

My 2019 LT (5.3) has a clogged A/C drain and it's going to require a dashboard removal to repair it. The service manager said it's going to be a 3-6 hour job and will be warrantied, but I'm not too happy about the inconvenience of the whole thing. I'm a little disappointed that it's happening on a truck with 13K miles and not too psyched about a dash removal. I'm concerned about problems in the future. Should I be worried about the repair? Anyone run into this problem yet?  

Never had a clogged ac drain line in almost 3 decades of driving gm trucks. How a truck with only 13,000 miles has this happen is beyond me. Do you park it under a tree or bush that contentiously dumps on your truck or something?

 

As the previous poster said we have had a few members here have to have their dash ripped completely apart for other issues but the components and bolts and clips that hold it all together is immense. We all know those clips too are never as tight as when initially installed at the factory. Imo most plastic clips today should be one time use, once the stretch out, their effectiveness is very reduced imo and that is what will causes future rattles.

Edited by BIGDOGx
TMD Enthusiast

TMD

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
9 minutes ago, BIGDOGx said:

Never had a clogged ac drain line in almost 3 decades of driving gm trucks. How a truck with only 13,000 miles has this happen is beyond me. Do you park it under a tree or bush that contentiously dumps on your truck or something?

 

As the previous poster said we have had a few members here have to have their dash ripped completely apart for other issues but the components and bolts and clips that hold it all together is immense. We all know those clips too are never as tight as when initially installed at the factory. Imo most plastic clips today should be one time use, once the stretch out, their effectiveness is very reduced imo and that is what will causes future rattles.

I do not park under a tree. I mentioned that I wasn't too happy about the prospect of having my dash torn apart, and he agreed that it's a bit much (no other way to get at it I guess). I'm going to let them know, kindly of course, that every squeak, rattle, or other annoying sound coming from my dash from here on out is going to require attention. 

Edited by TMD
BIGDOGx Senior Enthusiast

BIGDOGx

Posted
Posted
26 minutes ago, TMD said:

I do not park under a tree. I mentioned that I wasn't too happy about the prospect of having my dash torn apart, and he agreed that it's a bit much (no other way to get at it I guess). I'm going to let them know, kindly of course, that every squeak, rattle, or other annoying sound coming from my dash from here on out is going to require attention. 

I wish you luck, to have some piece of mind one of those guys on here who did have his dash taken apart did comment that the tech did a rather good job of reassembling it and doesn't think it will be an issue down the road.

BlancoSilverado Enthusiast

BlancoSilverado

Posted
Posted

The drain exit is on top of the trans towards the passenger side,

 

I had the same problem. i ended using ozium for the mold and pushing some air though the exit hole (multiple times). 

ejdziurka Enthusiast

ejdziurka

Posted
Posted
On 7/1/2020 at 3:40 PM, TMD said:

My 2019 LT (5.3) has a clogged A/C drain and it's going to require a dashboard removal to repair it. The service manager said it's going to be a 3-6 hour job and will be warrantied, but I'm not too happy about the inconvenience of the whole thing. I'm a little disappointed that it's happening on a truck with 13K miles and not too psyched about a dash removal. I'm concerned about problems in the future. Should I be worried about the repair? Anyone run into this problem yet?  

Besides not seeing water dripping from the truck, what are the symptoms of a plugged drain?  I only ask as my truck is going in for the 4 time for AC issues.  13,000 miles as well.

TMD Enthusiast

TMD

Posted
  • Author
Posted
18 minutes ago, ejdziurka said:

Besides not seeing water dripping from the truck, what are the symptoms of a plugged drain?  I only ask as my truck is going in for the 4 time for AC issues.  13,000 miles as well.

The only real symptom is water draining onto the floor of the passenger side... It must be getting trapped, pooling up, and then draining when I turn left. It sort of makes a sizzling sound because it's draining through the hot blower motor (which I'm sure will fail now too). Everything else seems to be fine. The A/C is still nice and cold. 

TMD Enthusiast

TMD

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 7/2/2020 at 12:24 PM, BlancoSilverado said:

The drain exit is on top of the trans towards the passenger side,

 

I had the same problem. i ended using ozium for the mold and pushing some air though the exit hole (multiple times). 

Interesting. I'm not sure why the techs couldn't do that instead of removing my dash?? 

  • 2 weeks later...
GF7PE Enthusiast

GF7PE

Posted
Posted

I thought I was the only one. Just got mine back from the dealer after 10 days. Truck has less than 4000 miles on it. My issue wasn’t a clogged drain but no hole cut in firewall for the drain to go through.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TMD Enthusiast

TMD

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Update: The techs accessed the drain from the engine side of the firewall. They removed the intake manifold and were able to snake the line... He said about a gallon and a half of water pissed out after they snaked it. Best possible outcome, I guess. I was pretty anxious about having my dashboard removed. Everything seems fine now... Well, everything's fine with the A/C - I'm sure another gremlin will pop its head up soon enough. 

GF7PE Enthusiast

GF7PE

Posted
Posted
Update: The techs accessed the drain from the engine side of the firewall. They removed the intake manifold and were able to snake the line... He said about a gallon and a half of water pissed out after they snaked it. Best possible outcome, I guess. I was pretty anxious about having my dashboard removed. Everything seems fine now... Well, everything's fine with the A/C - I'm sure another gremlin will pop its head up soon enough. 

Lucky. Mine was completely ripped out and have only had it for 4 months. Seems ok so far and other than a bunch of fingerprints on the center of the windshield


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
batman900 Enthusiast

batman900

Posted
Posted

Any way to prevent this from happening? Anyone have a pic of where to snake from if it does clog?

  • Like 1

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • contrabombarde
      2010 Avalanche 5.3 not running correctly after engine swap.

      By contrabombarde · Posted

      I went through again with a test light and everything checked out.    I suppose it could be the MAF itself but I've tried 3 different sensors, 2 of which were in running vehicles previously (the one in this truck, and the one in the donor truck), as well as a new one I picked up from NAPA. I would just be surprised if all 3 were bad.   EDIT/UPDATE: I swapped in the MAP sensor that was originally with the 2010 PCM, that made the code for map sensor voltage high Go away, and the map sensor seems to read normal with key on engine off (14psi or so), but it still doesn't run and does the same thing as before.
    • Atlas
      No Software Updates - Old Build

      By Atlas · Posted

      In addition to a cell or wifi connection, the infotainment needs to be enabled to download software updates. That's a toggle within the system settings.   But...if the truck was prevented from receiving updates in a past life, missing a bunch of updates may mean it won't go back and download all of those because they're not available or the system is too far out of date.   If a formal recall depends on a software update, the recall for that truck remains in an open status until it's applied. The dealer would need to apply the software update in that instance.   Most updates downloaded and applied via the infotainment aren't recalls/safety recalls, they're enhancements and usability fixes which aren't critical.
    • Vu1can
      Brake Pad Warning Message

      By Vu1can · Posted

      Recently I've been getting a message, "New Brake Pads Detected. Reset Brake Pad Life?", But I haven't had the pads replaced and the truck only has 28,000 miles. The Brake Pad Life shows Front 64% and Rear 79%. I select NO to resetting the brake pad life and the message goes away but comes back at the nest restart.   I stopped by the dealer and was told that it sounds like a software glitch that would require reprogramming. Even though I have the extended warranty, they tell me that reprogramming is not covered unless a module was actually bad and needed to be replaced. Simply reprogramming is not covered. So, they want $200.00 just to diagnose the problem. If it turns out no bad module, another charge on top of that to do the reprogramming. If the cause was an actual bad module, everything would be covered under the warranty.   Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. Should this issue be covered under the warranty?   Thanks
    • newdude
      Tire psi

      By newdude · Posted

      NHT is diesel only, correct.     The GVWRs for NHT on 3/4 ton bring them to the same numbers as many of the 2WD 1 tons.  A crew 4x4 standard 3/4 with NHT is 11,750lbs, a 1 ton same cab/box/4x4 is 12,100lbs.     Hubs and hub bearings are the same for 11.5" and 12" axles.  Housing, diff carrier and ring/pinion are larger for the 12".   All gas use the 11.5" axle, 3/4, 1 ton and 1 ton DRW. 
    • DaleB
      No Software Updates - Old Build

      By DaleB · Posted

      Yes, I connected it to my home wifi.

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...