Hi:

I have a low-mileage 2001 MPV.  Recently, major water condensate leaks from
the AC began to suddenly occur within the cabin, from underneath the dash.
This leak occurred when the AC was operating on "outside circulation".  A
check later by the dealer indicated that contamination within the condenser
box must have clogged the drain.

However, during the dealer investigation of the leak cause, the AC air
intake grill (on the hood) was found to be severely clogged with wet, matted
debris that had previously accumulated on the grill from an overhead tree.
This debris was removed during the time that the dealer was blowing air up
the drain tube (to see if the drain tube were clogged).

Miraculously, the air conditioner leak disappeared during these efforts (as
proper draining through the vent hose resumed) to the outside of the car.

Now: the dealer claims that the cause of the leak must have been
contamination within the AC evaporator box - which was temporarily dislodged
during the investigation.  However, no actual contamination was ever  found.
The dealer indicates that "contamination" must still be in the evaporator
box and that the AC system must now be totally taken apart to find the
contamination and remove it.

However: I feel that the clogging of the AC intake grill "choked" the air
intake and caused substantial suction in the evaporator box that prevented
the condensate water from draining out of the drain tube - instead the
condensate water was sucked into the vehicle.

Is it possible that the severely clogged AC intake grill could have been
responsible for the problem of condensate water leaking into the cabin?

Regards,
Michael