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Car Forum / Volkswagen / Water Cooled Volkswagen Cars / January 2007water puddle under car
Hello -- I bought an '04 Passat wagon about a week ago. The past couple of mornings I've noticed a small puddle of water (it appears clear and has no smell so I'm guessing it's just water) under the front drivers side. It's been too dark and I've been in too much of a hurry to try and figure out where it might be coming from under the hood. It's been cold here so I haven't been using the AC, and I haven't been driving it more than 3-4 miles per day. Anybody have any idea what might be causing this? CAC >Hello -- I bought an '04 Passat wagon about a week ago. The past >couple of mornings I've noticed a small puddle of water (it appears [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >driving it more than 3-4 miles per day. Anybody have any idea what >might be causing this? CAC the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < water have you been running the defroster on these 'cold' days? I honestly don't even remember if I have it turned on, but I imagine probably so. CAC samst...@aol.com wrote: > >Hello -- I bought an '04 Passat wagon about a week ago. The past > >couple of mornings I've noticed a small puddle of water (it appears [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < water > have you been running the defroster on these 'cold' days? > the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < Are you sure about that? Isn't running the AC somewhat dangerous (for the AC) if the outside temp is below something like 50F? I often have to run the defroster with the heat full on when it's so cold that moisture from my breath freezes on the inside of the windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been below 20F yet this winter.  SignatureBert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | bert@iphouse.com Well, I know in my former cars ('88, '96 and '97 Jettas) I would turn the fan dial to the windshield defrost setting AND turn on the AC because it would clear up the windshield a lot faster that way. Seems like I read somewhere that that's what you're supposed to do. I wonder if the '04 Passat turns on the AC automatically if you turn the fan dial to windshield defrost... CAC > > the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been > below 20F yet this winter. Why is running the AC dangerous. Does your owners manual say its dangerous. Did anybody say its dangerous. It not. Running the AC isn't dangerous at any temp. Anybody can hear and feel the AC kick on when the defroster is switched on. The AC doesn't need to run below freezing because there's no moisture to remove. Its all frozen. . And the heater will remove a certain amount above frozen. For instance, 35F. And still clear the windows. Just as in hiking in the cold you have to dress with nylon and wool , so you don't absorb moisture or your sweat. down to freezing . Once you get below freezing , or 20F to compensate for all the clothes you are wearing. You can wear a lot of cotton and dress for the cold, not the moisture. Because everything's frozen. The defroster runs the AC in most cars. On Some , you have to turn the AC on separate. with the defroster. Because the cheap bastards didn't want to spend a couple of bucks for a relay to do it for you. Some AC's cycle, some don't. If the AC runs , there's going to be water on the ground. Either immediately , or after it melts off the car in your garage. If the drains aren't working right, it may take a while to get it on the ground too. And even if you have an unheated garage, it wont be as cold as outside, unless its been cold enough , long enough to suck the heat out of it and the ground. Your car heats it and there's heat transferring from the ground through your foundation. Because concrete is a very poor insulator. If your antifreeze isn't low , and your car is working right... Apparently the water is draining off of your car correctly....,. > Well, I know in my former cars ('88, '96 and '97 Jettas) I would turn > the fan dial to the windshield defrost setting AND turn on the AC [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been >> below 20F yet this winter. Yes, that's why VW has a compressor cut off switch when temps get cold. I think it's around the 45-50*f area. AC compressor CAN'T pump liquid Freon. > Why is running the AC dangerous. Does your owners manual say its dangerous. > Did anybody say its dangerous. It not. Running the AC isn't dangerous at any > temp. It can harm a home AC to run the AC when it is too cold outside. I believe that that is when it is below freezing. >> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < > >Are you sure about that? At outside temperatures above 35 F or 2C the air conditioner compressor is operative. That is the first sentence in my vw's owners manual under defrosting/ defogging/dehumidifying. Because he said the puddle was water and not ice I gave the poster an opinion as to from where the water came. Do you have a better guess? >Isn't running the AC somewhat dangerous (for the AC) if the outside >temp is below something like 50F? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been >below 20F yet this winter. >>> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < >> >>Are you sure about that? > At outside temperatures above 35 F or 2C the air conditioner > compressor is operative. Clever. > That is the first sentence in my vw's owners manual under > defrosting/ defogging/dehumidifying. OK. SignatureBert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | bert@iphouse.com In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, samstone@aol.com wrote: >Because he said the puddle was water and not ice I >gave the poster an opinion as to from where the water came. Ka-ching! This comment is making me wonder about something, though... I ran the car in the evenings when the temp was above 35, parked it overnight, and then discovered the water under the car in the morning when the temp was below freezing. So shouldn't it have been ice if it wasn't antifreeze? This bears further investigation... CAC samst...@aol.com wrote: > Because he said the puddle was water and not ice I > gave the poster an opinion as to from where the water came. Its supposed to say below 35F. Are you that stupid to not be able to figure out AC is supposed to work when its hot.... Otherwise nobody could get the AC to work at all above 35F. . Quit trolling... >>> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >>windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been >>below 20F yet this winter. Yes, that's why VW has a compressor cut off switch when temps get cold. I think it's around the 45-50*f area. AC compressor CAN'T pump liquid Freon. >> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been > below 20F yet this winter. > Isn't running the AC somewhat dangerous (for the AC) if the outside temp > is below something like 50F? It's actually at higher temperatures, not lower ones, that it runs the A/C. On my Mk2 GTI it runs at 35F and above. > Isn't running the AC somewhat dangerous (for the AC) if the outside temp > is below something like 50F? Nope. Not only does it run down to 35F automatically (in most cars when the defogger is used) but in the wintertime you want to run your A/C for about 20 minutes every few weeks anyway. It keeps the seals lubricated. >> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < > > Are you sure about that? > > Isn't running the AC somewhat dangerous (for the AC) if the outside > temp is below something like 50F? You home A/C has instructions about that. It can damage you home A/C as no one in their right mind would be running them at that time (OK Heat pumps excepted). Actually it is a little more complex than that, but that is the general idea. On some old cars the same situation may have existed. However all modern cars I know of are designed to allow the A/C to run at any time. It is used in most if not all cars when the defrost is turned on. I don't know if it is still true with today's cars as the refrigerant has changed, but in the old days it was recommended that you turn on the A/C like once a week to keep the seals in good shape and to prevent leaks. > I often have to run the defroster with the heat full on when it's so > cold that moisture from my breath freezes on the inside of the > windshield. Or at least I used to do that; I don't think it's been > below 20F yet this winter. SignatureJoseph Meehan Dia 's Muire duit >>> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < > > It is used in most if not all cars when the defrost is turned on. These comments have me thinking: My A/C on my '84 Rabbit doesn't work. My defroster works. I don't use it often, but do occasionally as needed. So obviously, when my defroster is on, my A/C isn't running. What is the result of that? Since A/C was an option on these rabbits, were the defroster's designed differently on non-A/C rabbits? -Bryan Signatureremove the "REMOVE" from my email to email >>>> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >-Bryan unscientific ( observed w/ repeatablity but not documented) tests show that the a/c running cuts down on the time to clear the window in 1/3 less time. The result of the Rabbit with no AC,is it wont defrost as good as it used too. Sometimes. If there's little moisture , heat works good. After all defrosters do come in cars without AC. However did you ever notice when its hot and rainy and the windows are getting fogged up and you just cant keep them clear no matter what. Well, that's because there's no AC and you have the heat off. , because its too hot out . So you're just stuck. Just like the 60s cars if you can remember. Its raining its in the 60s out, You got the defroster fan full on and you can barely see out the windshield. Perfect time for the AC to take the moisture out without adding heat to the car..But you don't have any. So its foggy windows. Try it sometime. Turn your fan on to windshield when your windows are all fogged and its warm. Then immediately turn it to the defroster that runs with the AC. Watch your windows clear up fast. Switch it back, they fog up again in a few minutes. . Nothings different except AC is on or off. >>>>> the defroster runs the air conditioner to remove moisture < >>> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > tests show that the a/c running cuts down on the time to clear the > window in 1/3 less time. > The result of the Rabbit with no AC,is it wont defrost as good as it used > too. Sometimes. If there's little moisture , heat works good. After all Thanks for the explanation guys. Its nice to know that the A/C coming on with the defroster is simply to make the defrostting/defogging work more efficiently. Cheers, Bryan Signatureremove the "REMOVE" from my email to email Taste it and you'll soon know whether it's water, coolant, or oil. A drop or two won't hurt. Mike |
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