Fine "vapor" blowing out of the vents when blower is off

[turbodave]

I noticed this a week ago, and forgot about it. The wife has been using the disco since then daily, and I used it again today.

Engine is not using any coolant (never has since the new engine) and the AC seems to still work as well as it ever did. Engine runs great - no misfires or anything else. Squeezing the hoses shows engine is not overly pressurising the cooling system.

The "vapour mist" is only visible with the blower off, and the vehicle is moving, especially over 30mph. You can't see it on a cloudy day, but when the sun is shining through the windsheild, the mist is very visible with the light behind it.
There is no apparent smell, and it doesn't seem moist if I hold my hand over the vent.

After about 20 minutes of driving, it is a lot less noticable than when first starting out. Also, if I turn the heater on high temp, and then turn the fan off, it seems to be noticably less than if I have AC running, then turn the blower off.

Could this be the evaporator is bad - or a connection to the evaporator? Does the refridgerant have a particular smell that would be noticable if this was leaking?

This is a little perplexing to me, Perhaps it has always been like this - I'm sure I would have noticed it before...

 

[jafir]

Any chance it's just frost?

 

[KyleT]

Has it been humid? My bet is air just blowing across the heater core and steaming a little. When you are moving the vent opens and lets a little air blow across the Evap and heater cores.

 

[TOM R]

I have had this happen on hot days with a/c on,only pass side vents would like to know what it is , doesn't smell like anti freeze

 

[p m]

The condensate does not drain from the a/c. Clean up the drain valve ("milk the nipple"), before it starts leaking down under your carpet.

 

[TOM R]

Yeah mine used to be clogged

 

[turbodave]

oooh, I don't want wet carpets. Where is the drain valve approximately?

 

[TOM R]

I am sure you already have wet carpet and do not know it since the padding is a big black sponge to keep down road noise, also does a great job of rotting the floor

Drain is pass side near front of trans, the inner part comes out, run a/c and look for the condensation to drip under rover

 

[turbodave]

crap. Carpets are soaking wet. :-(

Will these dry out with these warm days and desicant bags used overnight, or do I need to pull the seats and lift the carpets to effectivly dry them?

 

[riceybean]

Pull the seats. See this.

http://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=84910&referrerid=12332

 

[p m]

Well... My 96 has been doing that for a few years; it did result in a few spots of surface rust on the passenger floor. Lifting the carpet and padding and drying it out with a heat blower for a couple of days, and then repainting the floor with a POR-15 equivalent, seemed to do the job.
Of course, correct the predictions for the relatively dry climate.

 

[TOM R]

Best to remove and trash the rubber padding, without it the carpets dry in place in a few days, cleasn rust good prime and apply some kind of coating

 

[Buddy]

crap. Carpets are soaking wet. :-(

Will these dry out with these warm days and desicant bags used overnight, or do I need to pull the seats and lift the carpets to effectivly dry them?

Not sure about the DII's but my DI had 1" open cell foam for padding. Even after cutting it out and laying it in the sun it took 2 days to dry. I finally just pulled everything and herculined it.

 

[TOM R]

Not sure about the DII's but my DI had 1" open cell foam for padding. Even after cutting it out and laying it in the sun it took 2 days to dry. I finally just pulled everything and herculined it.

Yes this

 

[turbodave]

Well, I found time to start on this, but couldn't locate the nipple. Found it eventually. It's a black (although suitably weathered to the same color as everything around it) rubber "part" mounted on the pass side of the transmission tunnel, above the driveshaft, and approximately at the intersection of the torque converter housing and main transmission housing. I gave it a wiggle, nothing. Squeezed it on the sides, nothing. Squeezed it 90 deg round from the last squeeze, and got about a pint of water over my face, arm, and chest.

Guess it was the source of the problem....

I guess massaging this nipple needs to be added to the monthly maintenance schedule? I don't remember discomike ever mentioning it though, so it must be a very rare problem.

 

[TOM R]

The center nipple does come out of the hose, think it is to keep water mud and bugs out not sure you need it though

 

[KyleT]

i normally blow the lines out from inside the car. easy to get to them from either side of the center console.

 

[STLGrrover]

Found it eventually. It's a black (although suitably weathered to the same color as everything around it) rubber "part" mounted on the pass side of the transmission tunnel

Don't forget the milk the other nipple on the drivers side. It's right above the transmission shift linkage......and a bit harder to get to.

 

[turbodave]

Damn, there's two of them??? LOL

ok, I'll get that one today. Cheers again.