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Where is the a/c evaporator drain located?

102K views 45 replies 19 participants last post by  kevwisdom  
#1 ·
Does anyone know where the evaporator drain is located? Mine might be clogged. Normally I'd just look for the water dripping out but there's none to be found.
 
#2 ·
Do you have stinky a/c too?
 
#22 ·
This I don't understand---the part "Dealership was no help." Please explain that more fully so I can understand what the dealership told you and was no help. What the heck are they for if you come in with a problem (serious in my opinion) and they are no help.
 
#4 ·
If you find out, let us know. I didn't try searching too hard but I noticed last summer it got pretty stinky. I ended up using one of those air freshener bombs with the windows rolled up and the AC on max. While it did make it smell a little better, the original odor was still there. This year its just as bad, to the point I'm embarrassed to use AC with other people in the car.
 
#5 ·
Will do. If I can find the drain hose I'm going to use some Kool It a/c foam to see if it helps. When I put the Jeep up on ramps though all I see down there is skid plate.
 
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#7 ·
I had this problem when I first bought the jeep. You can't access the drain from under the car as it sits above a heat shield of the exhaust. I had to go in from the passenger foot well like I was going to change the cabin air filter. Once you remove the side panel of the console you'll see the box that holds the cabin air filter, from the bottom of the is a small corrugated rubber hose that drains the condensation. I used Lysol to spray in there and kill whatever was growing and then replaced the cabin air filter. Smell has been gone ever since.
 
#8 · (Edited)
This hose? If so, did you disconnect the rubber hose from the plastic plug or did you pop the plastic plug out of the attachment point? I wasn't able to do either way easily and want to verify before I yank harder. Any tips on how to get it to move would be appreciated.
 

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#10 · (Edited)
Sorry to get off topic, but the little miss and I have been throwing around the idea of moving to Bend. Thoughts? I lived in Hood River and The Dalles for years so I know the area, just never lived there.
 
owns 2022 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
#11 ·
Add me into the group with stinky AC, I've had it for two years running. It's not as starkly "in your face" this year, but it's still a musty/moldy smell when the AC first turns on.
 
#12 ·
Yeah, that's why I ALWAYS remotely start my Jeep... 100% of the time. Ha! Let it run for about a minute before I get in so that stank is blown outta there! And, yes, I replace my cabin air filter regularly, because I know someone is going to ask. ;-)
 
#14 ·
I changed my cabin air filter only a few thousand miles ago, and when I was getting the oil changed at the dealership a couple of weeks ago they told me that I needed a new one. Nice try, scammers.
 
#16 ·
I'm cheap, I went to walmart and bought a large furnace filter for about $10, cut it down and hot glued cardboard on all 4 sides so it matched the original cabin air filter and slid it in. Been about 6 months now, probably due for a change. I still have enough furnace filter to make 3 more cabin air filters lol!

Down side is I broke the clip on the cabin air filter door that clips to the top, I glued it back together but I know it will fall apart when I remove the door so I'll need to try and find the part number to replace it.
 
#18 ·
I would assume the cabin air filter has been changed as I have to change mine yearly. After two years it was bad.
Mold develops only in stagnant air, 70% +humidity, and organic matter to grow on like dust etc.
Basically if the filter gets clogged enough you will have that situation.
Compressed air is great to blow out a drain line. I am also glad I now know where I can get at it.
Your only concern might be your evaporator coil it its dirty. But once the drain line is clean it may actually clean itself.
Also you can pick up cabin filters at a great price on e-bay.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.
 
#19 ·
Like I said in post #14, I changed my filter only a few thousand miles ago, so it's been less than half a year. Since I did so during the colder months I didn't notice any stink until I started using the A/C again recently. I'll have to try again to remove that hose.
 
#29 ·
I live in a small city on the "other side" of a mountain range where we have only one Jeep dealership. If there were a second dealership nearby I'd give them a try. Some good old competition might make them up their game a bit.