Air Conditioning

[malana3]

Is it usual to find a pool of condensate on the garage floor after a journey when the air conditioning has not been used?

[ordbrae]

Water is a byproduct of the internal combustion engine.

[malana3]

Thank you ordbrea but the puddle is under the engine area, not under the exhaust pipe.

[Zacs-Master]

Yes.

[gingejbee]

If the A/C hasn't been used then it won't be from there...you'll have to have a look round under the bonnet.

[Zacs-Master]

Look, its ENTIRELY NORMAL.

[gingejbee]

Zacs: where is the water coming from then?

[Zacs-Master]

The AC drain pipe! All cars with A/C have a drain pipe to dump the condensate. A/C removes excess humidity from the air, this is condensed and channeled away by pipe. Look under any car with A/C and see the same. The outflow continues for a while after you switch the engine off.

[jomifl]

Unless you have made a point of turning the A/C off then then it could well be running even when not needed to cool the car. Check whether your car has an economy mode which should enable you to switch off the heat pump.
It could just be water draining from the gutter under the windscreen.

[gingejbee]

....but the A/C hasn't been used...

[Zacs-Master]

Probably just condensation then.

[gingejbee]

...I do wish people would read the question properly before spouting-off!

[gingejbee]

...and, incidentally, not all cars with A/C leave puddles of condensate anywhere..mine don't, even after A/C has been on for a whole trip.

[jomifl]

As I said earlier some A/C systems compressors run continuously, even when you aren't using The A/C system.

[malana3]

Whoops, I didn't mean to start an argument. My car is a two year old Honda Accord, is that info. any help in answering my query? The puddle is there even though I have not switched on the A/C, but I must admit I hadn't considered the possibility of rainwater draining off the windscreen.

[Hopkirk]

Have you selected windscreen only on your ventilation?

On some vehicles this automatically turns on the AC, to assist with demisting.

[malana3]

Since posting my last answer I have realised that the puddle is towards the front of the car and I would imagine that a rainwater drain would discharge directly below the windscreen. I rather feel that the rainwater theory can be discarded.

[malana3]

Didn't realise that Hopkirk, maybe you've got the answer.

[Zacs-Master]

Thanks jom. I do wish some people would acquaint themselves with the facts before spouting off.