[Miata] air conditioning draining into car: Pre-Solving the problem

[K.C. Murphy]

Every so often we see the posts about the A/C draining into the car.
Here's something I've learned over the course of owning a Honda, a
Camry, and my beloved Miata:
 
The water that drains in is simply condensation -- its what the A/C
pulls in, removes the moisture from, and magically cools it and makes us
say "ahhh" while making a happy face.
 
That condensation has to go somewhere. Because of gravity, it drips down
from the condenser fins into the black plastic tray, then down the
plastic tube onto the ground.  (Hence the unknowing people who point to
a recently shut-off car on a hot day and say "uh, you're leaking
something.")
 
Here is what I've observed.:
 
- Every time I've had a plugged up water hose, it's been clogged with
black nasty goo -- mold or mildew or plutonium or something.
 
- When I start the car with the A/C still on from the previous trip, I
get a musty smell in the car.
 
My conclusion is that when the car is suddenly shut off with the A/C
running, there is still condensation on the fins. Over time, between
errands or overnight, mildew forms -- just like in the grout in the
bathroom shower. As the mildew accumulates, it gets heavy and slides
down into the water collection tray, and eventually enough of it gobs up
in the drain tube, causing water to spill over and a post to appear on
the list here.
 
Try this and I promise you it will work:
 
When you get to be about a block away from your destination, or are
puttering around the parking lot looking for a spot, turn the A/C switch
off, but turn the blower to "Full."  This will dry off the condenser
fins and thus drastically reduce the likelyhood of mildew growing on the
fins.  Then just shut off the fan when you shut down the engine.
 
Try it. You'll like it -- if nothing else, no musty smell on startup.
 
Murph
 

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