Overflow tube dripping

[drawnon]

2003 3.7 sport, just turned 75000.
I did a search first on overflow tube, hose, firewall, but didn't come up with what I am looking for. Sorry if this has been posted and answered somewhere else.
I was driving around today and noticed I was leaving little puddles by my passenger front tire. I followed the drips up to an overflow tube sticking out of my firewall on the passenger side under the overflow tank, right next to the exhaust manifold. It didn't look like green antifreeze, it looked more clear, but it did have a sweet taste to it. It didn't over heat at any time, nor have I ever had any mechanical problems before. I came home, let it cool down for a few hours and checked the overflow reservoir and it is a tiny bit low. The cold fill arrow points to the seam on the tank and the fluid level is just about an 1/8th inch below the cold fill arrow. I wondered if it had something to do with the weather here in CT. We had like 4 heat waves in the last 2 months and today it was cold and cloudy and only about 65. So for the last couple months Ive had the heat on in the morning and the AC on in the afternoon. I have just recently changed my driving habits also. Ive been laid off for a year so I didn't drive much, but now I'm back to work, have a 40 mile round trip commute 5 days a week, and just put 300 miles on it this weekend alone.
Any ideas as to whats up?
Thanks

 

[tommudd]

Are you sure it wasn't from the AC? There is a hose coming out of the firewall from that. Comes and and bends down towards the ground.
Also I wouldn't be tasting anything esp. if you think it maybe antifreeze !:freak3:

 

[Porkchop]

Where is the fluid level when hot on the tank

 

[LibertyTC]

It is normal during warm weather when the AC is on for it to remove humidity and condense it into water, which drains out that hose, and leaves puddles of water.
After running the AC, I will generally run in vent mode with AC off for a few minutes, and heat medium on, with windows down, to allow the system to dry out the dripping.

 

[JeepJeepster]

If its coming from the rubber hose sticking out of the firewall its water, very normal. Its called condensation, happens when you use the A/C, or take a shower....

 

[Trooper]

I'm having this same problem, only I'm not using the AC because it's only in the 40's. And it doesn't appear to stop. Leaves pretty large puddles. No lights are on. And there is no color or smell, so I'm assuming it's water. I went trail riding a month or so ago and dropped into something too deep and was hung up. Ever since then, I have noticed this leak. I don't see any damage. Just wish I knew if I should get this looked at.

 

[tommudd]

Your AC cycles on and off all of the time so even if you don't have the AC "ON" its still running

 

[Cardhu]

Sounds like water off the AC unit as pointed out.

Put down some cardboard / paper and make sure its clear if your still unsure. Definitely stop drinking it. Mine leaves a puddle too but I've never back traced to a tube.

Other cheap things to check would be to fill your windshield wash and make sure its not leaking. If you've isolated it to a tube then that might not help.

 

[dalbertyjr]

I have the same issue, except mine overheats: 2003 3.7 Liberty (pretty sure it's not related, I think mines a thermostat issue). Liquid is clear, definitely not coming from the A/C canister, although there is a little bit of condensation on it. I've watched it drip from the tube.

 

[Mtwalleye]

Dripping and AC running even when turned off

My daughters 2008 Liberty has all of a sudden started leaving large puddles from under the passenger side. We traced it back to the little hose BUT it's 40 degrees here. She doesn't have her AC on. I am NOT a mechanic so hopefully I can explain this correctly. The belt and the metal circle under the belt continues to rotate at a high rate of speed whether the AC button is turned on or off. Her AC compressor is very cold like the AC is on when it's not. We took out the fuse that runs that "clutch" (I believe that's what the mechanic place called it) and now the water has stopped and the compressor isn't freezing cold.

So apparently it's "fixed" for now since she won't need AC for a couple months but we'll need to figure out how to get the AC to turn off eventually.

Any thoughts or has anyone seen this before? TIA

 

[ltd02]

My daughters 2008 Liberty has all of a sudden started leaving large puddles from under the passenger side. We traced it back to the little hose BUT it's 40 degrees here. She doesn't have her AC on. I am NOT a mechanic so hopefully I can explain this correctly. The belt and the metal circle under the belt continues to rotate at a high rate of speed whether the AC button is turned on or off. Her AC compressor is very cold like the AC is on when it's not. We took out the fuse that runs that "clutch" (I believe that's what the mechanic place called it) and now the water has stopped and the compressor isn't freezing cold.

So apparently it's "fixed" for now since she won't need AC for a couple months but we'll need to figure out how to get the AC to turn off eventually.

Any thoughts or has anyone seen this before? TIA

What setting is the directional selector on? If it is on defog or defrost the AC compressor will run. If you shut it off or set it to the floor position does it still run the compressor?

 

[KJ604]

What setting is the directional selector on? If it is on defog or defrost the AC compressor will run. If you shut it off or set it to the floor position does it still run the compressor?

The AC will also cycle in the feet only position. you can disable this by removing the climate controls and putting tape or something to cover the contact for the AC on the rear of the controls. I put tape on the contacts so that the only time the AC turns on automatically (without having the AC button switched on) is when the selector is turned to full defrost.

 

[jeeptorino68]

If you are sure the a.c. is off and you are getting water out of that hose, the heater core could be the culprit

 

[dude1116]

The AC will also cycle in the feet only position. you can disable this by removing the climate controls and putting tape or something to cover the contact for the AC on the rear of the controls. I put tape on the contacts so that the only time the AC turns on automatically (without having the AC button switched on) is when the selector is turned to full defrost.

Mine doesn't act as such. Only when the defroster is on.

 

[KJ604]

Mine doesn't act as such. Only when the defroster is on.

I suppose there could be a difference between the model years. On my 05 when the selector is in feet only or feet + defrost or defrost only positions the AC pump will cycle regardless of the position of the AC switch. I could hear the clutch kicking in and out. Also when looking at the back of the climate controls I could see an extra contact that would activate in the above mentioned positions only. And when I covered this contact on the feet only and feet + defrost positions the AC clutch stopped cycling.

What started me looking into it is that I could hear the clutch clicking on and off constantly and I didnt understand why because usually my selector is in the feet only position. I didnt realize at the time that that is the way the climate controls worked on these jeeps. So i searched these very forums and found the info on how to make the AC run less.

Again I guess this information may not apply to all years.

 

[ltd02]

I suppose there could be a difference between the model years. On my 05 when the selector is in feet only or feet + defrost or defrost only positions the AC pump will cycle regardless of the position of the AC switch. I could hear the clutch kicking in and out. Also when looking at the back of the climate controls I could see an extra contact that would activate in the above mentioned positions only. And when I covered this contact on the feet only and feet + defrost positions the AC clutch stopped cycling.

What started me looking into it is that I could hear the clutch clicking on and off constantly and I didnt understand why because usually my selector is in the feet only position. I didnt realize at the time that that is the way the climate controls worked on these jeeps. So i searched these very forums and found the info on how to make the AC run less.

Again I guess this information may not apply to all years.

This is true. My 02 only runs the compressor with the selector at the AC settings or the defrost/defog. I don't have an AC switch.

 

[uss2defiant]

My 03 has no individual AC switch either.

 

[renegade 04]

My 04 had no a/c control switch, then I changed the climate controls over to new climate controls.

 

[Hooksaw]

Are you sure it wasn't from the AC? There is a hose coming out of the firewall from that. Comes and and bends down towards the ground.
Also I wouldn't be tasting anything esp. if you think it maybe antifreeze !:freak3:

If you are still using this site. I have a question. We just replaced out compressor, condenser and low pressure line because we were told they were in need of it. We vacuumed the line and didn’t lose the vacuum. We then charged it and the next morning the clutch wouldn’t engage. Noticed something leaking under the car, traced it back to that black tube and that was where the refrigerant was leaking. First question, what’s the name of the tube and its purpose and why would refrigerant be dripping out of there. Thanks

 

[DadOSix]

If you are still using this site. I have a question. We just replaced out compressor, condenser and low pressure line because we were told they were in need of it. We vacuumed the line and didn’t lose the vacuum. We then charged it and the next morning the clutch wouldn’t engage. Noticed something leaking under the car, traced it back to that black tube and that was where the refrigerant was leaking. First question, what’s the name of the tube and its purpose and why would refrigerant be dripping out of there. Thanks

Hooksaw:
Tom is not active here recently

The curved tube is the evaporator / heater box drain -

It is normal for ‘condensate’ to be dripping from there when the AC is running, or after the jeep is switched off. Note - I saw up thread where you put dye into the system. What you are seeing MAY or MAY NOT be your dye. The condenser is in the front of the radiator - evaporator is the the heater box. If you have the heater box out, say to change the heater core, you should, as a practice, change the AC evap core at that time. If you are seeing dye - maybe the last owner had an issue with the core and put dye in the system. It’ll leak out the core and down that drain, if there is sufficient condensate. Now that you have the AC running, it’ll drip like a faucet. If your AC stays cold, it is not refrigerant leaking. Refrigerant at outside temps is a gas and will evaporate into the air. It does not drip out the drain tube.

I just re-read and see you DID lose AC. So, i am certain your will need to do the - dash out - evaporator and heater core job.

Guess who has to do a core job on an 04 in a few days??