09-06-2016, 01:31 PM
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- Audi A6 C5 How to Clean Air Conditioning Evaporator Drain Valve<br>Step by step instructions for do-it-yourself repairs.
How to clean out the evaporator drain valve.....
09-06-2003, 01:06 PM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
How to clean out the evaporator drain valve.....
<b>Purpose:</b>
The evaporator drain valve is used to get the evaporator water to the outside of the car. Over time this valve can become plugged with debris and the performance of your A/C will suffer and/or the dampness of your interior will increase. ;-)
How do I know if I need to clean it?? The most obvious indication that you need to clean out this valve is that there is water in the passenger side foot well. Another indication is if you're A/C performance is bad when at idle (but good while cruising); this valve could be partially blocked. There are many things that can give bad A/C performance while at idle (dirty pollen filter, low freon, blocked/dirty condenser, bad cooling fan, etc.) this is just one possibility.
<b>Tools needed:</b>
Phillips screwdriver
Flat screwdriver
¼" drive ratchet
¼" u-joint
¼" extensions - a few different lengths
8mm socket
Compressed air
<b>Procedure:</b>
In this procedure the evaporator drain valve is cleaned out from the inside of the car. The valve is accessed and then blown out with compressed air. The following are the steps I used to complete this task.
<i>Step one:</i>
Remove the glove box. This is done by removing five 8mm bolts. Two bolts are found where the red arrows are pointing:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/gloveboxscrews2.jpg">
Next, open the glove box and remove the last three bolts. Two of these bolts are circled and one is just off the side of the picture below.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/gloveboxscrews.jpg">
With all the screws removed the glove box assembly will be free. Once you get the last bolt out close the glove box so nothing falls out. Then lower the glove box assembly to the floor. Next, remove the connector circled below and then pull the glove box out of the car.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/connector.jpg">
<i>Step two:</i>
Remove the small panel near the floor just in front of the passenger front door. Remove the screw cover using a flat screwdriver and then remove the two phillips screws circled below.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/panelscrews.jpg">
Next, pull the lower portion of the panel to the side; you will NOT be able to completely remove it. Then loosen the door trim by simple grabbing it where the panel was covering and pulling up. It should look like this when done.....
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/actrim.jpg">
<i>Step three:</i>
Peel back the carpet so you can get at the drainage duct. Once the carpet is peeled back you will be able to see the drainage duct coming out from the center console. Now you need to remove three bolts that hold the drainage duct in place. Two can be had with extensions and an 8mm socket. The farthest bolt back (where arrow is pointing) you need to use a u-joint so you can remove it. The drainage duct and the bolts are shown below:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/drainduct.jpg">
You won't be able to remove the drainage duct. Now that the bolts are removed swing that drainage duct up so you can get access to the evaporator drainage valve.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/acvalve.jpg">
Then simply blow out the valve with some compressed air. I used about 50psi when I did it.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/airvalve.jpg">
Reverse the procedures to put everything back together. Don't forget to hook up the electrical connector to the glove box panel.
<b>Keywords:</b>
A/C, AC, drain, line, hose, evaporator, valve, clogged, blocked, plugged, passenger side, wet
<b>Disclaimer:</b>
This is the procedure that I used to clean the evaporator drain valve on my 1999 A6 2.8. According to Bentley, this procedure will be applicable to the C5 A6's (all engines). This procedure may be similar to the B5 A4/S4's, as well. The previous was just a description of the procedure I used to clean out my evaporation drainage valve. Attempt at your own risk.
The evaporator drain valve is used to get the evaporator water to the outside of the car. Over time this valve can become plugged with debris and the performance of your A/C will suffer and/or the dampness of your interior will increase. ;-)
How do I know if I need to clean it?? The most obvious indication that you need to clean out this valve is that there is water in the passenger side foot well. Another indication is if you're A/C performance is bad when at idle (but good while cruising); this valve could be partially blocked. There are many things that can give bad A/C performance while at idle (dirty pollen filter, low freon, blocked/dirty condenser, bad cooling fan, etc.) this is just one possibility.
<b>Tools needed:</b>
Phillips screwdriver
Flat screwdriver
¼" drive ratchet
¼" u-joint
¼" extensions - a few different lengths
8mm socket
Compressed air
<b>Procedure:</b>
In this procedure the evaporator drain valve is cleaned out from the inside of the car. The valve is accessed and then blown out with compressed air. The following are the steps I used to complete this task.
<i>Step one:</i>
Remove the glove box. This is done by removing five 8mm bolts. Two bolts are found where the red arrows are pointing:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/gloveboxscrews2.jpg">
Next, open the glove box and remove the last three bolts. Two of these bolts are circled and one is just off the side of the picture below.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/gloveboxscrews.jpg">
With all the screws removed the glove box assembly will be free. Once you get the last bolt out close the glove box so nothing falls out. Then lower the glove box assembly to the floor. Next, remove the connector circled below and then pull the glove box out of the car.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/connector.jpg">
<i>Step two:</i>
Remove the small panel near the floor just in front of the passenger front door. Remove the screw cover using a flat screwdriver and then remove the two phillips screws circled below.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/panelscrews.jpg">
Next, pull the lower portion of the panel to the side; you will NOT be able to completely remove it. Then loosen the door trim by simple grabbing it where the panel was covering and pulling up. It should look like this when done.....
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/actrim.jpg">
<i>Step three:</i>
Peel back the carpet so you can get at the drainage duct. Once the carpet is peeled back you will be able to see the drainage duct coming out from the center console. Now you need to remove three bolts that hold the drainage duct in place. Two can be had with extensions and an 8mm socket. The farthest bolt back (where arrow is pointing) you need to use a u-joint so you can remove it. The drainage duct and the bolts are shown below:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/drainduct.jpg">
You won't be able to remove the drainage duct. Now that the bolts are removed swing that drainage duct up so you can get access to the evaporator drainage valve.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/acvalve.jpg">
Then simply blow out the valve with some compressed air. I used about 50psi when I did it.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/1889/airvalve.jpg">
Reverse the procedures to put everything back together. Don't forget to hook up the electrical connector to the glove box panel.
<b>Keywords:</b>
A/C, AC, drain, line, hose, evaporator, valve, clogged, blocked, plugged, passenger side, wet
<b>Disclaimer:</b>
This is the procedure that I used to clean the evaporator drain valve on my 1999 A6 2.8. According to Bentley, this procedure will be applicable to the C5 A6's (all engines). This procedure may be similar to the B5 A4/S4's, as well. The previous was just a description of the procedure I used to clean out my evaporation drainage valve. Attempt at your own risk.
09-07-2003, 05:59 AM
#6
Nice work.
I hate the way that Bentley page I posted on the other thread pretty much just shows you the valve and duct, like your second-to-last picture, and no information on how to get to it. That's typical for them.
09-03-2007, 06:28 PM
#7
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WARNING!! 2 possible scenarios. Read before trying
I dont mean to highjack this awesome post, but i have tried it and thought i should share my experience.
There are two possible reasons for water in the passanger side floor
A. Evaporator valve as explained in the DIY and
B. Leaking from the top above the glovebox behind the AC unit.
My leaking problem was not the evaporator valve. That valve sits to the right next to the radio on the lower section. My problem is from above; till today i still have no idea what this leaking can be. It soaks a foam padding behind the AC unit and then drip down to the carpet and makes its way to the TCM which is very dangerous. I am about to give up on it and will try the dealer see what they say because at first they said "oh its the evap valve" "$200.00 to fix" now i know its not and will confront them. If they have to fix for this problem it is time for audi customer relations.
If anyone does find a solution please continue the post and expand.
I just added this info so some of you DIY'ers can skip this step if water comes from the top and spare all that work. It was a hot sticky day and i ended up loosing some screws and now my glovebox is fuggly. Oh well...
There are two possible reasons for water in the passanger side floor
A. Evaporator valve as explained in the DIY and
B. Leaking from the top above the glovebox behind the AC unit.
My leaking problem was not the evaporator valve. That valve sits to the right next to the radio on the lower section. My problem is from above; till today i still have no idea what this leaking can be. It soaks a foam padding behind the AC unit and then drip down to the carpet and makes its way to the TCM which is very dangerous. I am about to give up on it and will try the dealer see what they say because at first they said "oh its the evap valve" "$200.00 to fix" now i know its not and will confront them. If they have to fix for this problem it is time for audi customer relations.
If anyone does find a solution please continue the post and expand.
I just added this info so some of you DIY'ers can skip this step if water comes from the top and spare all that work. It was a hot sticky day and i ended up loosing some screws and now my glovebox is fuggly. Oh well...
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11-24-2008, 05:57 AM
#8
AudiWorld Expert
for reference, water can also come from clogged battery tray drain
<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/749420.phtml">battery tray drain</a></li></ul>
08-10-2009, 01:23 PM
#9
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
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Great Post! I hope this process works for me on my 96 A4 2.8L. Might go ahead and do it on the 03 A4 1.8 also as it is a little musty smelling. Way to break it down though! I am going to take pics of the process in case it is different on the A4.
