2006 Tuscan S Air Con, Problem or Not?

[ratboiler]

When I took the car to Italy this year I decided to use the air con, which was fine for two or three hours, then started to sort of give up the ghost. In other words it was still cold but not a lot of it even with the fan on full. Pulled into a service station for a coffee and was reversing into a parking slot when a BMW driver came up to me and pointed out a steady stream of water coming out by the drivers wheel arch (as I remember it could have been the other side). Tried to look cool calm and collective, with him telling me not to drive it, on examination of the water it was ice cold water then some ice dropped down. I left it and had a coffee came back to a large pool of cold water under the car. I started the car and switched on the air con and it was back to blowing lots of lovely cold air again.
So do I have a problem or is it normal to ice up like that on an extremely hot day?

[canski]

Classic AC problem usually indicates a low gas charge. This causes part of evaporator ( cooling ) coil to frost but the cooling effect is low. After a stop the coil de-frosts & hence the pool of water. Water dripping in a good operational system is normal. If you check the expansion device as it enters the car (NS) from engine bay you will see it start to freeze there first. Get the AC checked, pressure tested & re-charged.

[canski]

Whilst I think of it, there is a de-frost thermostat that should prevent icing, that is if the system does work ok & is properly charged.

[so called]

I had mine recharged the day before we left for Spain this last summer.
It packed up on day two and I just left it off for the next four weeks.
My Wife looked a bit bedraggled every time we stopped for a break

[nawarne]

John,
As Dave advises, the a/c evaporator (matrix under outboard 'hump', drivers side in engine bay - with reflective foil insulation) will, when it is chilling, cause the moisture in the air to collect and sometimes freeze on the matrix.

The ice so formed then melts when the car is stopped from the heat of the engine. This 'condensate' is drained from the 'cold box' via the tube visible in the battery compartment to the outside just behind the N/S front wheel. - The other tube (this is lead out of the heater blower compartment cover) is the drain from the 'hot box' which also contains the heater stepper motor. Worth checking this is clear to allow moisture to drain, rather than accumulate and swamp the stepper motor.
Nick

[ratboiler]

Many thanks for the help.

[MrChips]

You have actual cold air coming from your vents!