Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Morgan Roadster Air Conditioning

Hello fellow Morgan owners. I have been a member of the Forum for some time and this is my first post.

I own a 2005 Roadster V-6 that was one of the last of the 85 or so cars imported to the US. I bought he car through Morgan West in California and took delivery in 2006. It now has about 12,000 miles on the clock. It is the Panama Green car that was featured in the US sales brochure. If I can overcome the technological challenge I will post some pics.

I keep the car in Sea Island, Georgia and drive it mainly on weekends (thus the low mileage). I have not had any major problems which is fortunate because there is no nearby dealer. Only you other Morgan owners will know the joy I have every time I turn the key.

I do have an issue that I hope someone can help with. Being in the US south the air conditioner is a vital feature. I run it constantly and it is marginally effective at best. However it does provide enough cooling to make the car bearable on the regular 95F day.

The problem I have is that the condensation water produced by the cooling process drains from the AC/heater distribution unit beneath the instrument panel (controls are on the front face of unit) down the side of the transmission tunnel and soaks the carpet in the passenger foot well. The condensation is significant and will soak the entire carpet and wood floorboard in a 1 hr drive. I take out the carpet and let it dry overnight. There has to be a better solution and I am appealing to the Forum for help

There are two air distribution vents on the passenger side. An upper vent which blows air straight back from the top of the unit and a lower vent which blows air down at right angle at foot level. There does not appear to be a condensation drain in this unit. The water is leaking from a seam in the bottom of unit that is located just forward of the lower distribution vent. Because of the tight clearance between the bottom of the unit and the top of the transmission tunnel I can't actually see the source of the leak but I can see the water dripping on to the top of the transmission tunnel and then running down the side of the tunnel to the floorboard.

Though my engineering skills are minimal I do know that all A/C units produce condensation and and that all A/C units have condensation drains. Does the Roadster have a drain and where is it? If there is no drain how and where can I put one in?

Thanks in advance for help from an experienced Roadster owner.

PeterN

I never thought it was possible to have AC in a trad' mog'

I suspect that even the MMC didn't tought it was possible, but they did it anyway.

When you know that the Mog' aren't totaly waterproof whithout AC it's maybe a partial explanation of this weakness in the management of the fluids.

H3

It took me a long time to make this post because I was reluctant to admit I had an A/C Morgan. However now that I have made this admission I am prepared to suffer the consequences-------as long as get my A/C fixed.

Peter N

AA: A/C Anonymous

Welcooooooooome, PeterN

Your sens of humor, always necessary when you have a Mog', will help you . I just hope there are other A/C Morganists who know how the A/C system is fitted.

I have no specific idea but I suspect there is a kind of plastic tube which is supposed to evacuate the water from the system, like the A/C in my house. Maybe this durit needs to be long enough to run the water underneath the car, along the chassis. But perhaps the MMC, in its traditional sens of economy, forgot the tube..
(or maybe the tube got off the unit, as it did 2 times with my wind screen sprayer)

Well, a call to the factory will provide information about whether or not it has a drain. Surely it should have????
As things stand, and if there is no fix, I would make a shallow tray out of aluminium with a drain tube down in the corner between the bulkhead and transmission tunnel, and through a hole in the floorboards. Probably one each side. This idea would be a fiddle but would work.

Welcome to the Forum Peter from a fellow 2005 Roadster owner.

Peter - welcome on board. For what it's worth, Morgan West currently has "2003 Morgan Plus 8 35th Ann. Edition
.......Merlot metallic/Tu-tone Black leather,Ultra rare Factory Air Conditioning......" so maybe a call to Dennis there would help you as I would guess that would need an a/c drain as well.

Good luck

Hello Peter and welcome.

As others have said, A/C is quite a rare option on a Classic Morgan; therefore, I didn't have the answer to hand. I did however call the factory and this was the explanation: -

There is a drainage tube for the A/C and it should be found to the rear of the heater unit - between the dash and the bulkhead. The tube should be the size of pipe you would expect to find for windscreen washer fluid. This tube should be attached to the rear of the Heater/A/C unit and should then travel over the top of the bulkhead and into the engine compartment. From there it passes down past the top of the gear box (bell housing end) and allows the water to fall onto the road beneath the car.

From the sound of it, the hose is missing from your car, hence the water dripping down behind the dash and into the footwell. The easiest solution would be to get the dealer who supplied the car to send you the appropriate pipe and fit it yourself, now that you know where it should be attached and the easiest route out of the car. You could also try to source some appropriate diameter pipe and follow the same process.

If you get stuck, let me know and I'll put you into contact with someone at the factory who can be of assistance.

Hi Peter, Welcome to the forum
Just for interest and information, there are at least three members of the Centenary Roadster 100 Register who have Factory Fitted Aircon in their cars so it is becoming a more popular option.

Two cars are located in the UK (presumably for European driving) and one in Dubai for the same reason as yours.

On the Roadster normal heater, it is possible to change the angle of the blower vents by turning the whole vent bezel unit, however, not having Aircon myself maybe you cannot do that with your vents?

Simon and Frank,

Thank you for your replies. I will contact Dennis as you suggest. I am traveling so it will be a while. When I get back I will look again to see if I can find the attachment point for the drain hose but I suspect the dash may have to be removed. Hope not...Will report progress or lack thereof.

Yes it's optional on Roadster only (why not on Plus 4 or 4/4 ????)
I had the intention to ask for it but the messages of hate I received made me think I was maybe mad to only think of fitting it on a Mog ... And now I regret, it's HELL inside the Mog when outside it's more than 100°F
With the temperature of the engine + of the sun you simply boil even when you are driving
I made a test last week-end and I think that SWMBO will not come again with me before october
For sure they are hours better for a drive (before 10 AM and after 7 PM) but I didn't buy it only to look at it all day long ...
I'm looking for a solution to fit an airco, if any of you has a solution ???