corona36

So I've seen many posts about the common issues with the HHR leaking. I've narrowed my issue down to the condensor backing up when I'm running the a/c. I don't make the money to bring the thing to the dealership and have them take apart my (out of warranty) car and fix this issue.

I already had to replace my blower motor, major pita by the way, just so I don't die during the New England heat waves.

I work with a guy who used to work as a mechanic and explained my problem to him. This is where I heard something interesting. Since manufactures make these cars so reliant on taking apart everything just to get to one part, there are often shortcuts that can be taken. From what he said, there may be a place on the interior that can be drilled out to access the clog/detritus/crap that is plugging up the drainage hole. Once it is cleared it can be patched over or covered with a plug.

Has anyone else tried or heard of anything like this? If only I could find accurate diagrams of where everything is I could figure out the dimensions and if this was a realistic possibility.

Edit: I was able to access the drain for the a/c by removing my airbox and reaching down into to engine compartment. I used a short piece of wire and tried to see if it was plugged up. It goes in about 2 inches and hits a wall. Don't know if thats normal. Its also divided into 2 "chambers". Don't know if that adds anything to help out.

firemangeorge

First off. The condensor is the coil looking part up by the radiator. I'm guessing that you're talking about the evaporator core which is located in the box under the passenger dash area.
Cutting an access hole and all that just to remove a small clog? Well, that's probably just overkill. Most times the clog is just a buildup of slime and mold in the drain tube that finally plugs up the hole.
Over the years, Iv'e unplugged many drains on different vehicles. I just use a small,short blast of air from the shop compressor. It will usually clear the drain tube and bust up the clog in small enough pieces that the debris will eventually drain also.
You just have to use a little caution and common sense doing this. Don't try to blast the clog into oblivion or blow the evaporator core box onto the front seat. Just a short,quick shot of air up the drain tube will usually do the trick.

Note: I can't understand why folks feel the need to visit a "dealership" for an issue like this. If it's not a warranty repair, take it to an Auto AC repair shop.
That's what these guys are specialists in. Plus, they are usually going to be a whole lot cheaper price wise.

corona36

I tend to have a habit of knowing just enough to get myself into trouble. Thanks for the advise. My only problem is that I may have pieces of my fan cage all over the place in there. When I cut the old one out the bottom corners of all the blades were broken off and missing. They didn't fall out when I pulled it so I can only assume they ended up at the lowest point in the system.

donbrew

Well then, take the replacement fan back out and clean the airbox out. It has to be easier to take out than the original one. It will be slimy in there.

The airbox is split into 2 parts the cold (evap) and the hot (heater core) with the blend door controlling the air flow.

firemangeorge

Is it possible that the OEM fan blades were not broken? Some fans have the blades notched on the corners from the factory. They can appear to be broken off when they really aren't.( I'm not familiar with the HHR fan blades)
So. If you thought the blades were broken, why didn't you clean out the broken parts when you had the fan out?
As donbrew stated, you can just pull out the new fan if you need to clean out any debris.

corona36

There was one intact fan blade left so I know the rest were busted. I tried to get further into the box but my hand is just too dang big. Tried a shop vac hose but it didn't suck anything up. I'm still tempted to try blowing out the drip tube but I can't tell if there is something blocking it on the other end.

http://imgur.com/g83Rb5m The first "Drawing" is the front view, the second is an (imagined) side view. When I try to put a wire in it stops dead. I can only hope that the actual drains are above the tube and not at the back end. Hard to tell without being able to get closer to it.

donbrew

Your link did'nt work for me, but In my Service Manual shows that the drain comes of of the lower heater core cover, not the blower housing. I've never been down in there, but those stick frame drawings seem to say they are different parts.

FWIW, there are aerosol products made for cleaning out the scum in the box, GM has one and BG used to. it's an expanding foam you shoot into the center vents, then after a time it deflates and drains out.