Help with leak

[dnbuggy]

I am 400 miles from home with a strange potential coolant leak. There has been a slow leak for a few days. I thought it was just water from AC condensor. Today, I stopped the car and noticed a steady stream coming from right below the passengers footwell area. It slowed substantially when the car turned off. I drove home and there was just a steady drip from there. Two hours later, still a very slow drip. I traced the leak to a elbow coming out of the firewall behind the AC accumulator. It is just a small flexible rubber elbow that faces down. What is this? Why is so much fluid coming out? I don't want to drive home if this is serious.

Thanks!

 

[fiatdale]

The elbow you're talking about sounds like the drain for the AC. Your heater core may be leaking inside the unit behind the dash and leaking out of that drain. Just one possibility.

 

[dnbuggy]

It seems like it might be either the AC doing some sort of drainage (not sure why it would be so much) or more likely the heater core is leaking (more likely I think).

I have 400 miles to go through remote Colorado. How much of a risk am I taking driving with this problem? It is Labor Day and I can't get it checked out as everything is closed. I need to get home today if possible.

Thanks!

 

[dropmech]

Have you checked to coolant level? Does it smell like coolant? If it's just the ac drain, you'll be fine getting home.

 

[mmeachem]

Could be the heater firewall nozzle. Did the tube snap off the pictured fitting? It should be on the passenger side by the firewall. It is pictured in the image below

 

[electro]

Good luck, report back!