In this running city, a car is not a luxury but a necessity. And imagine driving a car on hot summer days without ac in the car. It’s horrible, right! So, you will need to keep an ac in your car but it can cause leakage as well. Water leaking under glove compartment in your car can be due to many reasons. One common reason is a clogged air conditioner. 
To shed some light on the water leaking under glove compartment here are the reasons and the solutions.
Table of Contents
How To Detect Water Leaking Under Glove Compartment?
We don’t know how long the water was leaking, but leaks in the glovebox may result in contaminants entering the inert environment inside. A glovebox leakage is a very common issue and the management of these leaks is important. To test to see where a leak is coming from, you can do a simple bubble test using a leak detecting fluid.
Water leaks under the glovebox are one of the most common fluids you may experience while owning a car. Some of the most common causes of a water leak are:
- The exhaust system
- The air conditioner leaking water
- Windscreen Washer System
So these are the reasons that are susceptible to car leakage. We have covered them in depth below and also suggested how to fix them. One simple test to look for the source of the leak is to create positive pressure inside the vehicle. Turn the air conditioner on to the fresh air setting, turn the blower on high and close the doors. By wetting your hand and feeling around the seals, you will be able to see if any air is escaping from it.
Where Can Leaks Form In A Glove Box?
There is a number of places where leaks can be found in a glovebox, such as:
- Small puncture holes/tears in gloves
- Seal on the door between the antechamber and the main chamber
- Seal on the door between the antechamber and ambient atmosphere
- A breach in gas lines/ gas inlet/ exhaust connectors
- Glove/ main chamber join
- Feedthroughs for power
- Window seals/wall seals
Reasons Of Water Leaks Under The Glove Box
The reasons for the water leak under the glove box are as follows.
1. Air Conditioning Drain
Your ac has a drain tube that gathers condensation and leads it away from the cabin. However, this tube can also get clogged or disconnect along the way. Drive without the air conditioning for a while. That will show you whether the water is coming from the front windshield or the AC. If the water stops pooling near the gearbox, you will know that the AC was to blame.
Fix:
If there is a clog, you can start by finding the drain, which is usually under the car, near the front right tire. You can bend or squeeze the host a bit to try to dislodge the clog. You might even try to insert a thin pick inside to get the gunk loose.
2. Windscreen Washer System
It is also possible for the water to come from your windshield washer system. In this case, you can generally ignore the leak from the gearbox as it will not indicate any serious problems. This is applicable to both the front windshield and rear window. If the rubber surround dries out and cracks or shrinks or is fitted incorrectly, water will come into the car.
Fix:
If you have recently had glass replaced and that has coincided with a new leak this could be the reason. Having the glass refitted with a new seal is the proper cure. If you determine that water is leaking into the bottom, there is no need to go higher with the water test.
3. The Exhaust System
The fuel combustion process may lead to the system propelling out a small quantity of water leaking under the glove compartment. This is completely normal and absolutely nothing to worry about. In this case, you would notice that the water comes from the tailpipe.
Fix:
You need to look at your coolant level to confirm that the fluid is not really coolant. As long as your coolant level is fine, water from the exhaust is likely water and completely fine. Some drivers have experienced success by welding their cracked exhaust manifold, you should consider replacing it instead. Assuming your vehicle exhaust manifold is leaking, replacing it with a new one will ensure that no exhaust gases are able to leak from the component of your vehicle’s exhaust system.
How Long Can Water Spill Under The Car Be Avoid?
The leakage of water is very fine from the gearbox. But your car gearbox like any other rotating mechanical component requires fluid for lubricating purposes. This can also be transmission fluid. Unlike water, gearbox fluid is bright orange in color. This is easy to identify.
In the case of transmission fluid, you should find out the source of the leak and top the fluid ASAP. Transmission fluid isn’t used up in evaporation unlike engine oil and should always be at the ideal level for proper lubrication. Lack of Transmission fluid can cause severe damage to the fast rotating components of the transmission. If the leak is detected early, then it will in most cases only require that part to be changed.
However, if it is detected very late, the gearbox components could incur damage which could lead to hefty expenses for replacement.
Conclusion
If you have water leaking under glove compartment into your car, you need to deal with it promptly because of the many serious problems it can cause. If water sits for too long in a car’s carpet, mold can grow and cause bad smells. Other problems can include corrosion of pin connectors, computer failures, sensor failures, rust, and high humidity inside the car causing your windows to fog up.
The bottom line is water leakage from the gearbox is fine, but the transmission fluid leak can be a bit serious. And also even unusual water leakage from the car can be dangerous.