US Patent 11780291 Vehicle air conditioner drip valve diagnostics

A system and method for detecting a malfunction in a vehicle air conditioner (A/C) drip valve receives a trigger signal to initiate a vehicle A/C drip valve diagnostic for a vehicle, obtains a first image of a target area at a first time when the target area is dry, obtains a second image of the target area after operation of a vehicle A/C at a second time after the first time, compares the first image to the second image to determine a presence or absence of condensate from the vehicle A/C, and determines whether the vehicle A/C drip valve is malfunctioning based upon the comparison.