Tact

I have a '04 Z with 2800 miles and I turned on my fan to the fresh air vents on high yesterday for the first time. You wouldn't believe the debris that came out. I have no idea how that much crap could have gotten in there. The entire interior of the car looked as though I had been cutting lumber inside. Any idea as to the best way to clean out the system. Where do I start?
I bought the car with 2500 miles on it so the debris must have been there from the previous owner.

jl240z

I wonder if being such a low milage car if it was parked a lot in an area where there may have been mice. I had a car, limited use, and the little beggars had built a nest in there and were snacking on the electrical wires. Where the air comes in from outside there usually is some sort of foam filter and a screen to keep the big stuff out. You may have to remove part of the external cowl to see if there is a hole there. That amout of debris sounds like it was inserted in some other way than normal. Like the cat said "I hate them meeces to pieces" Good Luck

Tact

Can you tell me where this area you're talking about is located? I thought the only area where air gets in is located at tha base of the front windshield?

jl240z

Its been awhile since I took a close look at mine but if I am not mistaken the intake area for the fresh air supply is on the passenger side of the cowl. I would think it would be removeable for inspection but let me take a look and refresh my mind then I will look at my factory book and see if they list a proceedure for cleaning or maint. The only other debris related issue was the leave from trees clogging the drain pockets. When I went and checked mine sure enough they were full of leaf matter. Luckily it wasnt bad enough to cause a water leak problem like some others had. I will look tonite and get back to you. Meanwhile maybe someone else here can chime in.

2kbluestreak

Driver's side cowl. That's where I have the Mid America fuzzy plastic would-be filter.

jl240z

Bluestreak is 100% right I had it backwards. The book sez to remove th air inlet screen panel you have to take the wiperarm assemblies off, remove the plenum to hood seal and the pushin retainers. Then carefully slide the panel out from under the edge of the windshield far enough to get at the windshield washer supply hoses and disconnect them from the panel. Then lift it out. Now you can see the whole area underneath and around the wiper motor areas and vacume out any debris left. There may still be some in the blower motor to. I think you can also check the drains for this area too. I am sorry if I misled you I think I was remembering my old C-4. It had the screen and the foam. This car (at least mine) only has the screen. Its possible that since it is over 6 years old any foam may have dissolved. My factory manuel doesnt show that there was any there. My old C-4 kept blowing foam bits from the a/c junctions that were supposed to seal them. I had little bits of black foam coming out the vents for awhile because the UV deteriorated them. I apologize for my brain fart.

Bill Curlee

If you have a critter nest or trash in the HVAC system, the best way to remove it is to remove the fan motor and vacuum it out! REMEMBER!!! the fan motor case is HOT and you need to remove the fuse or disconnect the battery or the fan will spin rapidly if you touch ground!!

There isnt any sort of screen or filter in the inlet for the HVAC air inlet.

Bill

Tact

Thanks for all your inputs. I'll take a look a little closer tomorrow with your recommendations. Thanks again for all your help.

Fred

Eric_who

Read the OP's main post and saw '04 with 2800 miles and my eyes got wide! I then realized the guy before me resurrected a post from 2006 when the car was only 2 years old haha