Cabin filter

[Mugzilla]

I have the mildewy smell in my 24. I popped out the filter and sniffed it. No stank on it. Looks brand new. (Car only has 9k on it.)

Anyone figured out where water could be sitting? Y'all know I'm anal retentive. So, when I have washed my engine bay, water MAY have splashed in to the plastic cowl vents.

Might need to find a boroscope to look for a puddle.....

 

[FSUZ33]

Same situation here a few weeks ago. I put the original filter back.

After that, I was told it's most likely funk in/around the refrigerant box/coil, which are deep in the bowels of the dash. I haven't dug into it yet, have only had a few conversations with people, and I'm just dealing with it until I force myself to do something. Check the internets. The two things people have mentioned to me are:

1. Crank the car and run the AC. Lift the hood and spray Lysol disinfectant into the intake in front of the wipers.

2. Dealership treatment where they basically do the same Lysol thing but it's expensive Lysol and expensive labor.

Can't vouch for the success/longevity of either.

 

[Mugzilla]

Same situation here a few weeks ago. I put the original filter back.

After that, I was told it's most likely funk in/around the refrigerant box/coil, which are deep in the bowels of the dash. I haven't dug into it yet, have only had a few conversations with people, and I'm just dealing with it until I force myself to do something. Check the internets. The two things people have mentioned to me are:

1. Crank the car and run the AC. Lift the hood and spray Lysol disinfectant into the intake in front of the wipers.

2. Dealership treatment where they basically do the same Lysol thing but it's expensive Lysol and expensive labor.

Can't vouch for the success/longevity of either.

SO, I just busted out a boroscope, pulled the glovebox, and tried to search around.

I was able to figure out the baffles that OPEN when you set the system to recirc.

I can't figure out where the path is from the fresh air intake.

The boroscope is too big in diameter to fit down the fresh air intakes that are in front of the wipers.

Makes me want to punch an engineer that there isn't a clean-out that I can access from SOMEWHERE underneath the coil box.

When you start the car, it is set to suck in fresh air. The ass smell goes away instantly because the baffles reposition to recirculate (If that is where you have your knob set....)

 

[FSUZ33]

Sounds like the surgery for walleye vision; the multi-opti-pupilotomy. You've got to go in through the rectum. Ain't no man going to take that route with me!

 

[FSUZ33]

Mine's not from lack of use, as it has run at least twice every weekday since I got it 3.5 months.
I'll keep looking.

Signs You Need AC Maintenance at Your Nissan Dealer
Moldy Smell
If you turn on the AC and a moldy, earthy smell fills the cabin, your AC has a bacteria infestation. During a Washington winter, the AC’s lack of use can cause bacteria to build up on the air filter and in the ducts. The AC system is dark and damp, and combined with the lack of air movement, provides the perfect circumstances for bacteria to thrive.

We add an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal cleaning solution to the AC and then run it on full power. This blows the solution throughout the system and rapidly removes the infestation. Your AC will blow clean-smelling cold air again in no time.

 

[FSUZ33]

One thing is to check the evaporator or condensation drain under the car, wherever that is, to make sure it's not clogged, causing water buildup wherever it would build up.

Search for "car AC cleaner." Looks like there are readily available aerosol versions with tubes/straws. Some claim to have no smell, or a light smell that quickly goes away. The ones I clicked and read some reviews (Amazon) are made to be sprayed into the drain, up to the guts.

Called it. Gotta go in through the rectum.

 

[thesilverbullet]

i’ve had good results with turning the a/c off with the fan on high for a few miles at the end of my trip to help dry the vents before parking overnight.

to rid an existing problem add an air fresher to the air intake or soak the intake and or the cabin filter with a disinfectant spray. the k&n filter holds up good to soaking.

 

[NocturnalEmber]

Nissan cabin filters are and always have been worthless trash. If Microguard has a HEPA filter for our cars, trust me that’s what you want. Worth 10X the Nissan garbage and costs less. I use them in my wife’s Murano. It needs the HP at the end of the product number.

My local car parts place, real place with professionals not Autozone idiots, said he couldn’t find the HP model. Microgard 4084 is what fits. There may not be a HEPA version. I would never buy the fake garbage claiming to be HEPA on Amazon so maybe this is all we have access to. I’m sure Microgard‘s worst blows Nissan trash out of the water.

Was there a noticeable reduction in airflow with a hepa installed? I'm all about better air quality, just want to make sure it doesn't reduce the air to a trickle.

 

[TexasZee]

My friend informed that K&N made a washable cabin air filter for the Z which I have now purchased. Currently on sale with free shipping direct from K&N. $38.39.
https://www.knfilters.com/vf2082-cabin-air-filter

 

[bpeckham]

My G37 (and G35 before it) had the same problem. Seems like Nissan doesn't know how to avoid this for 20-something years.

 

[NocturnalEmber]

Nissan cabin filters are and always have been worthless trash. If Microguard has a HEPA filter for our cars, trust me that’s what you want. Worth 10X the Nissan garbage and costs less. I use them in my wife’s Murano. It needs the HP at the end of the product number.

My local car parts place, real place with professionals not Autozone idiots, said he couldn’t find the HP model. Microgard 4084 is what fits. There may not be a HEPA version. I would never buy the fake garbage claiming to be HEPA on Amazon so maybe this is all we have access to. I’m sure Microgard‘s worst blows Nissan trash out of the water.

I went shopping for a cabin air filter as I'm at the one year mark, this thread came to mind. I did find a HEPA filter, though I have no idea how good it is. If you are still looking for a hepa filter, might be worth trying: PureFlow HEPA Cabin Air Filter PC4099HX

Not sure on the brand, but I figure for $20.00 on Amazon its worth a gamble.

 

[FSUZ33]

I thought that's the one I got, but it looks like I grabbed the non-HEPA. Would have spent the extra $2 if I had been paying attention.

 

[RobotAZ]

Was there a noticeable reduction in airflow with a hepa installed? I'm all about better air quality, just want to make sure it doesn't reduce the air to a trickle.

Still haven’t changed mine. I have time to change a filter, but not remove the glove box and get into whatever else messes I get into. My wife’s Murano filter is an idiotic adventure every time. Obvious afterthought by Nissan.

 

[haohmaru]

I found this. Worth a shot on the murder curtain ??‍ ? got to read the link to get the joke
https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/s/j19aIt0xYC

Mmmm, I love the smell of phthalates in the morning.

 

[NocturnalEmber]

I thought that's the one I got, but it looks like I grabbed the non-HEPA. Would have spent the extra $2 if I had been paying attention.

I'll report back when I can get it installed after it arrives; Ideally it does its job and doesn't slow the airflow down to a trickle.