P2 HVAC Blower debris found - door seal

Post by **abscate** » 08 May 2017, 15:35

I think it's a P2 only seal, so P80 guys need not apply

Here's a picture of the P2 duct, no mark of Zorro there...

Post by **Botbasher** » 08 May 2017, 16:14

Abscate,

It could be the grey portion on the right. The slits could be in the folded area and the twisted portion the loop around the back.

The big question is then, how did it get loose enough to get in to the fan. Is it a process of infrequent filter changes creating a suction that pulls on it and then vibration between the faces let's it slip out over time??

Maybe it just sits there on those surfaces and over time, little movement between the two move it out and then the fan does the rest.

If that is the "sealing", then those would be my guesses as to its use and cause of failure.

K "WAG" S

Post by **mrbrian200** » 09 May 2017, 09:02

June wrote: 08 May 2017, 11:18 I was told it went around the edge of the door to better seal when closed. My mechanic is one of my dealer's master technicians so I do have confidence when he said not to worry. To replace the door requires a major disassembly and he said best done if the evaporator ever needs replacement. I have noticed slight outside smells getting in on recirculation that previously did not happen. Otherwise I have had no trouble. June

Interesting they would use 'that there' as opposed to something more resembling a self adhesive strip like you might use to seal around a home entry door. As far as the recirc flap leaking after this has fallen off, it would seem to me a self adhesive gasket could be designed which could be applied to the hole of the housing which shouldn't be difficult to install. If I recall you can see the flap/access that hole with the lower windshield cowl removed.
The adhesive would need to be durable/lasting- like the adhesive used on 3M VHB.

Post by **Botbasher** » 09 May 2017, 09:13

Shoot.. a little squirt of 3M 99 Adhesive would do on the OE part! If those slits are anything like what's on a shift boot, then they are designed to hold the whole thing in place. I bet there are tabs in the crease where it angles up.

Looking at that pic and then the drawing... it looks like the foam has deteriorated over time, allowing the cloth backing to shift. suction and vibration did the rest. I wonder how many more "time bombs" are waiting if this is even close to accurate.

I would guess that it comes down to how tight it was originally and how much suction there is on the fan side.

Post by **chrism** » 09 May 2017, 11:30

One side of the material was sort of a terry cloth texture while the other side looked just like headliner material but without any padding.

Post by **Botbasher** » 09 May 2017, 12:40

I knew I'd seen it somewhere recently.

I started this at the 1:18 mark... you can see it on top of the intake... just kind of lying there and at 1:40 you get a really clear view of it. It looks like cloth backed foam "gasket"... that has started to separate even!!

When he reinstalls it at 5:20, it looks like it is a different foam with a sticky backing that he peels off.

And I didn't even have to disassemble my car to find out!!

Cheers!

K "Sherlock" S

Post by **mrbrian200** » 09 May 2017, 13:06

So the terry pad backing deteriorates leaving this cloth loose in the gap between the climate control assembly and the sheet metal/body. Loose cloth gets sucked into/grabbed and yanked out by the fan wheel. The resulting air leak isn't from the recirc flap itself, but from that open gap between the assembly and the body of the car. A solution to seal this back up without snorting up the interior/dash that won't come loose again shouldn't be difficult to brainstorm up. Again this would be accessible by merely removing the wiper arms and cowl, which isn't a big deal. Silicone sealant, perhaps?

Post by **Botbasher** » 10 May 2017, 06:59

I use something here at work and in several past careers (stereo installer and Commercial Service Tech), that would be my go to...

I call it Elephant Snot (My apologies to any Elephants in the audience). It's akin to Plumbers Putty (Grey Goop), but stickier, doesn't tend to fall apart like hardened mashed potatoes because it never hardens. When we run out and need a little, I'll go steal some off an old unit! It'll remain flexible no matter what you do to it. I use it in R&Ding dishwashers. When I find a leak in a tank, I roll an inch or two into a ball and shove it in the hole. Even against wet surface and 160F+ water temps, it never fails to seal. I'll see if I can find the actual Name/Mfg as I simply get it in generic 20ft rolls.

I'd go in as MrBrian suggested, through the cowl cover, with a length of this rolled into a snake and shove it into the cracks. Silicone would work but could be hard to apply on the motor side (possibly remove the hood?!? Use a small tube?). Either way cleaning both surfaces fully is going to be a bear!

I found my endoscope last night so I'll try to get out this weekend and see what I can find on my 03.

Ciao!

K "Snotty" S