Outside air blowing from behind glove box while driving - 07 S60

typeslone · Post by **typeslone** » 23 Dec 2024, 21:45

Hello everyone, long time lurker, first post. Dealing with my wife’s 07 S60 2.5T AWD……need some assistance on an issue I can’t figure out.

The passenger footwell is absolutely freezing while driving (it’s winter time in New Jersey). It’s not heat related, the blend door motors operate fine and there is heat coming out the lower footwell vent on the side of the dash. I can feel the cold ambient air rushing out from behind the glovebox all around it. As the speed increase the cold airflow increases. I have already checked to make sure the cabin filter was installed and sealed up correctly and it is. There are no water leaks on the passenger side and I don’t see anything out of place in the engine bay or cowl area. Any ideas? Has anyone else had this issue before?

Quick background on me, I’m fairly new to Volvo ownership but I know my way around European cars for the most past. I’ve been a VAG/Porsche tech for 20 years at both dealerships and European indy shops, so any Volvo experience I had before this is from the random Volvos that I worked on at the Indy shop. Still learning the tricks and idiosyncrasies of these Swedish cars. It’s a great car though, I will say that.

Post by **cn90** » 23 Dec 2024, 21:57

At the bottom of the blower motor is a plastic cap that snaps in.
Make sure that cap did not come off.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 24 Dec 2024, 02:23

I was told there is some cloth or foam around the cabin filter that disintegrates over time letting cold air inside the cabin. I have the same problem.

People add foam around the cabin filter and fix the issue. For that you will need to take off the wipers and plastic trim underneath them to access it.

Post by **jonesg** » 24 Dec 2024, 15:36

typeslone wrote: ↑23 Dec 2024, 21:45 Hello everyone, long time lurker, first post. Dealing with my wife’s 07 S60 2.5T AWD……need some assistance on an issue I can’t figure out.

The passenger footwell is absolutely freezing while driving (it’s winter time in New Jersey). It’s not heat related, the blend door motors operate fine and there is heat coming out the lower footwell vent on the side of the dash. I can feel the cold ambient air rushing out from behind the glovebox all around it. As the speed increase the cold airflow increases. I have already checked to make sure the cabin filter was installed and sealed up correctly and it is. There are no water leaks on the passenger side and I don’t see anything out of place in the engine bay or cowl area. Any ideas? Has anyone else had this issue before?

Quick background on me, I’m fairly new to Volvo ownership but I know my way around European cars for the most past. I’ve been a VAG/Porsche tech for 20 years at both dealerships and European indy shops, so any Volvo experience I had before this is from the random Volvos that I worked on at the Indy shop. Still learning the tricks and idiosyncrasies of these Swedish cars. It’s a great car though, I will say that.

Take a look at the computer box , passenger side...in front of the power steering...coolant reservoirs.
Theres an air duct with a small fan to cool the computers, air is drawn in from the passenger compartment where you are gettting cold air. The duct could be loose allow cold ram air back into the cabin, it sould be loose at the other end too where it goes through the firewall.... also make sure the computer box is seated in place and the lid is snapped in place.
Its a possibility anyway.

typeslone · Post by **typeslone** » 26 Dec 2024, 17:01

jonesg wrote: ↑24 Dec 2024, 15:36
Take a look at the computer box , passenger side...in front of the power steering...coolant reservoirs.
Theres an air duct with a small fan to cool the computers, air is drawn in from the passenger compartment where you are gettting cold air. The duct could be loose allow cold ram air back into the cabin, it sould be loose at the other end too where it goes through the firewall.... also make sure the computer box is seated in place and the lid is snapped in place.
Its a possibility anyway.

It’s funny you mention the computer box. Last week she mentioned a weird rattle over bumps in the front end somewhere and I found the air duct from the computer box that goes down the frame rail towards the radiator support and front bumper area had come loose from the computer box. I actually had the computer box apart to reconnect the front air duct. I am 100% certain the 2 computers are back in place correctly as is the duct work at the box itself, but I can’t say the duct work didn’t come loose where it goes to the cabin. I will check that, thank you for the response, that’s not something I would have thought of. VW/Audi cars normally have the ecu in the cowl or open in the engine bay, having air duct work to cool the ecu with a small fan, while it make total sense, its still a foreign concept to me, again I’m still learning how the Swedish do things.

typeslone · Post by **typeslone** » 27 Dec 2024, 08:41

So I took a look at the computer box, the ductwork from the back of the box to the firewall is all secure. I used some compressed air to see if that is what I was feeling in the cabin and it is not. So back to square one.

Still have to pull the cowl panel off and check the fresh air vent under there. I have the feeling they may be the culprit. Will report when I check it.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 27 Dec 2024, 09:23

I found my 2001 V70 had the sealing foam around the cowl fresh air inlet had deteriorated. My problem was heavy rains leaking down to wet the floor carpet. I made a roof shield to divert water and did not replace the foam. I likely have some cold air getting in that way. but I have not noticed it in my mild winters.
volvolugnut

Post by **Krons** » 30 Dec 2024, 19:48

I’d bet on the cowl under the passenger wiper. When I bought my 05 XC90 used I needed to seal up the cowl as I got some water leaks from there getting into the passenger footwell after going through the car wash. Should be easy to diagnose once you get in there.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 31 Dec 2024, 02:48

Krons wrote: ↑30 Dec 2024, 19:48 I’d bet on the cowl under the passenger wiper. When I bought my 05 XC90 used I needed to seal up the cowl as I got some water leaks from there getting into the passenger footwell after going through the car wash. Should be easy to diagnose once you get in there.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly as I said the same in my earlier post. Even I have the problem, but I could not get to the foam(or lack thereof) because my wipers needed a tool to remove them, they just wouldn't pop out.

Post by **Krons** » 31 Dec 2024, 06:35

dikidera wrote: ↑31 Dec 2024, 02:48
Krons wrote: ↑30 Dec 2024, 19:48 I’d bet on the cowl under the passenger wiper. When I bought my 05 XC90 used I needed to seal up the cowl as I got some water leaks from there getting into the passenger footwell after going through the car wash. Should be easy to diagnose once you get in there.
Pretty much my thoughts exactly as I said the same in my earlier post. Even I have the problem, but I could not get to the foam(or lack thereof) because my wipers needed a tool to remove them, they just wouldn't pop out.

Good point on the wipers, I didn’t mention that when I did mine I didn’t have a puller or ball joint tool handy so faced the same. I was able to bend the edge of the cowl enough to get a hand in there to apply some sealant to prevent future leaks. Has held so far.