problem with interior air circulation, please help

white850se · Post by **white850se** » 09 Apr 2009, 18:47

Hello

For some time now, I can feel outside air coming inside my car. Usually when I click the circulation switch On, it prevents the outside air (or exhaust fume from other car) coming in.

I can still hear the buzzing sound when I click the switch on, but a while a go, I used to hear a tapping sound like 3-4 times. Sounds like its coming from underneath the dashboard.

Anyone please tell me what is wrong? I have a feeling something that close the outside ventilation is broken so it cannot prevent the outside air to get in. Its quite annoying especially in peak hours time behind other cars as I can smell exhaust fumes getting in the cabin, making me dizzy especially when the air cond is on in hot condition.

Regards
Ivan

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 09 Apr 2009, 22:02

Ivan, this is not an uncommon problem- yes, the plastic armature that controls the dampener flap that opens and closes the air intake is probably broken (the sound you hear). You'll need to take your passenger side panel under the glove box out and probably the glove box out to see it. Others have used a strong piece of wire (copper seems to work well) and wrapped where the plastic piece had split and broken in order to repair it. Good luck and let us know what you find.

vlvman · Post by **vlvman** » 09 Apr 2009, 22:40

You can find more info here on your reccirculation problem:
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/volvo_works ... docs.shtml

white850se · Post by **white850se** » 09 Apr 2009, 23:00

MadeInJapan wrote:Ivan, this is not an uncommon problem- yes, the plastic armature that controls the dampener flap that opens and closes the air intake is probably broken (the sound you hear). You'll need to take your passenger side panel under the glove box out and probably the glove box out to see it. Others have used a strong piece of wire (copper seems to work well) and wrapped where the plastic piece had split and broken in order to repair it. Good luck and let us know what you find.

Thanks, will see if i could open it up. Can power glue stick it back together?
Vlv, thanks for that link, very interesting but its quite technical, have the pdf saved.
Will post again.
Regards
Ivan

white850se · Post by **white850se** » 10 Apr 2009, 03:36

Okay, managed to pull out the glove box. I see a black plastic box on a white blower box (I assume that is a blower box)with something like a pin that turns around left and right when I click the air circulation switch on or off.

Theres a white plastic thing attached to a metal arm about 15 cm long. And I can see that this metal arm that has this plastic thingy (has a square hole)attached to it was laying on the white box. From the square hole I assume that this plastic thingy should be attached to the pin on the black box.

I can actually pull the metal arm with my hand and it feels like a flap closing an air duct.

Now, I attached that metal arm (with the white plastic thing) to the pin on the black box and I thought the motorized pin should swing the metal arm up and down so the flap thats attached to it can close or open the air duct but it does not.
I clicked the switch on and off but it doesnt do anything but if i took it off, i can see the pin is moving or turning left or right.

So i am puzzled now, i have a feeling that the electric motor in that black box cannot move the flap mechanism. So it is a problem with the position...or has the motor of the black box has weakened...

Now things got worst...

I thought that I have to allign the arm so it goes to the right position so the pin can move the flap properly, then edge of the square hole of that white plastic thingy snaped...

I will try get a picture of it later, wonder if I can get a spare.

I am lost...

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Apr 2009, 10:07

I'd say a junk yard that lets you into pull parts would be just your ticket. Find the same model car w/ same type of climate control and you'll be golden. You'll be able better to see how the flap controller is set up too.

mercharch · Post by **mercharch** » 04 Jul 2009, 22:45

I just fixed my recirculate damper this past week. It hadn't been working for some time. Opened up the passenger side dash to lube my screechy cabin fan, and noticed that the white arm that fits onto the square motor pin had slid off. I'm guessing it came off going through those powerful dryers @ the touchless car wash (advice: make sure the recirc. is switched OFF when you are going through).

Had one heck of a time re-attaching with the damper switch off. Had better luck when I engaged the recirculate motor. Works like a charm now!

One thing I noticed was that the damper wasn't completely sealing off the outside air at first. This can be adjusted by turning the white plastic arm and shortening/lengthening the wire that runs from the arm to the damper itself. A little futzing and it's working better than ever!

Also a good time to add a cabin air filter if your car doesn't already have one (you'll have to take off the cowl below the windshield on the exterior).