inlet filter?

[GS450-Junkie]

Is there a replacement filter available for the inlet on the AC unit? This would be inside the car, under the passenger knee pad. Mine looks nasty, I'm sure if I touch it it will have the consistency of mashed potatoes. Figured I would do this as long as everything is ripped apart for easy access....

[DMCMW Dave]

That is not a filter. When you put the a/c on max it is a door that opens.


Sent from phone

[GS450-Junkie]

Ah, I see. Yes, it opens when I push on it. But what does it mean when you flip on the Max AC and it doesn't open? :frantic:

I found the hard plastic line I posted about in another thread topic.... tucked in through the door of this very inlet. Wonder why it wasn't hooked up? What's going on here??

[DMC5180]

How long has has the inside of your car been pulled apart?

[GS450-Junkie]

6 or 7 years. I'm about 80% done with my entire interior gut job.

[DMC5180]

6 or 7 years. I'm about 80% done with my entire interior gut job.

Any chance you may have disconnected it way back then inadvertently?

[GS450-Junkie]

Any chance you may have disconnected it way back then inadvertently?

Highly unlikely, that seems entirely too random.

[DMC5180]

Highly unlikely, that seems entirely too random.

Perhaps, but you would have had a vacuum hiss if your A/C was working. I'm guessing you have not had a working A/C as of yet. Is that correct?

[Rich]

Ah, I see. Yes, it opens when I push on it. But what does it mean when you flip on the Max AC and it doesn't open? :frantic:

I found the hard plastic line I posted about in another thread topic.... tucked in through the door of this very inlet. Wonder why it wasn't hooked up? What's going on here??

That flap admits cabin air to the A/C system when it opens, which results in air recirc. That's the mode you get with Max AC setting. And not with any other setting.

When you connect the tube/hose from that inlet valve assy to the hose connector you were asking about then it should work as noted - open with Max AC, otherwise closed.

You can test that flap by connecting its hose to vacuum directly.

As to why it was ever disconnected maybe it just came loose during other work up there. Can't think of any reason to intentionally disconnect it.

[GS450-Junkie]

Perhaps, but you would have had a vacuum hiss if your A/C was working. I'm guessing you have not had a working A/C as of yet. Is that correct?

AC has always worked well...I have just never noticed a difference between ac and max ac. Air was never colder, air never blew harder, fan never worked or sounded harder/faster, etc. Guess that would be the reason why. I will try it tonight hooked up and see if it opens.

[DMC5180]

AC has always worked well...I have just never noticed a difference between ac and max ac. Air was never colder, air never blew harder, fan never worked or sounded harder/faster, etc. Guess that would be the reason why. I will try it tonight hooked up and see if it opens.

You probably won't see an air flow difference. It's only there for rapid cooling when it's really hot inside the car. Considering it's probably 50-55 degrees in your garage, you won't see much difference either beyond confirming the door works.

[Ron]

AC has always worked well...I have just never noticed a difference between ac and max ac. Air was never colder, air never blew harder, fan never worked or sounded harder/faster, etc. Guess that would be the reason why. I will try it tonight hooked up and see if it opens.$.02
Given a little time, I think there would be a noticeable change in all of the things you mentioned.

It might be worth mentioning that the water valve is tied to the line in question.

[Rich]

AC has always worked well...I have just never noticed a difference between ac and max ac. Air was never colder, air never blew harder, fan never worked or sounded harder/faster, etc. Guess that would be the reason why. I will try it tonight hooked up and see if it opens.

Norm A/C is same as Max A/C except for 2 things:
1. Norm A/C takes most air from the cowl grille behind the trunk lid (outside air) while Max A/C takes in most air from the cabin. When the inlet flap actuates.
2. Norm A/C does not close the heater water control valve. Max A/C does.

Which is why the water valve and the inlet flap valve are teed to each other as noted in other post.