V-SMART June 2018

with Steve Degville

“The heating in my vehicle only works on setting four and I have a bad smell in my car. What could the problem be?”

Sonny Injabulo- Taxi Driver- Barking,London

To understand this issue it's important to realise that the temperature of the air passed into the cabin is created from the engine cooling and air conditioning loop in the vehicles. The flow of air passing through the cabin determines the thermal exchanges in the system and, therefore, the performance of the air conditioning /heating. Obstructing or reducing the air flow will immediately impact the comfort of the occupants in the cabin and have a damaging effect on the reliability of the system components. In this particular instance, with the heating system only working on setting four, it sounds like the blower motor has failed. Couple this with the fact there is a bad smell entering the cabin, the cabin filter may be the root cause of the issue. What is the function of the cabin filter? The cabin air filter cleans the air that comes into the interior through the heating, ventilation and air- conditioning system. It catches dust, pollen and other airborne material that can make riding in a car unpleasant, particularly if you have allergies or other respiratory problems.

Valeo recommends the cabin filter is changed every 12 months.

(leaves,etc.) from the air inlet circuit and scuttle panel. 2) Replacing the cabin air filter. 3) Checking that the extractors are not blocked. Valeo recommend a cabin filter be replaced every 12 months to ensure maximum longevity of parts in the ventilation system and to ensure a cleanand safe environment inside the vehicles cabin.

Why must the cabin filter be changed?

I f the cabin filter is not replaced regularly and is clogged, the flow of air will be restricted and the blower motor will be working harder with less air passing across it to reduce its temperature. This will lead to premature failure of the motor. If the pollen filter has become damp due to a leaking heater matrix or blocked water drain holes, the moisture will be sucked in by the blower motor causing corrosion. An indication of this will be moisture in the vehicles cabin, a noisy motor in the advanced stage, or blower motor damage. A blower motor with damaged fan blades can be caused by a missing cabin filter allowing debris from outside entering the ventilation system or the incorrect cabin filter being fitted. This issue will have symptoms of a noisy blower motor, or in extreme cases, the motor will not work. In all cases, the ventilation cabin filter must be replaced before fitment of a new blower motor. When servicing the system, it is essential to check the complete air circuit from capture to extraction: 1) Extraction of any residue

Replacing a dirty or clogged cabin air filter, like the one seen above, helps protect passengers as well as the vehicle’s heating and air conditioning system

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