Aircon Flap / Foam problem

[LEB]

My car was diagnosed to have a problem with the flap or the foam (I cant remember how they call it) that would prevent the outside smell from getting in. The foam is disintegrating na raw and eventually when you open the aircon you would see foam particles blowing through the aircon vent. So far I havent noticed this yet. When I brought my car to the casa they quoted me 5000 pesos labor for dismantling the dashboard plus 2000 pesos for the new foam. Now am a bit apprehensive because they did not open the dashboard so how could they diagnose this problem? Also I was told that there is an opening under the drivers side dashboard below the steering wheel and they can check if there is a problem with the aircon foam by putting a hand inside that hole underneath the drivers side dashboard. Is this true? I find this hard to believe since aircon is so far from that position. They already charge me a diagnosing fee but when I ask if they they dismantle the dashboard they said no. How could they check the foam if they dont dismantle the dashboard I was just wondering?

By the way car is an Audi and dealer PGA cars. I am thinking that the service advisor is bullshitting me!*

[BlueBimmer]

the disintegrating foam is true, more so with old 5+yr cars. the price quote is very expensive...typical of an european auto 'stealer' hehe

[LEB]

My car is 5 yrs old na ...so is that true that they can the foam check without dismantling the dashboard? How much is a reasonable price for this type of service?

[jjmichaels]

Me thinks Euro cars new and specially older ones are notorious for this kind of a problem here in polluted Manila. I would go to an aircon specialist and have the hole plugged permanently. Keeps the bad odors and bus exhausts out. Opening the windows to get fresh air is always an option anyway.

[OTEP]

Yeah, just plug the hole permanently. Unless you like running your a/c in 'fresh air' mode while driving Metro Manila.

Evem most small A/C shops can plug it for you without major surgery on the car.

Also had a similar scenario on my former Pajero. But what Norman (Mang Mario's son) did was remove the old foam from the flap. Cut up new foam (Uratex foam used for mattresses) and put new foam on the flap. I don't know how much it would've cost because sinabay ko lang sa cleaning (Php1,200).

[LEB]

Do you need to dismantle the dashboard in order to get to the flap? I dont know where exactly the flap is? Is it the one underneath the driver's side dashboard as claimed by the SA? If there is a need to dismantle the dashboard then I have no recourse but to have it done at PGA and pay the humongous price.

[wildthing]

you'll need to try to get a "service manual" na oto mo to see if you really need to dismantle the dash.... some cars doesn't need that.

problem lang kung merun airbag ang oto mo.... you would need to "disable" the airbag muna bago mo kalikutin ang front panel mo otherwise it might explode while working on the area (Better safe than sorry).

[shadow]

you'll need to try to get a "service manual" na oto mo to see if you really need to dismantle the dash.... some cars doesn't need that.

problem lang kung merun airbag ang oto mo.... you would need to "disable" the airbag muna bago mo kalikutin ang front panel mo otherwise it might explode while working on the area (Better safe than sorry).

hinde naman yata magagalaw yun airbag, ganun sa akin crv, pinatakpan kona rin permanently, dahil pumapasok na yun amoy, disentegrate na rin yun mga foam sa paligid, sa crv the flap comes with the motor blower housing so pag inalis yun blower motor sa ibabaw nun andoon yun flap

[OTEP]

If you do not want to resort to dismantling the dash, you can 'reverse engineer' and find out where exactly does the a/c get the air it feeds to the a/c when the flap is open.

On most cars its via the base of the windshield. On some older cars, you can block the fresh air flap by removing the plastic grilles at the base of the windshield and plugging up the hole from there [using whatever means you have at your disposal].

The airbag has slim chances of deploying unless you accidentally short it. The crash sensors are up front, not on the airbag modules themselves (you can strike the steering wheel or dash pod all day and the bags still won't deploy).

[manolop10]

I have this same problem on my ride, the smell from the outside comes in the car through the a/c, even with the vent switch closed, and i really get annoyed by it. I haven't had my car checked but it seems that the symptoms are enough to tell me the problem. Hopefully A/C specialists can fix this problem, because i seriously doubt Euro specialists would charge me cheaply. Can anyone point me to a good one near ortigas?

[wildthing]

...The airbag has slim chances of deploying unless you accidentally short it. The crash sensors are up front, not on the airbag modules themselves (you can strike the steering wheel or dash pod all day and the bags still won't deploy).

I would like to believe that... but I do know of a real incident wherein the Toyota Tacoma's airbag deployed on the face of the mechanic/driver of my client (taga CDO)... he was tweaking under the dash with a screw driver... he doesn't know what he "shorted" (if yun nga ang cause) when the airbag blew. Half of his face had a stitch (from his chin across his face to the forehead - diagonal cut).

IMO, I wouldn't take any chance at all, it is so easy to pay the casa to disable the airbag muna (while I manipulate or remove the dash or work on the dash).

You have to consider that the "explosive" of the airbag is IN the airbag (not on the collision sensors), and it doesn't need the sensor (which is plainly a switch) to put power on the detonator. Even if you remove the battery, you're never sure if there are no "stored" power from "somewhere" (like a capacitor perhaps) that can power that detonator.

So if you still want to be that daring...then go ahead. (Just update us if you do meet an airbag accident. )

[OTEP]

You can pull the SRS fuse or the negative terminal of the battery cable if you don't want power going to the SRS module. There really isn't an on-off switch for these things. Even in the full thickness factory service manual [at least for the LC90] and slim service manuals for the Volvo850/Ford Expediton, there is no other precaution mentioned other than disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery and the SRS fuse. The chemicals contained in the airbag detonator are pretty inert.

Some techs go the distance by properly grounding themselves with the vehicle to prevent any static. Just like what those computer guys do when working inside PC's.

[kevinpunzalan]

Do you need to dismantle the dashboard in order to get to the flap? I dont know where exactly the flap is? Is it the one underneath the driver's side dashboard as claimed by the SA? If there is a need to dismantle the dashboard then I have no recourse but to have it done at PGA and pay the humongous price.

To LEB:

Is your car a B5 Audi A4 (1995-2001)? I have a Bentley Manual for the car so I can probably search for the procedure you need for dismantling the dashboard or other parts of the car.

Aside from the Outside air vent flap disintegrating, I would consider the possibility of your Cabin air filter already being dirty, if it hasnt been replaced yet. The climate control of Audi automatically sets to outside air when turned on, and if it is not immediately reset to Recirculate your filter could end up sucking dirty air when you are in the city.

If you need parts, I can easily get that for you, if you're interested. I can show you how to do simple assembly/disassembly, but for more advanced work I'd recommend pro shops.

If you live in the South, you can go to Servitek Alabang. Look for Mr. Rolf Maag, the Swiss General Manager. Go there from 8-12am as he leaves after lunch. He is honest and will try to repair your car w/o replacing everything agad. Labor is a bit on the expensive side (OBDII diagnosis costs 800 pesos) but at least you only replacce what you really need.

Let me know if I can help you further. Text me at 09178146182. Its Kevin by the way.