How to remove debris from the cabin air intake

[Veerzigzag]

My usually-dry-inside 944 was out in the bucketing rain last night, this morning the passenger footwell was awash. Never leaked at all before and very unlikely that this amount would come in past the newish seal on the sunroof, which drains OK anyway. I know one should clean out the cabin air intake routinely, but how to get to it? Before removing the wipers and that piece of flimsy black plastic over the heater fan, to see if the intake is acessible under it, I thought I would ask. Can't find anything when I search the forum, so apols if this is an old chestnut......

 

[zcacogp]

You'll probably find that the drains from the scuttle cover are blocked (slightly or fully) and hence they fill up and overflow down into the heating system. You don't need to take the flimsy bit of black plastic off to clear the drains out - they are at each side, and appear as a slight 'hump' where the wing joins to the rest of the car. It's hard to describe but if you pour a cup of water into the scuttle and watch where it puddles you'll soon work out where it is meant to drain to. Cleaning them is fun - just pull the rubbish out with your fingers, or push it through with something like a bike brake cable. If you flush it with water afterwards you'll wash any small bits of crud out. Oli.

 

[Veerzigzag]

Result! One minute later, drain holes discovered. Offside channel dry, nearside (leaky side) channel full of water. Two minutes with a big cable tie and a jug of water, and a small cascade of water and muck poured out below the wing. Thanks Oli - that's brilliant.

 

[zcacogp]

It's a very satisfying job! And - better still - sounds like you have both diagnosed and fixed your wet interior problem. [] Oli.

 

[Veerzigzag]

sounds like you have both diagnosed and fixed your wet interior problem

Astonishing how this forum enables one to understand the 944: today the scuttle drain flush, yesterday the truth about re-chipping, the day before was my discovery of the under-bonnet charging point... Whatever an owner needs to know - the information is out there...and in here...

 

[zcacogp]

Ain't that the truth, brother. I removed the alarm from my car yesterday, and relied heavily on the instructions on Clarks-Garage. They were wrong as it was, but got me started whereas without them I'd have been flapping around in complete darkness. Oli.

 

[Veerzigzag]

I have just realised the appalling error I perpetrated in the subject line. "Cabin" is what a people-carrier has; a 944 has a cockpit. No insult intended...

 

[zcacogp]

You are forgiven, my child. [] Oli.