How do I replace the heater filters? | FerrariChat

How do I replace the heater filters?

Discussion in '308/328' started by viper_driver, Apr 3, 2011.

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  1. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2009
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    Jason
    #1 viper_driver, Apr 3, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    My owners manual says this should be done often. I'd be willing to bet it's never been done in the car's 26 years and some black junk comes out of the vents occasionally--my wife isn't a fan as it seems to only get on her.

    How do I access these filters?

    The part number I want to change is 60151909 HEATER INLET FILTER GAUZE. I searched already and can't find where anyone showed how to get at them. I'll take pics if someone can talk me through it.

    Here's a pic of what I'm trying to do. I want to replace item 25 so I need to get at 23 and 26. I did find some old stuff about using Home Depot house or evap filters for replacements, I'll do that once I get the pieces out.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    Easy job...remove the shroud beneath the spare tire just forward of the windshield.

    From your picture, note the air route on each side to find the now obvious black box -26-. Remove the clamp and hose -4- on forward end of the box. Remove the filter -25- by popping loose the box end piece. I removed the box (couple screws). It was unnecessary but made it easier to completely clean out the box.
     
  3. Owens84QV

    Owens84QV F1 Rookie

    Oct 2, 2001
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    Greg
    Crap...I didn't even realize there were filters there! One more thing to add to the To Do list.
     
  4. CarreraScott

    CarreraScott Formula Junior

    Jan 30, 2004
    592
    Charlottesville, VA
    Any idea what filter to put in there?
     
  5. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

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    Jason
    #5 viper_driver, Apr 3, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. Glassman

    Glassman F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Go to a hardware store and get some aluminum screen. You can cut it with scissors, or tin snips.
     
  7. montreal328

    montreal328 Formula Junior

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    Eric
    I dismantled both units last year and did not find any filters!?! or anywhere a filter would fit in for that matter....
     
  8. Badman

    Badman Formula 3

    Mar 4, 2007
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    #8 Badman, Apr 4, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
    I replaced the dust that was left of my original filters with pieces I cut out of a foam shop vac filter sleeve from the local hardware store. I tested a bit first in front of a heat lamp to make sure it could take the heat. No problems.
     
  9. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    Good info - I had no idea there were filters there either until seeing this thread. I checked my 328 manual and there it is: "...change or clean the filters on radiators 9 every 6 months."

    As others have noted, I'd bet when I service them later this month it will probably be the first time since the car was in warranty (if it was even done then).
     
  10. Robz328

    Robz328 F1 Veteran
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    Mar 16, 2009
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    speaker foam , too.
     
  11. montreal328

    montreal328 Formula Junior

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    Eric
    And the filter goes where?
     
  12. Badman

    Badman Formula 3

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    #12 Badman, Apr 4, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
    Inside the plastic heater core boxes. You can pop the front plate off the box (though it is a bit tight!) and the filter slips in there. The only reason I even thought of replacing them is that I had the heater cores out of the car to replace all the heater hoses, and when I took the boxes apart I thought, "Hmm, what's all this crumbly stuff falling out mixed with leaves and dirt?"
     
  13. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

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    #13 viper_driver, Apr 4, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. montreal328

    montreal328 Formula Junior

    Nov 1, 2009
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    So does the filter sit snug right agains the heater core? There is not a lot of room in those boxes. Does'nt that pretty much stop the air flow? And what about the core temperature... 195 degrees, right on the filter material...
     
  15. Badman

    Badman Formula 3

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    #15 Badman, Apr 4, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2011
    This is exactly why:

    1) I used shop vac filters. They're designed to filter well while allowing high volume air flow. (The technical name for this stuff is "reticulated foam")

    and

    2) I tested the foam with a heat lamp. There was no problem after being at 200+ degrees near the heat lamp for 2 hours. They'll likely degrade in the long run, but then so did the OEM ones.
     
  16. spgribben007

    spgribben007 Karting

    Nov 11, 2010
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    Any particular shop vac filters??
     
  17. Badman

    Badman Formula 3

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    Bruce Wayne
    I just got whatever Home Depot had on the shelf. It comes in a round sleeve, and you can just cut sections out of it to fit. I also suspect viper_driver's register filters will probably work just as well.
     
  18. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
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    May 4, 2001
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    Looks like all those expert $10,000 major services left something out over the years...
     
  19. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

    Jun 14, 2008
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    From the pics it just looks like standard foam that is used as filters on a lot of small home/marine ac units. Should be easily available at any hardware store.
     
  20. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

    Jan 1, 2009
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    All fixed and back together...blew the remaining black gunk out of the system through the vents and installed my new filters. I can't tell any difference in the amount of airflow now with filters installed vs yesterday with essentially no filters.

    Thanks for the help guys.
     
  21. mike996

    mike996 F1 Veteran

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    "I can't tell any difference in the amount of airflow now with filters installed vs yesterday with essentially no filters. "

    You shouldn't feel any difference at all unless the filters are too restrictive for the application.
     
  22. viper_driver

    viper_driver Formula Junior

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    right! That was my point, it's good.
     
  23. jjk

    jjk Rookie

    May 15, 2009
    11
    I was able to use the carbon filters that are over a range vent hood.They cut nicely and are rather rigid.
     
  24. 2dinos

    2dinos F1 Rookie

    Jan 13, 2007
    3,023
    #24 2dinos, Apr 6, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2011
    When I bought my car and gave the old bumper to bumper fanatical once over and major engine and chassis service, I got into those heater boxes and one had traces of filter, dirt and leaves, and the other, just dirt and leaves, I explored downstream and found those hoses to be completely filthy dirty! Yuck! So after the exercise of cleaning filters, you're carrying air through 25+ years of dust and crud covered ducts. So I scrubbed them out with damp towels etc.

    On one car I replaced those hoses! I found really nice replacement hose from McMaster Carr. IIRC it was FDA approved for cleanliness (no smell), and was even a good - but not exact color.

    BTW: After all that cleaning, I didn't put any filter media back in there. It would be nice to get some filter media like BMW etc use with charcoal. I like the idea Viper Driver came up with for the Home Depot vent filter material. Now I may need to go back in there.
     
  25. 903L

    903L Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2009
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    Marty K
    My 308 had been sitting in an aircraft hangar in Colorado for three years before I bought it. I never opened the vents or turned on the fan when I drove it. Didn't want to take the chance of breaking something. The first time I took my wife for a drive, she wanted some air. When I opened the vents and turned on the fan, spiders blew out. Not just regular spiders, Black Widow Spiders. Spiders blew all over the interior, me, and my wife. I freaked out a lot more than she did. Then I took my car to Eugenio's for a Major Service. During the service he told me, "Your car is in very good mechanical shape but, you have a major spider problem!". He said my heater filters were just dust and really should be changed. That along with bug bombing the car should help keep dust and spiders out when the fan is turned on. I am happy to report that he was right. Since I changed the filters, (an easy job), and bug bombed my car, I have had no further contact with stowaway spiders or blowing dust.
     

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