I have a TS magna and in the past year my air conditioning has been occaisionally spitting dirty little bits of spongey material (that taste horrible, yes, one went in my mouth...) at me, it seems to have stopped doing it now but now whenever I run the air con or fans I can see the dust and particles coming out of the vents, which always settles all over my interior.

My question is would these bits of foam have been the filter and can they be bought and replaced? If so where in the vents should they be situated and how do I replace them?

Thanks

I also had this happen to me in my 3rd gen! The ac spat out chunks of this brown sponge (long then rectangle shape)?!?! Weird...
It has stopped now but it was really weird....

Would love to know what it actually is and how to replace it...

The brown foam stuff is what they use to seal up the different parts of the AC system, it deteriorates over the years and breaks up.

I think this foam is at the joins of some of the air-flow pipes, if you ever pull out your vents you'll see foam around the inside of the pipe if slots into, which is more than likely dead now, just like the way the roof linings give out due to the foam backing disintegrating. I believe it was probably to act as a seal and/or decrease friction noise (those annoying unidentified squeaks).

They're my thoughts, anyway.

D'oh, beaten to it by Mr Mac...

There is no filter in the air con system. The narrow bits of foam are seals between the pipes in the system, as stated by others. Just let them blow out - they stop eventually. LOL

I agree with all posts above about foam.

It'd be interesting to know who was Mitsubishi's "preferred supplier" of foam to seal air-con plastic ducts - cos whoever it was their foam deserves a huge "FAIL" and may well get a gong as "most crap-tastic product yet devised".

I am plagued by dusty foul-smelling air-con ducts and vents, esp the foul smell in the KJ, which had been a coastal car and had plenty of humidity to grow organisms in the air-con. Have tried spraying Glen20 through the air-con (has helped a bit). Am tempted to try a reverse-flush up the air-con drain with a bit of bleach or Disinfectant).

For cleaning vents, I have an idea (not yet tried it)... there are small "sponge-sticks" at work (I'm a nurse) used for oral care...... I plan to attack air-con vents with a damp/soapy one of these buggers. Chemists might sell them, they are like a long chuppa-chup stick with a bit of ridged foam at the end - well glued-on. I think they'll work well, but have been too lazy to try it yet.

I'd wonder about pollen filters in a dry dusty place like Oz, you'd think the airflow in the car must get stifled quite quickly as the filter clogs......

I am pretty sure that it is the same foam that is used on most other cars as well, I have found the **** in commodores as well.

Wonder what would happen if i stuck the air compressor hose down on of the vents :badgrin:

Do you all not remember that these cars are over 12 years old now and in some cases they are 17 years old!!! who ever posted up that the manufacturer needs a fail, you have failed in any case of logic.

The foam, as stated is the foam used to seal these parts up. The cars were never designed to last more than 5 - 6 years in the first place so for what they were designed to do, they suceeded.

If you ever do anything under your dash, just rip it all out, the small amout of air flow you will lose will not be noticable.

Do you all not remember that these cars are over 12 years old now and in some cases they are 17 years old!!! who ever posted up that the manufacturer needs a fail, you have failed in any case of logic.

The foam, as stated is the foam used to seal these parts up. The cars were never designed to last more than 5 - 6 years in the first place so for what they were designed to do, they suceeded.

If you ever do anything under your dash, just rip it all out, the small amout of air flow you will lose will not be noticable.

5-6 years? I serisouly hope that car manufacturers intend their cars to last longer than that. Many old merc's that are well over 20 years are still rock solid and run well, and were always designed too. I think if bits start failing like that after 6 years its pretty poor. Its not really like its a perishable/replaceable item.

Ollie

Sorry mate but look at where these cars are mostly either made, the manufacturers are owned etc, Japan. They recyclecars every few years.

It is common knowledge that cars are not designed to last 20 years, the old mercs etc you refer to are not comparing apples with apples, these are not so much designed to last the 20 years but are so well built for those few years of reliability they generally last 20 years. Car makers do not want you holding onto a car 20 years because who will they sell new ones to?

5-6 years? I serisouly hope that car manufacturers intend their cars to last longer than that. Many old merc's that are well over 20 years are still rock solid and run well, and were always designed too. I think if bits start failing like that after 6 years its pretty poor. Its not really like its a perishable/replaceable item.

Ollie


how much did u pay for your merc though, its 20's years old and u probabaly paid more for it than a 2002 magna.

how much did u pay for your merc though, its 20's years old and u probabaly paid more for it than a 2002 magna.

hehe i dont have a Merc, but just saying, from people's experiences. Not sure I agree that they last 20 years just because they have been designed to be very reliable for those first few years, things like paint quality, they would not really have to worry about if they only cared for the first few years.

And people buy them because they know they will last that long, and importatly, have a good resale value. The fact that well made cars last a long time doesnt seem to affect the sales of new cars, people who buy new ones generally sell them after a while and buy new ones again. And those who hold on to them for a long time, will buy them again because of their durability... benefiting the manufacturer.

Ollie

hehe i dont have a Merc, but just saying, from people's experiences. Not sure I agree that they last 20 years just because they have been designed to be very reliable for those first few years, things like paint quality, they would not really have to worry about if they only cared for the first few years.

And people buy them because they know they will last that long, and importatly, have a good resale value. The fact that well made cars last a long time doesnt seem to affect the sales of new cars, people who buy new ones generally sell them after a while and buy new ones again. And those who hold on to them for a long time, will buy them again because of their durability... benefiting the manufacturer.

Our cars have not been developed to be extreemly reliable, they are a midrage car. It would be nice to think of them as some kind of exotic car, but there not. More or less a honda.

hehe i dont have a Merc, but just saying, from people's experiences. Not sure I agree that they last 20 years just because they have been designed to be very reliable for those first few years, things like paint quality, they would not really have to worry about if they only cared for the first few years.

And people buy them because they know they will last that long, and importatly, have a good resale value. The fact that well made cars last a long time doesnt seem to affect the sales of new cars, people who buy new ones generally sell them after a while and buy new ones again. And those who hold on to them for a long time, will buy them again because of their durability... benefiting the manufacturer.

Ollie

Again you miss the point totally.

Mercs are brought by people who want to have what the jonses next door in Toorak have or want a penus enlargement, most people who purchase a MERC, BMW, AUDI etc do so on lease or similar and turn these cars over every 3 - 5 years. They do not care a rats backside what that car will look like in 20 years or go like for that matter. You talk about the reliability of a 20 year old Merc but you do not own one???? I used to work in a Merc delaership and while a 20 year old Merc is not a bad buy compared to cars of the same vintage, service costs are still horrendus and keep quite a bit to keep them on the road unlike a Magna for example where almost anyone can fix it.

Now back to the OP