R50/53 Bet you can't top this one! Cabin Air Filter/HVAC Problem
Bet you can't top this one! Cabin Air Filter/HVAC Problem
Hello ALL! This being my first post I thought I would see if anybody could top this! 


This is the Cabin Air Filter and crapload of junk from my 04 MCS JCW. I bought the car last Oct. and have been working on it since. The AC was not working very well and air flow was minimal at best! Guess what? I found out why! It now blows like crazy.
Now for the problem! When the AC is turned on (equipped with ACC) I only get cold air from the 2 passenger vents, I get air from the driver vents just not cold. The rest of the system is working normally just no cold from driver vents.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks for looking.
Here is the car as it looks today.



This is the Cabin Air Filter and crapload of junk from my 04 MCS JCW. I bought the car last Oct. and have been working on it since. The AC was not working very well and air flow was minimal at best! Guess what? I found out why! It now blows like crazy.
Now for the problem! When the AC is turned on (equipped with ACC) I only get cold air from the 2 passenger vents, I get air from the driver vents just not cold. The rest of the system is working normally just no cold from driver vents.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks for looking.
Here is the car as it looks today.
well, you have an 04, so taking the entire dash piece off should be just literally a few screws. maybe you can get to more of the vents that way, see if they are clogged.
looks like a neglected mini, sadly. on the plus side, you have a JCW with the aero kit!
looks like a neglected mini, sadly. on the plus side, you have a JCW with the aero kit!
There have been a few posts of rats/mouse nests in/on the filter......
I would clean like heck.....your airflow issue might be resolved....if not...it might reach further into the ducts looking for more blockages....might have a nest or critter nest up there if the filter looks that bad....
I would clean like heck.....your airflow issue might be resolved....if not...it might reach further into the ducts looking for more blockages....might have a nest or critter nest up there if the filter looks that bad....
And I thought my cabin filter was dirty when i picked up my 06 MSC. Check out the link. And boy did it smell in the cabin. My wife told me I'll never get the smell out. Ha, clean cabin filter some jars of oder out under the seats for a month and smells like NEW. Good luck with cleaning all that out. Get up in the vent with some bleach or cleaner and clean the vent tube good.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-see-pics.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-see-pics.html
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Wow, that's pretty bad, I have seen dirt and animals nesting, that must be from driving down a " dukes of hazzard " dusty road all the time. Must be original or just never changed.
Link to other dirty filters:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ir-filter.html
Should looks like this.
Cabin filter regular:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64311496710/

Cabin filter - Active Carbon
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64319257505/


"you have a JCW with the aero kit!" +1 on that, bring it back to life.
Would check up the HVAC system for more clogs and dirt.
Thanks
Link to other dirty filters:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ir-filter.html
Should looks like this.
Cabin filter regular:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64311496710/

Cabin filter - Active Carbon
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64319257505/


"you have a JCW with the aero kit!" +1 on that, bring it back to life.
Would check up the HVAC system for more clogs and dirt.
Thanks
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
I bought the Active Carbon filter. It really cleaned up the oder in the Mini. I need to change it again - it's been just under 2 years.
Wow, that's pretty bad, I have seen dirt and animals nesting, that must be from driving down a " dukes of hazzard " dusty road all the time. Must be original or just never changed.
Cabin filter - Active Carbon
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64319257505/


Thanks
Cabin filter - Active Carbon
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64319257505/


Thanks
Thank you for all the replies! I have been a mechanic most of my life and I have never seen anything like this not even under the hood.
I am in the process of tearing this little car from limb to limb, I am done with the mechanical and now am tackling the rest. It is a very well equipped JCW with several M7 Mods and it is a shame that someone abused this thing as bad as they did.
I have driven it around just like it is
and it screams! I can already tell that keeping tires on this thing will be a real problem. Turn the DSC off and this thing will ROAST the tires at anything under about 30 MPH. 
I will get the dash off tomorrow night and hopefully have this figured out over the weekend.
Thanks again everyone!
I am in the process of tearing this little car from limb to limb, I am done with the mechanical and now am tackling the rest. It is a very well equipped JCW with several M7 Mods and it is a shame that someone abused this thing as bad as they did.
I have driven it around just like it is

I will get the dash off tomorrow night and hopefully have this figured out over the weekend.
Thanks again everyone!
OMG! Did someone run the Paris-to-Dakar in that car?? 
You are tearing into the JCW, so I am sure you will get to these spots, but just in case:
My car was super clean when i got it. Even then i found a lot of crud in the ECU box when i pulled the ECU out: leaves, bugs, feathers (fortunately no other avian "components"). Also found a bunch of crap stuck between the radiator and condenser.
Great looking car, though. It's great to see someone showin' it some love.

You are tearing into the JCW, so I am sure you will get to these spots, but just in case:
My car was super clean when i got it. Even then i found a lot of crud in the ECU box when i pulled the ECU out: leaves, bugs, feathers (fortunately no other avian "components"). Also found a bunch of crap stuck between the radiator and condenser.
Great looking car, though. It's great to see someone showin' it some love.
Last edited by RogueMini; May 9, 2014 at 01:31 PM.
Just a couple pics of the progress on the JCW. Just have to add the factory hood stripes and the exterior will be complete. Just have a few interior issues to fix and the car will be complete!
Wow , looks good. Had to repost this a little bigger for you. 

If you need factory Cooper S Factory Hood Stripes Sets , we have these here which have been discounted, used to be much more. We have the white to match the top or black . These are the solid versions. Part # 51140407142 & 51140407141
http://www.ecstuning.com/News/R52_R53_Cooper_S_Solid_Hood_Stripe_Set_2002_2003_2 004_2005_2006_2007_2008

Keep up the good work.


If you need factory Cooper S Factory Hood Stripes Sets , we have these here which have been discounted, used to be much more. We have the white to match the top or black . These are the solid versions. Part # 51140407142 & 51140407141
http://www.ecstuning.com/News/R52_R53_Cooper_S_Solid_Hood_Stripe_Set_2002_2003_2 004_2005_2006_2007_2008

Keep up the good work.
__________________

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172

MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
I did find out what the cause was on mine. I had the system vacuumed down and let it set for several hours and then recharged it. This system only holds .91 lbs of freon and it doesn't take much to mess it n up.
Talked to the tech at Mini and that is what he suggested and it worked.
Talked to the tech at Mini and that is what he suggested and it worked.
Great looking car!
After seeing that opening pic of the filter it's a great reminder to check mine. Previous owner did very little maintenance so I might be able to give that pic a run for its money.
After seeing that opening pic of the filter it's a great reminder to check mine. Previous owner did very little maintenance so I might be able to give that pic a run for its money.
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