What to Do When Leaves Enter the Car's Air Intake?
2 Answers
If there are a large number of leaves causing unusual noises, you can manually remove the glove box, locate the blower housing cover, and pull it out to see the leaves between the blower and the filter paper. The car's heating comes from the engine's heat, while cooling is provided by the compressor. The blower is merely used to deliver air to the cabin, which is unrelated to the commonly mentioned air conditioning compressor. Before parking, turn off the air conditioning cooling function and let the air continue to blow. This way, the remaining heat can be used to dry the moisture inside the evaporator box.
Last time I parked under a tree, I noticed the air conditioning airflow had significantly weakened. Looking down, I found the air intake completely clogged with dead leaves, which really worried me. I immediately turned off the engine, popped the hood, and located the air intake grille usually positioned below the windshield. Carefully using a small screwdriver, I removed the cover plate, pulled out large leaves with tweezers, and vacuumed up fine debris. After cleaning, I turned on the AC – sure enough, the airflow was restored! Since then, I always remind myself to avoid parking in leaf-prone areas. During regular car washes, I ask the technician to check the intake as well, since prolonged blockage can breed bacteria affecting air quality, and in severe cases, damage the blower motor. Now after every wash, I peek at the air intake – developing this habit has saved me a lot of hassle.
