icer5160

iTrader: (4)

As many of you may or not know, the 350Z doesn't have a cabin filter. So I created this little video showing how anyone with basic tools and about $10.00 can make their own cabin filter for their Z. Installation is fairly simple. It might take sometime to get the plastic mesh to fit right, but at least you only need to make one of those as it will be re-used for hopefully, the life of the vehicle.

From start to finish I think I took about 1.5 hours to get the job done. Almost all of that time was spent creating a template to use for making the screen mesh. Then polishing/trimming the ends of the screen mesh after I cut it out for best fitment. Cutting out the filter element only takes a minute. Removing the battery covers and re-installing them also only takes a few minutes.

I'm going to be using some Klima Cleaner next weekend to wash out my AC's evaporator core, that combined with my new air filter should prevent and further stinky AC odors.

Note: After installing the new filter air flow loss was minimal. Honestly I didn't notice much of a difference at all. I was at first concerned that the filter would really block the airflow to the cabin, but there's hardly a noticeable difference.

Link to video below. Read video description for more details.

Cux350z

iTrader: (162)

Going to watch the video later.

Do yiu jave on the filter?

SmoothZ

iTrader: (13)

Very cool DIY. Thanks for the video.

I'll definitely try this out. Might as well since it can't hurt.

HRMoneyPit

I need this

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

I'm confused Could you re-phrase? I'm happy to answer.

Cux350z

iTrader: (162)

Do you have a pn for the filter?

Stupid phone....

jhc

This was very cool. When I do the washer tube cleanout this will be included.

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

I used this: http://www.lowes.com/pd_149392-1361-...fit+air+filter

But there are plenty of other trim-to-fit options out there.
Good luck!
-Icer

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

Did you ever consider doubling up on the filter? Meaning cutting out 2 sections of it and stacking them. Or would that be overkill?

dcains

iTrader: (15)

What happens when this thing gets saturated from rain or washing the car? OEM filter are always located downstream from a drain in the HVAC plenum.

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

Like OP said in the video, I don't think water will be getting to that spot. If water wasn't getting in and causing an issue before, it shouldn't be causing an issue now

dcains

iTrader: (15)

Water will absolutely get in there, why wouldn't it? Luckily, he's in northern California.

craig12895

iTrader: (7)

Only reason I don't see it getting there is because that metal scoop keeps water from running into that spot. And there will be no water splashing into it because the plastic wiper cowl and battery covers shield that area

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

That is your AC blower's inlet tube. If water was an issue, then Nissan would have designed it differently. There's a complete gutter system in place for water to flow around the inlet tube. The cover has weatherstripping and meshed grills cut into it for airflow and controlled water drainage. The cover's air inlets are situated on the left and right side of the AC's inlet tube. Where the cover sits directly above the inlet tube, it's solid (no ports/channels cut for fluids to pass directly down). Basically water would have to defy physics to get in there.

If this was not done by Nissan, you would have a soaking wet passenger floor/carpet and your AC blower motor would've shorted out after the first heavy rain.

Washing your car shouldn't be an issue so long as you keep the battery/windshield covers in place. Feel free to pull up the covers and inspect for yourself.

-Icer

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

The filter element I purchased is already about 1" thick. I'm sure you could double stack, but I would be concerned about air flow velocity/restriction. The surface area for the inlet tube/filter combo is already pretty small when compared to other vehicle's factory equipped cabin filters.

My main goal with this is to stop pollen and mold spores from getting in my Evaporator Core. The filter I used "claims" it will do just that.

You're open to try different filter elements, there's so many different grades/levels of filtration.
-Icer

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

You're correct about OEM filters, these are usually situated further downstream in the AC blower housing, usually just before the ventilation ducting that snakes around the vehicle's dash. Placement here allows for filtration of incoming air when in either "recirculate" or "outside" air settings.

Unfortunately the location of the filter I'm proposing will not filter air when using the car in "recirculate" mode. This is due to the servo-controlled door/flap system incorporated in the blower box.

The only other way around this that I can think of, is cutting into the blower motor housing to create a trap door for a filter to be installed through. This would be much more labor intensive as the keyless entry module is located on the side of the blower housing along with wiring harness components and the vehicle's ECU. I don't much like the idea of "permanent" modifications and a lot can go wrong with this approach.
-Icer

HRMoneyPit

I did this today also. Just will have to use the AC on the open air mode to see if there is ny difference

20151205_172504 by Malachi Rosales, on Flickr

20151205_174906 by Malachi Rosales, on Flickr

icer5160

iTrader: (4)

Nice install HR! Let us know how you that particular filter works out for you! Btw, running in recirculate mode shouldn't be much of a problem unless you roll with your windows down a lot! But I would guess most people don't use their AC with the windows down.
-Icer

HRMoneyPit

Yeah but when I use my air it's in the closed loop to get coldest air


Let's see how this works when it's 110 here next year