Small foam pieces blowing from vents

[Rob175]

My (otherwise perfect) 1998 Boxster with 80M miles occasionally blows out small pieces of dark grey foam from the vents (dashboard and floor). Its not an everyday occurrence but still it happens from time to time. The heat and the AC both work fine and the fan blows perfectly at all levels. The pieces range in size from pea size to nickel size with the larger size sometimes getting stuck in the vent louvers so I remove those with a tweezers. I'm wondering if on a car this age it's not uncommon or if it's something that I should have looked at?? Everything else is fine.

[RedTele58]

It's pretty common.
Read this: Interior vent debris

[Rob175]

Thanks.....looks like a BIG job if a DIY....and a costly job if you hire a shop. I think I'll just monitor it. I seldom drive my Boxster in the winter except to exercise the engine for 15 minutes on ice/snow free sunny days. So most all of my driving is in the summer with the top down and the AC off......... I think I'll let this go for now and just drive the car. I suppose its a good sign that the pieces blow out rather than collect in the vent system.

[Luckyed]

My 2001 started puking foam a year and a half ago and now I only see a small piece every now and then. I expect there is not too much of it left in there.

Besides, I don't think I have turned on the heater since I bought the car 3 years ago........lol

[78F350]

Originally Posted by Rob175

Thanks.....looks like a BIG job if a DIY....and a costly job if you hire a shop. I think I'll just monitor it. I seldom drive my Boxster in the winter except to exercise the engine for 15 minutes on ice/snow free sunny days. So most all of my driving is in the summer with the top down and the AC off......... I think I'll let this go for now and just drive the car. I suppose its a good sign that the pieces blow out rather than collect in the vent system.

It can be a big job, or a fairly quick and easy job. Did you read the whole thread that Redtele58 linked? This is from the 38th post:

1. I ended up pulling out the console, which had already been modified for a 2 DIN head unit.
2. Cut the duct so I could peel it down out of the way and temporarily taped it.
3. My foam was COMPLETELY gone, otherwise I would have cleaned the flaps.
4. Covered the flaps with a heavy duct tape that has a long lasting, thick adhesive.
5. Tested the operation to make sure nothing was blocked and the tape was secure.
6. Put it back together and used the same tape to seal the duct.

Relatively quick and painless. YMMV depending on your center console configuration.:dance:

[ExplorerLyon]

Has anyone else used the method show in the post above? I asked in the other thread and got no response. Is this now the best and easiest method.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by ExplorerLyon

Has anyone else used the method show in the post above? I asked in the other thread and got no response. Is this now the best and easiest method.

I don't know how many others have done it, but mine is still working flawlessly.

[patssle]

Does that cover the entire flapper? I thought it's longer than that? That method definitely beats every other method if it gets the job done! Mine has also spit out all the foam. A/C is fine but heat doesn't get too hot. Thankful for seat warmers.

[Boxstard]

Originally Posted by patssle

Does that cover the entire flapper? I thought it's longer than that? That method definitely beats every other method if it gets the job done! Mine has also spit out all the foam. A/C is fine but heat doesn't get too hot. Thankful for seat warmers.

With the way you cut it up open, can you get to the bottom of two flaps to tape up holes all the way down? From pics it looks as if only top half of those flaps are exposed and accessible.

[78F350]

Originally Posted by Boxstard

With the way you cut it up open, can you get to the bottom of two flaps to tape up holes all the way down? From pics it looks as if only top half of those flaps are exposed and accessible.

The whole flap is accessible (both flaps). Small hands or a tool make it easier.

Originally Posted by 78F350

I used strips of tape that were between two and four inches long. At first I tried poking them in with a trim tool, but using my hand worked best. With the flaps in the resting position, it was difficult, but doable. I think that the best access was with the AC running and the fan on low. I poked my camera in for this shot, then put on one more piece of tape to caver a gap:

Originally Posted by Vidyashankara

78F350: Freaking awesome!

I just did this. When I opened up the console and all my foam was gone. I used a standard cutting blade to make the cuts on the vent. I used masking tape to tape up the holes. Took me totally 15 minutes in total. It was very easy to tape the vents with my hands. I did not need to use any tools

Thanks for the innovative process

[Boxstard]

Oh wow, great access and I got small hands! Is this pic taken from the center stereo/ climate control opening, though? From other pics it did look like that only top half of flaps were expose, maybe the cut section was not peeled back all the way down?

[seningen]

Originally Posted by patssle

Does that cover the entire flapper? I thought it's longer than that? That method definitely beats every other method if it gets the job done! Mine has also spit out all the foam. A/C is fine but heat doesn't get too hot. Thankful for seat warmers.

I was like -- ohh, no heat -- then I saw your Houston tag on your profile --
seriously :-)

Melting in Austin,

Mike

[78F350]

Originally Posted by Boxstard

...From other pics it did look like that only top half of flaps were expose, maybe the cut section was not peeled back all the way down?

The cut section was not peeled as far is it can be. All of both flaps can be reached, but seeing them completely may be difficult due to the angle and depth behind the dashboard.

Back to my original posts in the other thread, here's a pic that I posted showing the back side of the duct that you are cutting for access.


Or perhaps read the entire post where I introduced the concept:
Interior vent debris

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by ExplorerLyon

Has anyone else used the method show in the post above? I asked in the other thread and got no response. Is this now the best and easiest method.

Yes. I split the upper duct at the seam, though.
It was a pain getting all of the old foam and its backing material out, and getting the flaps covered, but a lot easier and more thorough than the other method that requires removal of the heater core and does not address the other flap.

[Boxstard]

Okay thanks for additional pictures for further clarity. This is going to be my project in near future.

I'm thinking of using aluminum duct tape but any potential issues? I wonder why they used foam to plug those holes in the first place that can not be air-tight, just for muffling and noise dampening? Will blocking holes with solid tape create hissing noise?

[Alfieg23]

I have almost eliminated this issue by doing the following.

1. Close all A/C vents
2. Turn A/C on HIGH with air direction straight out (no upper or lower stream)
3. Turn vacuum cleaner on and place nozzle brush against each vent, opening only that vent.
4. Close vent and repeat with other dash vents.

The air pressure forced the foam pieces to come out of each vent. I did this over a year ago and have had only a couple of small pieces come out since. I may need to do this again at some point, depending on how much foam was left behind and when it deteriorates.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Alfieg23

I have almost eliminated this issue by doing the following.

1. Close all A/C vents
2. Turn A/C on HIGH with air direction straight out (no upper or lower stream)
3. Turn vacuum cleaner on and place nozzle brush against each vent, opening only that vent.
4. Close vent and repeat with other dash vents.

The air pressure forced the foam pieces to come out of each vent. I did this over a year ago and have had only a couple of small pieces come out since. I may need to do this again at some point, depending on how much foam was left behind and when it deteriorates.

The problem with this is that the flaps have holes.

[Gelbster]

Originally Posted by Alfieg23

I have almost eliminated this issue by doing the following.

1. Close all A/C vents
2. Turn A/C on HIGH with air direction straight out (no upper or lower stream)
3. Turn vacuum cleaner on and place nozzle brush against each vent, opening only that vent.
4. Close vent and repeat with other dash vents.

The air pressure forced the foam pieces to come out of each vent. I did this over a year ago and have had only a couple of small pieces come out since. I may need to do this again at some point, depending on how much foam was left behind and when it deteriorates.

What pity this does not work well ! Particlewave explained why .
But suppose you install a simple,direct,hand operated valve on the hot coolant inlet hose to the heater core .That would prevent warming of the a/c air. Anyone tried this? Where is the best location for such a valve ? It should be simple to just use a Home Depot valve with a hose barb at each side.
This one even has some bling ! Would tke 20 mins max to do
SharkBite 3/8 in. Chrome-Plated Brass PEX Barb Quarter-Turn Straight Stop-23382LF - The Home Depot
or search AmaZon for "3/8 barb x barb valve" Maybe 1/2" is the correct size? It is easy to just rummage at H.D.Plumbing Dept with a sample of your heater hose in hand and get separate barb fittings to connect to a standard,straight brass valve.

If this would work it would be a good interim fix because the procedures described above would take many hours of careful work.
While you are in there jobs? - the horn ring fix !
Feel free to improve on the suggestion

[Alfieg23]

The process I suggested is not to be done while driving so it does not affect the air temperature while driving. I did it to see if it resolved the frequent pieces of foam from shooting out the vents. I open each vent with the A/C on full blast for maybe 5 minutes each with the vacuum on and its nozzle brush flush against the open vent (and the other vents closed). After I repeat this with each vent, I then open all the vents and resume using the A/C as usual. I have only had a couple of small pieces of foam come out in over a year which I think is pretty good.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by Alfieg23

The process I suggested is not to be done while driving so it does not affect the air temperature while driving. I did it to see if it resolved the frequent pieces of foam from shooting out the vents. I open each vent with the A/C on full blast for maybe 5 minutes each with the vacuum on and its nozzle brush flush against the open vent (and the other vents closed). After I repeat this with each vent, I then open all the vents and resume using the A/C as usual. I have only had a couple of small pieces of foam come out in over a year which I think is pretty good.

I think you missed the point.
Without installing new material on the flaps to replace the lost foam, the diverter flaps won't divert correctly.
Your AC will be blowing over the hot heater core, at least partially, making the AC not as cold as it could/should be.