Went thorugh automatic car wash w/ fan on water came inside through HVAC

[xFOCIx]

I went through an automatic with the fan running at full speed. I started hearing splashing sound after I drove out. I turn the fan off and it goes away. I turn it back on and it comes back on.

I turned the fan off and waited a few seconds and noticed pitch black water dripping out the passenger side foot well blower. The water was surely dirtier than what was at the car wash since it looked like used motor oil.

So... with that said, is this water ingestion common?

How do I go about cleaning the rest of the nasty crap that's caked inside my blower system?

[racer1735]

That definitely is not common. The fan pulls outside air in through the upper right cowling (in front of the windshield). Thats the area where your cabin air filter resides. I'm guessing the car wash pressure was greater than the norm, combined with the fan being on 'high' pulled water thru the system. You might also check the seal around the removable cowl that covers the cabin air filter. If its not seated properly (it just presses down firmly), it could allow water to get in around it.

[xFOCIx]

Originally Posted by racer1735

That definitely is not common. The fan pulls outside air in through the upper right cowling (in front of the windshield). Thats the area where your cabin air filter resides. I'm guessing the car wash pressure was greater than the norm, combined with the fan being on 'high' pulled water thru the system. You might also check the seal around the removable cowl that covers the cabin air filter. If its not seated properly (it just presses down firmly), it could allow water to get in around it.

My 2005 didn't come with a filter. Sometimes, I'll get pieces of leaves in my eyes because of it.

[racer1735]

Originally Posted by xFOCIx

My 2005 didn't come with a filter. Sometimes, I'll get pieces of leaves in my eyes because of it.

When the cars come from the factory, the filters are separate and have to be installed by the dealers. Some (most?) dealers simply put the filters into their parts stock and deliver the car without them (selling the filter for a profit at a later time). I was fortunate that mine came with it. You can always install a filter at any time.

[xFOCIx]

Originally Posted by racer1735

When the cars come from the factory, the filters are separate and have to be installed by the dealers. Some (most?) dealers simply put the filters into their parts stock and deliver the car without them (selling the filter for a profit at a later time). I was fortunate that mine came with it. You can always install a filter at any time.

I posted a thread about this somewhere a long time ago. There's a mixed input on this. Something along the line that it's possible on 2000-2004, but the design on 2005 doesn't even have the ability to accommodate the filter.