Hitchhikingmike
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- January 21, 2008
- Messages
- 1,491
- Reaction score
- 24
- City, State
- Dallas, Texas
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '02 XLS
Most people don't realize that drivers usually breathe eighteen times more air pollution than "ambient air". It is common sense that the quality of air is worse near an interstate, but most people don't realize that vehicles trap and build up air pollution inside the cabin.
I drive several hundred miles weekly through dusty construction zones, share the road with particulate spewing diesel engines and other poor running engines and drive under that path of large Boeing jet planes taking off and landing. During this time my HVAC system picks up all these pollutants, not to mention algerians.
If you spend several hours a week in your Explorer as I do, simply having clean air to breathe is an understatement.
Here is how I was able to modify my HVAC system to accommodate an air filter:
1). Drop down your glove box by opening it by the handle. Next squeeze in the top of the sides near the back and fully pull the glove box out so that it will swing on its hinges nearly 100 degrees. Revealed to you behind the glove box will be part of the HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning system)
The white cardboard that you see in the photo is the side of the air filter installed in my HVAC system. You will have to cut out a hole of the same size to accommodate an air filter.
Note that I made this modification while I had my dash out repairing the outside/recirculate blend door in my HVAC system which made the modification easier to do.
Here is another photo of the piece that had to be modified removed from the vehicle:
This piece has a blend door inside of it that either brings in outside air or recirculates the cabin air depending on the blend door's position.
The black rectangle piece is what must be cut out.
I suggest removing the blower motor which is directly at the bottom so that the cutting filings and burs that fall inside while making your cut will just fall right through to the carpet and not get trapped inside..
Since this is a modification, you will have to also make your own custom air filter, unless your can find one made for another car that will fit. The dimensions are 11.5"x6.5"x1". I purchased a high filtration home filter and cut it to size a glue-guned it inside of a cardboard frame I made.
It literately takes me 15 minutes to make an air filter and I make a new one and change it every 3-4 months.
Here is what my air filter looks like after 3 months:
I consider my explorer to be somewhat like a second home to me as I spend many hours inside of it weekly driving away from home and likewise desire clean air to breathe as I would in my own home. I'm sure I am not alone in this conviction.
=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-EDIT June 2017:=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I came back to post that I have found a factory cabin filter that fits the dimensions for this mod exactly. The filter is for a BMW 3 series I believe. I am now using a WIX 24784 filter, which filters bacteria, mold, mildew, algae and yeast. Here is the rockauto link. I feel silly for making my own filters previously.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=489028&jsn=7
Rock Auto says alternate part #s are as follows: 64111393489, 64118363274, 64119069895, 64311394093, 64318363274, CF168, CF8103, LA80
PICS:
This tag must be cut off with some pliers for the filter to slide in. Took me just 5 seconds to fix it:
Filter installed!:
I drive several hundred miles weekly through dusty construction zones, share the road with particulate spewing diesel engines and other poor running engines and drive under that path of large Boeing jet planes taking off and landing. During this time my HVAC system picks up all these pollutants, not to mention algerians.
If you spend several hours a week in your Explorer as I do, simply having clean air to breathe is an understatement.
Here is how I was able to modify my HVAC system to accommodate an air filter:
1). Drop down your glove box by opening it by the handle. Next squeeze in the top of the sides near the back and fully pull the glove box out so that it will swing on its hinges nearly 100 degrees. Revealed to you behind the glove box will be part of the HVAC (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning system)
The white cardboard that you see in the photo is the side of the air filter installed in my HVAC system. You will have to cut out a hole of the same size to accommodate an air filter.
Note that I made this modification while I had my dash out repairing the outside/recirculate blend door in my HVAC system which made the modification easier to do.
Here is another photo of the piece that had to be modified removed from the vehicle:
This piece has a blend door inside of it that either brings in outside air or recirculates the cabin air depending on the blend door's position.
The black rectangle piece is what must be cut out.
I suggest removing the blower motor which is directly at the bottom so that the cutting filings and burs that fall inside while making your cut will just fall right through to the carpet and not get trapped inside..
Since this is a modification, you will have to also make your own custom air filter, unless your can find one made for another car that will fit. The dimensions are 11.5"x6.5"x1". I purchased a high filtration home filter and cut it to size a glue-guned it inside of a cardboard frame I made.
It literately takes me 15 minutes to make an air filter and I make a new one and change it every 3-4 months.
Here is what my air filter looks like after 3 months:
I consider my explorer to be somewhat like a second home to me as I spend many hours inside of it weekly driving away from home and likewise desire clean air to breathe as I would in my own home. I'm sure I am not alone in this conviction.
=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-EDIT June 2017:=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I came back to post that I have found a factory cabin filter that fits the dimensions for this mod exactly. The filter is for a BMW 3 series I believe. I am now using a WIX 24784 filter, which filters bacteria, mold, mildew, algae and yeast. Here is the rockauto link. I feel silly for making my own filters previously.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=489028&jsn=7
Rock Auto says alternate part #s are as follows: 64111393489, 64118363274, 64119069895, 64311394093, 64318363274, CF168, CF8103, LA80
PICS:
This tag must be cut off with some pliers for the filter to slide in. Took me just 5 seconds to fix it:
Filter installed!: