Outside air inlet clogged?

[edgemaster]

Hi,

My wife's 2007 Edge has a very poor air ventilation. Since the Texas heat is already starting that is a bit of a concern.

I have removed the cabin filter and checked the fan below it and it seems to work fine.

Is there an outside air inlet that could be clogged with leaves or other dirt?

Thanks,

Ed

[enigma-2]

Imo, it would unlikely. An easy way to check, is to switch the system into the recirculate mode. If the air foward improves, look to see if there anything blocking the opening. If it doesn't improve, most likely the blockage is in the heater core area.

 

Addl

One other thing came to mind after I posted the above. As Your in Texas, although unlikely, it might be possible that the engine compartment air intake filter is clogged with dirt.

 

If you look at the top, back of the engine compartment, you will notice a long, (2 ft) piece that's made from something like felt or a soft filter material (clipped on the underside).

 

Reach back and run you hand across the surface. It should be clean. If it's dirty, I think I would try blowing pressured sir in reverse, from the cabin filter opening, upward, to try and flow it clean. Suppose you could also pull it down a little and get a pressure sprayer on the back side ad well.

Edited March 6, 2016 by enigma-2

[edgemaster]

Where is the engine compartment intake?

[enigma-2]

On Mt 09 MKX, it's at the top, back of the engine compartment, at the top of the firewall. There is a box (of sorts) and the filter is on the bottom of this "box". Look closely at the back of the engine compartment, starting at point just at the point where the hood starts. If you run your hand on the underside of this box, you will feel a solf, filter type material. If you pry (gently), you will see that this filter part separates easily from the box.

Edited March 7, 2016 by enigma-2

[edgemaster]

Great, thanks.

 

I found this filter thingy and, since I have to take the plenum off next weekend to replace the spark plugs, I will try to take the filter off without ripping it into pieces and clean it a bit.

[enigma-2]

Ok. By chance, did you switch to recirculate to see if the air flow improved? If it doesn't I would suspect something in the core causing the blockage. (Or one of the doors not actuating properly.)

 

Another way to isolate is to remove the cabin filter and leave the filter door open. If it improves, it's allowing air to bypass the engine intake and, yes, I would then suspect it. If not however, it's still being blocked lower in the system.

Edited March 16, 2016 by enigma-2

[edgemaster]

Yes, the recirculate switch improves the airflow quite a bit.

 

I'll remove and clean that outside filter next weekend and see what happens.

 

Thanks again for all the help.

[enigma-2]

FWIW, I check my cabin filter to see if dirty (this was last year), and found piles and piles of shredded foam rubber laying on the filter. Have no idea as to where it came from (suspect the asst. service mgr. did it - guy didn't last and he always seemed to by hustling repairs not needed). Anyway, it IS possible that there is a blockage in this area