Ac/heat issues. 47,000 miles NO CABIN FILTER-EVER?

[Glen Baker LLC]

This thread is just reminding me the reason I don't like taking vehicles in, is the free checks they'll do purely to find something wrong to sell service on.

But I've totally forgotten they may be doing some checks when I take it in for other reasons, and not mentioning it because nothing was found to offer me service on.
But if they shoved that filter back in wrong, or forgot to (I replaced with nicer one that is harder to get in carefully) - I've not been checking to confirm they put stuff back right.
Actually, they'd probably mess up my glove box arrangement and I'd notice that - so perhaps hasn't been done.

I can't recall now as a teenager if I used a coupon naively for a free whatever-point inspection at Firestone, or it was done when I took it in for something like tires, and I said yes.
But I look thru the window to check progress and car was in closest bay.
They had drum off checking shoes, banging on something - and I saw the brake dust floating down to the drum with bearing side up. I thought that was purposeful.
I thought that won't be good. Nope, 3-4 months later it wasn't. Replaced my own bearing and at least nice and easy (Datsun 310 I think).
Decided then I'll be doing as much as I can myself. Borrowed dad's tools, brain, and assist many times on bigger things. Still have his tools, but not the same skills (he raced and did engine breakdowns), and my son's assist if really needed. Actually his brain too - because he knows everything!

There are only two counties in Nevada that require smog check, Clark and Washoe.
In those counties you generally have two options.
Freestanding smog check businesses that charge anywhere from $20 to $32.
OR
Repair shops that offer a smog check deal at $9.99. Which place do you think they're going to be trolling for work?
Same thing applies when they offer discounted oil changes.

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[OleFordGuy]

Look it up. It absolutely will.
Yes, a missing cabin air filter can indirectly damage your AC compressor [1]. Without it, unfiltered debris like leaves, dirt, and dust get pulled into your HVAC system. This buildup restricts airflow, forcing the system to overwork, which can ultimately cause the compressor to fail.

I'm sure we all sincerely wish you the best of luck with ford footing the bill. Seems there's many variables with no way for either sides point of view to prove anything over the years with it being a MY22 with 47,000 miles and out of warranty.

 

[MaverickDragon]

That’s frustrating! It’s wild they’d let it leave the factory without a cabin filter, but without your receipts, you're stuck.

I'm not so sure about that... Most dealerships have automated vs paper records,, so if the vehicle was serviced at a given dealer, they should be available and could be printed.

They probably need their receipts for tax purposes, if nothing else, and those are 3 year requirements.

It does seem really odd, as every dealer I've been to tries to make money by selling a several minute job for a lot of money.

I wonder if instead of never having a filter installed, if one was removed on a prior service and the tech got interrupted or just forgot to replace it, or thought they already did...

It would be of interest to see if any charges were on the repair bills for cabin filters...

 

[Nw_adventure]

The OP might want to call the 800/Ford customer service and or go to the local dealer district manager and start talking -

 

[DinoLord]

I guess I’m surprised people do so little regular maintenance to their property. House, car, whatever.

It’s just crazy. This is first grade stuff. Check the oil, check filters.
I don’t usually flame people but I’m still having a hard time that people blame the dealer for their own lack of basic maintenance.

OP says he has a 2022. So in all these years, the OP has never done anything to the truck other than put in gas. Whew!

A big step in life is humility. And blaming others for your shortcomings is a lack of humility. Lord knows there is very little humility on this forum!


Rant off.

Bob sour grapes.

There is not a single elementary school teaching maintenance class.

 

[Tim d]

I've had my truck since 2022. Always serviced at dealership. Been having issues with the AC lately. Luke warm air. Checked the cabin air filter for the first time to see conditon. Low and behold, NO FILTER! Dealership tells me they have no record of ever replacing it. Which I think is false (don't be like me, always keep your maintenance records). In other words they are implying the truck never came with a filter installed. Now they want to clean up sensors and place a new filter. Everything I've read online points to long term damage to the cooling/heating system. Good times.

How did we manage before cabin filters? Dont roll your window down ever lol. And why were air-conditioning systems fine in vehicles before cabin filters? I have a 17 year old ram i bought new, air works great, never changed the cabin filter, if it even has one.

 

[Tbone91]

How did we manage before cabin filters? Dont roll your window down ever lol. And why were air-conditioning systems fine in vehicles before cabin filters? I have a 17 year old ram i bought new, air works great, never changed the cabin filter, if it even has one.

That's a great point! Definitely no cabin filter in my '91 Camaro, although air doesn't blow cold, operates but old R12 system, I'm assuming no refrigerant left.

 

[Nw_adventure]

How did we manage before cabin filters? Dont roll your window down ever lol. And why were air-conditioning systems fine in vehicles before cabin filters? I have a 17 year old ram i bought new, air works great, never changed the cabin filter, if it even has one.

When HVAC units controlled by software become the driving force- Here we are folks.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

That's a great point! Definitely no cabin filter in my '91 Camaro, although air doesn't blow cold, operates but old R12 system, I'm assuming no refrigerant left.

Well ........ I got about 8lbs. left.

Why do I still have it?
Because the government said I shouldn't.

 

[Tbone91]

Well ........ I got about 8lbs. left.

Why do I still have it?
Because the government said I shouldn't.

I don't do well when someone tells me what to do, no matter who they are.

Damn government! I hear that tho. Let me live my life. I can't even remember the last time I've seen the old R12, not even sure if I've ever seen that size before lol ginormous!

 

[HeyBales]

How did we manage before cabin filters? Dont roll your window down ever lol. And why were air-conditioning systems fine in vehicles before cabin filters? I have a 17 year old ram i bought new, air works great, never changed the cabin filter, if it even has one.

When engineers were tasked with making things cheaper and smaller, more delicate, something had to be done to allow it. Filters to keep the coils most efficient, thereby much smaller.
Remember when a lot of that was on other side of firewall, or halfway even. Big ole hole in firewall, big fin separations.
Safety likely a factor in there too.

2005 Toyota Rav4 - spent it's first 10 yrs in Florida, perhaps they did good maintenance to keep the AC working well since likely used a lot. But it indeed still does.
ETA: has a cabin filter. Under the outside cowling - annoying to change.

And the TPMS sensors still work too!

 

[Tim d]

When engineers were tasked with making things cheaper and smaller, more delicate, something had to be done to allow it. Filters to keep the coils most efficient, thereby much smaller.
Remember when a lot of that was on other side of firewall, or halfway even. Big ole hole in firewall, big fin separations.
Safety likely a factor in there too.

2005 Toyota Rav4 - spent it's first 10 yrs in Florida, perhaps they did good maintenance to keep the AC working well since likely used a lot. But it indeed still does.

And the TPMS sensors still work too!

Thats awesome the TPMS sensors are still working since i think they use batteries! Still working on my ram also.

 

[Tbone289]

I have a 17 year old ram i bought new, air works great, never changed the cabin filter, if it even has one.

Chances are it does. I have a 26 year old car that has one.

 

[bgctcowboy628]

As for the rear passengers, not sure how much it'll help, if at all, but been meaning to try them

Thanks for the response. I bought similar and found that the lack of airflow is as much at fault as the fact that the vents are not pointup at the passengers

 

[bgctcowboy628]

UPDATE. Compressor is fried. No longer under warranty, $1500-$2000 to repair. There are only 2 reasons this happened. Either it came from factory without the cabin filter or a mechanic at the dealership took it out and never replaced it. If they think I'm going to pay for the repair they have another thing coming.

Lawyers, guns and money!

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