I just replaced my Air/Pollen Cabin Filter with a Mann Air Filter($13).

I started smelling some strange smell everytime I turned on the A/C. I am not talking about a damp smell when you do not use it for a while, I am talking minty smell in a bad way. It goes away after running the AC for a minute or two.

The install is not that difficult,but it took me 30 mins to replace as I cannot find any DIY instruction in the forum or Rennlist.

Anyway, what I was hoping to ask anyone who has replaced his, is does our 911 997 use a charcoal air filter or just plain paper. I noticed that the filter I took off mine is OEM but made my MANN too, but colored gray. Not sure if this is it clean color(charcoal) or just really dirty.

Any info would be appreciated always.

If anyone wants a step by step help on replacing theirs, pm me.

 

They are a major pain in the a** to replace. Took me for ever to fit it in, and still not sure it's in the place 100%.

 

Filter source & pictures:

http://www.suncoastparts.com/categor...intenance.html

or

http://www.germanfilters.com/911-car...3090_3094.html

 

any reason why I should pick the paper filter over a charcoal filter for a 997?

 

Why don't you do exactly what it calls for? LOL

 

Could be a mouse nest in there. My dealer replaced the filter in my car at about 5500 miles due to this.

 

Activated Charcoal "cleans" by absorbing and neutralizing certain odors and gases. Activated Charcoal does not "freshen" by masking or coating the air with some fragrance as air "fresheners" would.

Some people are very sensitive to odor/scent and for those individuals, the activated charcoal will definitely make big difference. To others, it may not make any difference and for those, the regular filters should suffice.

After the spring pollen drop is over I take my filter out & vacuum out the dust.

Because I drive w/ the top down the activated charcoal does not do me as much good as a driving a hardtop.




".....Activated charcoal is good at trapping other carbon-based impurities ("organic" chemicals), as well as things like chlorine. Many other chemicals are not attracted to carbon at all -- sodium, nitrates, etc. -- so they pass right through. This means that an activated charcoal filter will remove certain impurities while ignoring others. It also means that, once all of the bonding sites are filled, an activated charcoal filter stops working. At that point you must replace the filter...."

http://science.howstuffworks.com/env...uestion209.htm

 

One way to reduce the oder from a/c units in car is to ensut that you do not use "recyle" or "max" when using the a/c. Another is to shut the a/c compressor off about 2 miles before shutting the car down ( could be a bit uncomfortable). This can reduces the amount of water in the system after the car is shut down and perhaps recuce the amount of mold and bacteria growing.

 

Get the charcoal one!

 

The filter for the 997.2 is concealed in the luggage bay by the upper right plastic panel (near boot hinge), slipped beneath the right luggage plastic trim which is held by 3 velcor pads & a slip joint at the front edge. You'll need a t30 torx drive for the 4 stainless screws that restrict access. The filter lifts out with minimal effort after the clip holding the edge nearest the drivers side is released.

I inspected and cleaned the surfaces; my filter was clean but needed a careful vacuuming of the outer (upper) surface. Re-install requires care to prevent damage due to bending the filter and watch for the two wires nearby. The clip require that the filter be fully settled (watch the back edges).

With knowledge this is a 15 min. exercise.

Maybe this could be added to the DIY thread but I've made no images.