Can a cracked evaporative canister affect my air filters?

ANSWER : The cabin air filter should be replaced every time you have an oil change. This keeps the air in the cab clean at all times and keeps the AC and heater working in good condition. The filters are not a warranty item because they are like an oil filter, they get used and replaced on a maintenance schedule. There is no effect on the cabin air filter because the evaporative canister is located in the back of the car and the filter is in the cabin near the engine compartment. If you feel your filters are getting clogged too quickly, seek out a technician, as one from YourMechanic, who can complete a filter inspection to determine if there are any problems.

ANSWER : Hi there. If you regularly park your car under a tree or near bushes, or live in desert areas the cabin air filter(s) will likely suck up debris and leaves, becoming dirtier, faster. It’s recommended to have this component replaced every 30,000 miles or every two years. The tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles – regardless of age; to ensure proper wear. If your dealership offers that service FREE, i’d take advantage of the tire rotation. If you’re a Costco member, they can complete the rotation as well for no charge. One of our [mobile mechanics can come to your location and complete the cabin air filter replacement if you’d like.

ANSWER : After a quick search it seems there are a few options available online. The vehicle service manual much like the ones the technicians at the dealership are available for purchase online. For the best results, inquire for an official copy from the dealership. You could also try to turn to videos to see if you can find visuals for tooling with the cabin and air filters. If you decide that you’d rather have this service taken care of for you, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to replace the cabin and air filter at your home or office.

ANSWER : Hey there. You will most likely have to have a mechanic bypass the heater coolant lines to have this resolved. Your A/C may not be controlling the air flow inside the evaporator correctly out of the vents and may be the blend door actuator stuck in the heat position. Have the AC system diagnosed first before bypassing the heater.

ANSWER : Hi there. When having the code P0171, the fuel system is too lean. This could be the fuel pump is not working, the fuel filter is dirty or plugged, or the injectors are plugged or not working properly. Check the fuel system and make sure that the fuel system is having a pressure of 35 psi or higher. Also, check the spark plugs and look for any burn marks. This would indicate that the spark is hotter than normal and the fuel system needs cleaned or repaired.

For the intake air flow leak, check the intake for any vacuum leaks on both sides of the throttle. Check all of the hoses from the air cleaner box to the throttle and check the manifold and all vacuum line including the brake booster line for any leaks. Put a vacuum hose on the engine and see what the engine vacuum is at idle. The vacuum should be 17 hg to 22 hg on the gauge. If there is a vacuum less that that, then there is a leak. If you need further assistance with your fuel system and a vacuum leak, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : If you are using regular outside air a/c instead of recirculated air you may be getting a large amount of outside air humidity and can cause a mist to come out of the a/c vents. You should make sure the a/c evaporator drain is cleared and drains freely or the water in the a/c cannot drain fast enough and the blower will pick up the water and blow it out the vents.

ANSWER : Hi there. The air intake on today’s modern cars are finely tuned pieces of equipment – especially on a diesel engine. If air flow is blocked or reduced in any way, it can cause the engine to have troubles maintaining consistent RPM and may stall in some situations. The EGR valve is also a component that may be contributing to your engine issues on the Fiat. In order to determine which one is the source of your problems, have a certified professional, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose the stalling problem in person so that this can be addressed properly.

ANSWER : I do believe that no serious damage would have occurred. The air filter is made to prevent any leaves or other debris from entering the engine. However, due to the design of many newer intake systems, the debris would likely not make it that far anyway. This is due to screens that are built into some throttle bodies. I would recommend going with the intake/fuel system cleaning as well as another oil change. Once all of these maintenance items are completed, the vehicle should be good to go with no damage to worry about. If you want to have this looked at, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to conduct a comprehensive inspection so that any issues can be addressed as needed.