On my 2000, the fresh air intake in front of the windshield had the holes mostly blocked by plastic. I don't know if it was intentional for the molding to do that, but it restricted the flow of fresh air from outside to the vent system. Instead, it would pull warmer air from the engine bay.

What I did was to take a drill (using a bit slightly smaller in diameter than the width of the squares) and pop out the thin plastic in each of the holes. This worked remarkably so that the air flow from the vents was the same temperature as the outside air. 57F outside air, 59F coming from the vents. 75F outside, 77F coming from the vents. It was consistently 2 degrees F warmer on the inside, but it was not a detectable difference by my hand, only be thermocouple.

HOWEVER, I have no idea what will happen when it first rains, or when it snows, etc.

TimR

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Interesting. I might try this, but I'll wait until after it rains or snows by you.

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Joe
No Officer, I'm not naked. I'm wearing my Xterra.

Ditto!

Used to have a car that would fill up the drivers side floor pan with water everytime it rained, making it very inconvenient going out in a suit.

But I look forward to hearing how you make out.

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2K1 XE Silver Ice 4x4
2 pack
Find all you need in your mind if you take the time. -DT
#3

Tell that thermo-couple to get their clothes back on and get a room. Hehe.

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X_tempore
2000 Aztec Red SE 4x4

I noticed that the holes were blocked on mine as well a few days ago. Most other cars do not have this, so I don't see where poking them thru would be a problem. But then again, why are they like that!?

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"Why do today what you can put off untill tomorrow?"

I took a look at quite a few vehicles here in the parking lot over lunch. The vast majority had fresh air intake grids with aperatures larger than the drilled out holes on my Xterra, so I'm not too worried about pine needles, etc.

The system can still move air with the holes plugged, only it is warm air.

It is a large PIA to me to have to run the A/C just to get ambient temp air in the cabin.

Tim

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I was thinking of insulating the airbox and any conduits, but haven't really spent the time to look into it.

Certainly a layer by the tunnel, too - since that gets pretty warm, especially on a hot day in traffic.

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01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

Tim, put a garden hose running on your air intake vent for about a half hour.... fan running a/c on etc....
then come back and post the results.
I want to know now, so I can do mine this weekend,,, if everything stays dry that is... hehe



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My wife calls it the "Intrepid Bee", I call it "Tonka".
craigs-tonka@home.com
www.azxterraclub.com

That would would be air intake for the heater/blower here folks! NOT the engine intake - you do that for a half hour and I'll request some video footage w/ sound.

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Cheers!, -John
NCCX http://www.geocities.com/norcal_clubx

I don't think the extra capacity would jeopardize getting water into the cabin - unless the drainage of the air intake system can only handle X amount of water... It should work just fine.

Of course, I'd like to know how it works out - this would be a nice, simple, EXTERNAL fix.

Yeah, and if anyone does this to the engine's intake, I'll take a copy of that video tape, too... Hee.

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01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

Well, TimR it rained here in the Twin Cities. Did you get water in the cabin of your truck? Readers want to know.

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Great trucks are made, not born. -- Mr Chony

http://www.gpxo.org

Got Spark?

Or you can turn your A/C on for a few seconds (until it blows cold) and then turn it off. Presto - cool air from the outside. I assume turning on the A/C flips a 'door' or something to allow outside air in.

This is what works for me. Curious to know if it works in other X's.



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Nope, the A/C doesn't activate any flap. If you have the recirc button off you get fresh air, if it's on you get cabin air, A/C on or not.

Brent

there is actually a design plan for that. The air is MEANT to come a little more from the engine bay area. All cars are designes so that if the climate control system were to go on the fritz, then the default mode would allow the fresh air to pass into the ducting, and blow out the defroster vents and the floor. The reason for this is that if you are in the winter, and the climate system dies, it allows warm, dry air to blow on the windshield, keeping it from fogging up. So it isn't a design flaw, it is a design intention.....lol

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If the default mode is to allow the fresh warm air, to blow on the windshield, keeping it from fogging up. Why cant you put warm (defrost) air on the windshield when it's not on the fritz? Why does the A/C come on even if the button is in or out?

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Gator Saver
2000 Blue SE 4x2
Florida Xtreme Xterras
------------
Real Men Wear Kilts

Gator Saver-
Having the AC come on in defrost mode will usually clear the windows faster. I forget the exact temperature that it kicks in, something around 45 f. or so. It is a typical setup on most vehicles.
With a little clever work behind the HVAC controls you could dissable this feature. A procedure was posted a while ago.

dave and xtoy - sometimes foggy glass is good

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The purpose of the compressor comming on in defrost mode is to dehumidify the air comming out of the vents. Dehumidified air will clear a windshield faster than high humidity air. The air passes across the AC evaporator, dehumidifying it, then across the heater core to warm it. Remember, if the ac system goes on the fritz, even the compressor won't come on. Its not a perfect system, but better to have warm air on the floor and windshied in the cold climate areas, than no air or even cold air......

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I searched, but couldn't find anything, do you know who posted the procedure? Probably Electroken..



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Mike.
01 XE Auto - Solar Yellow

Ah, cool air blowing from the vents! It really makes a difference. Spent 15 minutes with a cordless drill and I no longer have hot air heating the cabin in the summer. The change is dramatic. The hot air was probably the biggest complaint I have had with the truck. No longer!

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To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most
people exist, that is all. - Oscar Wilde

I noticed the blocked vent holes a few months after I bought my X, and pocked em in. It's been about 8 months and no probelms, rain and all... I'm just suprised no one mentioned it sooner???

Ahhhh cool air...

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Huey
2001 SE, Silver Ice, 4X4, 5-Speed

Walrus -
I guess I'm better at searching than you are.

check this link:
http://home.us.net/~stimpy/xterra/misc/defrost.txt

I can't say if the procedure will work on all years.

dave and xtoy - seek and ye shall find

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Okay, drove around in the rain this weekend.

Tried all fan settings, A/C on and off, all different vent settings. Nothing strange, Worked great.

TimR

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Thanks Dave. I'll post the results for my 2001. I'm gonna try it right now.

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Mike.
01 XE Auto - Solar Yellow

Awesome!

I feel a mod coming on.

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01 SE 6cyl 5spd Solar Yellow

Piece of cake. I've got pictures too!

[img]http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?src=/photoloft/asset16/2001/06/04/6976/6976494_0_4600.fpx,0,0,1,1,640,480,FFFFFF[/img]

This view shows where I mounted the microswitch, as per the instructions. It was mounted in the same hole, but on the underside of the white plastic.

[img]http://image.photoloft.com/opx-bin/OpxFIDISA.dll?src=/photoloft/asset16/2001/06/04/6976/6976489_0_3309.fpx,0,0,1,1,640,480,FFFFFF[/img]

This picture shows where the microswitch was, on the two protrusions in the middle of the image. The black piece in the middle is moved by the control knob, and presses the switch when at the defog positions.

ALSO: I drilled out the plastic squares on the windshield cowl, and then took the hose to it. All the water I could throw in there promptly exited behind the mud flap onto the front of the side step rail.

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Mike.
01 XE Auto - Solar Yellow

[This message has been edited by Walrus (edited 06-04-2001).]

Stupid images...

[This message has been edited by Walrus (edited 06-04-2001).]