[slothcruzer]

Someone suggested I post here, I will give it a shot. I must have a gen 2 2016 ls manual shift. When the recirc button is on (we dont have auto hvac, just manual buttons) we still get outside odors strong as if the windows were open and I have severe asthma so this is a rather large issue. I do hear the cabin air pressure change when you engage the recirc button so I assume its covering it right.
I had asked the salesman and a service tech if it had a cabin air filter in it from mfg as our last car (toyota yaris) did not I was able to rectify that myself tho'. This car has a fully molded glove box non removable we've already ironed that fact down.
So I can only assume if it has a filter its under the air grid below wipers...I did unsnap it to peek in but did not remove wipers (dont know how hate to attempt it, but will if I must since dealer is avoiding the issue).
Just wondered if anyone else has this in newer 2016 gen 2 cruze's.
Mostly we smell odors to sides of the car...mowing grass etc...and its strong as heck as I said before.
Thanks for any clues.

 

[slothcruzer]

I tried to find it on my 2016 2nd generation all it says in the owners manual is to see dealer. I have a feeling it outside under the wipers.

Yup thats what it says. Really ticks me off, if I had known it wouldve been a deciding factor w/ the asthma issue. Being my old car it was behind glove box and I could do it whenever I wanted. I watched a video about removing the ones from below wipers (on other models) and it looks like if you break the factory seal and dont know how to re seal it it will def leak so Im sort stuck for now i guess. Knowing me I will get to it one day.

 

[slothcruzer]

Yeah, that's how my Subaru was. $36k window sticker and $80 for a dealership to look and see if there is one to change

Geez. Thats why Im concerned, my previous new cars were to have them in mfg new and never did.

 

[slothcruzer]

Does your owners manual mention a cabin filter in the maintenance schedule in the back? I really can't see GM removing this from the new model, even if an LS. I did see the first few years of chevy volt came with a tray like our cruze with no cabin filter installed!

I suspect though this is something your going to have to learn to live with, even if you add a cabin filter or a better one you will still get outside smells in the car. Problem with using recirculate instead of fresh air? Those smells get trapped in the car 6X longer. You should have seen me drive though smoke from someone burning leaves next to the road in my Gen1 cruze with a carbon cabin filter installed, entire cabin filled with smoke!!! Same thing I do after passing a stinky farm, I put the windows down to clear the smell.

I hear ya on this and I do open window to evacuate it. Thing is my old car had zero issues w/ this, no fumes no smoke no lawn smells it was great and yeah I did open window too. I know cars are not sealed tight but its never come in this strong in any car previous, it seems something is wrong. thanks for input.

 

[slothcruzer]

However it looks like they made it to be able to come apart if you look at it. It does have snaps to remove part of it. I think they only say go to the dealer because most people would never attempt it.....

Thanks pontiacgt...I will let that cook for awhile ...since I read about the seal thing but its tempting me...I did work the clips just am not raring to go on the wipers part and the seal part.

 

[slothcruzer]

Well we were on hi' way over wknd and got diesel fumes from trucks in front of us just like window was open, this is really a problem. Our old car had very little if any of this issue Im really bummed cause of my health issues.

 

[slothcruzer]

Did you get in there and verify there is a filter?

No I did not get in there to verify (ive come to the conclusion my filter is under cowl under wipers like tech at chevy thought it was)...Im debating about opening it because I read or saw a video online a bit back that indicated if you are not careful when removing cowl and filter area you can break a seal and it will then leak into the car after. Now Im not sure if I should try it or even ask them too? Does anyone know if this is true...the seal and leak thing? I think maybe the seal was near filter not sure. Hate to muck up a new car.
edit to add my glove box is totally molded in not removable like my prev cars, chevy tech verified this.