My AC stopped blowing cold air back in march. My brother connected some type of houses to it to check the pressure on the lines and they checked out fine so he added a little freon. It stayed blowing cooler air. So he checked under the dash on the passenger side and said the little filter was missing. He stuck his hand up in it and said it is full of gunk and leaves. I've never removed the filter. The only thing I can think of is when I had a shade tree mechanic replace my compressor and he worked on some switch for the vents, that maybe he removed it or didn't replace it? But I know me or my hubby never removed it. My brother said it needs to be cleaned out badly. How do I do that? If I do, will that help with the coldness of the air? I'd be doing this myself, being a woman, I need step by step and what tool or instrument is needed to clean it.

 

Sounds like the cabin air filter. Here's a video on how to replace it. I've never had to get up there and clean the housing but I would imagine a vacuum with a long narrow attachment would get er done. Make it cooler? Eh maybe. It may increase airflow.

 

I spoke to my brother and he explained to me that when he stuck his had up in the part where the filter is SUPPOSED to be, it is totally caked in dirt, mold, and
LEaves which is caked over the heater/evaporator core. He said that is what is making my cold air slow down because it is freezing over since it's covered in debris and gunk. The opening is small and he suggested I use a tarp to cover the floor and build up walls and possibly use a water hose to spray out as much as I can otherwise I'd have to take it to someone to pull the dash and take apart the contraption to get it cleaned out. And I'm not sure what that would cost. Has anyone ever sprayed out a part like that with a water hose?

 

Yuck! You've painted a pretty ugly picture. I've been cruising multiple automotive forums for 10 years and have never heard of one that bad. Before going to the extent of pulling the HVAC unit I would try using something like a wooden or plastic paint stirrer then graduate to a stiff brush all while being careful not to damage the coils. It may come to it but a hose seems a bit drastic. Might try soaking it good with a spray cleaner first then get in there with the stirrer or brush. May take quite a while but it beats shelling out $500-$1000 to have the HVAC removed and reinstalled.

BTW- The forum highlighted the words in red.