How To Clean The Airbox On A Chevrolet Truck

Here is how to clean the air box on a Chevrolet truck. If you have a Chevrolet truck built before 1998, there is no cabin air filter to change but the cabin air box does get full of leaves and dirt. You can open it up and wash it out to make it cleaner and to make your air conditioner blow harder. Cleaning out the airbox on your Chevrolet truck will increase airflow and make the system more efficient.

[@k.dtransport9038]

5 years later and this video is still helping people. Hit that like button people.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks

[@timmystips3935]

and 7 years later...

[@felixx2381]

Facts

[@arguswil]

Yup. I still have the same truck 😂

[@LILDOG13]

Now 8 years just saw this now I’m going to have to try it 🎉

[@d3mara]

Brother! I just cleaned my 96' c1500, shits so much better! Thanks a ton.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@mikericker1060]

Thank you for making this video! Took me a couple of hours and my AC blows like a new one.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@cameronkelly2508]

It’s quite easy to take the glove box out if you want some extra working space. At least that’s the case with my 1997.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Yes. That’s true with this truck as well. Thanks.

[@techmogamer9979]

just what i was looking for only took me 24 hours to find

[@hoohoohoblin]

I’m glad you found it.

[@KlikAndSeuss]

How'd it go?

[@javaman2883]

I had to do this when I bought a used Suburban. It makes it much easier if you remove the glove compartment. It only take a minute to remove, plus time to empty your crap out of it, but you can just dump it out and clean it.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. I will try that next time.

[@MrCatman6]

July 26 2019: Noticed almost no airflow from the vents so I pulled the motor, it tested ok after cleaning the cage. Then i started looking for a clogged filter. THANKS to this video I see I am looking at the metal heat exchanger and it saved me a lot of time looking for a non-existent filter. Incredible dirt buildup, vacuum would not touch it. I have been spraying with 409 and a wire brush to peel off the surface dirt. Worried that there may still be blockage along the fins. Tomorrow will try water blasting it Need a mirror and bright light to see the damm thing. I will use it as an excuse not to buy another Chevy.

[@hoohoohoblin]

They really should’ve put a filter on this. My dad has a 2001 Chevy truck, and it has a paper filter in it that keeps everything clean.

[@ernestrodrigue3227]

Man you need an excuse bad ,no

[@waynemetroke7962]

That's the same thing going on in my brother's 98 GMC Sierra. No air flow through any of the vents. I'm going to have to do what you just stated.

[@maximus420dudegardens6]

@@ernestrodrigue3227 he couldn't think of any real reason so...

[@shelstone66]

I'm going to try this thanks. I have a 97 Yukon..lol that plastic cover came off years ago I just ride without it

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@Panotaker]

I’m getting ready to clean mine. The hardest part on mine is getting that rubber cover off. I will probably paint the back of the motor black and leave the cover off permanently. That way I can clean the coils every year without messing with that cover. Either that, or I will modify the cover so that it is easy to take it off and on.

[@RogueOverlanders]

thanks for the video, cleaned out about a pound of pine needles. it blows like new again

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@sailawaybob]

i need to replace my blower motor this sure looks easier than taking the glovebox and computer out of my 97 silverado. great video

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. It is pretty easy to get to on my 95 Silverado.

[@TH3C001]

The computer on your 97 is under the hood, so you would be spared that obstacle. 95 and older the computers were there behind the glovebox.

[@atebitlegend9162]

hoohoohoblin can you explain how to get the white and purple wire off

[@hmackprotection1]

Thank you for uploading this helpful video

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome.

[@crawfislk]

Suggest using some sort of antibacterial spray, water w bleach or ammonia. Bacterias love to grow on AC evaps.

[@danieladams8085]

Seeing this I miss my truck

[@KindCreature1]

"Thar she blows!" Got a much needed laugh today, thank you Mr. H.

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome.

[@chuckschob107]

That’s what I say when I start to cum…

[@codydavis595]

i need to put a screen on the cowl of my 76 ford cleaned out my air vents a while back pulled out half a forrest

[@hoohoohoblin]

On my mom's Ford Falcon, when you opened the cabin vent box in the summer for the first time, it would blast the whole car full of leaves.

[@codydavis595]

had tons of pine needles in mine lol right to the face everytime i turned on the fan lol

[@teshuvahemmet3036]

Thanks for the information 👍

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’re welcome

[@williamstraughan6385]

if u have trouble with your blower like he has when u carry it to a mechanic put a mark own the heater blower because they will tell u they put a new blower own it and all they done was what this guy done the mark will prove they did not change it

[@andrewrichardson3135]

What are you saying

[@johngordey3305]

Grreat video, thanks!

[@hoohoohoblin]

Glad you liked it!

[@mikeydavis2010]

Nice video. Helpful.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks

[@sammvoyager]

Great vid. Gotta squeak coming from our GMC Sierra truck heater fan motor. Gonna do what U did here, clean the area see if that fixes the prob. If not 1Aauto sells a new Heater/AC motor for $25.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. I hope that fixes it.

[@rbrooks1305]

I have had some limited success over the years just spraying some wd40 around the intake area. Enough of it may find its way to the motor that it gets a little lubricant on the squeak. I would not advise soaking it.

[@user-rr8db3mu6y]

Sir thank you for the advise.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Always welcome

[@1975ivan]

Good video hi from Tijuana México

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks!

[@joelfranco4757]

I gonna try in my 2006 Silverado 1500

[@doctorbillzable]

Hi, thanks for the vid. I have a question, I have the same truck, 96 Silverado, I can not find the source, but, my passenger area right there leaks water when it rains. Have you, or anyone had the same experience? I have tried everything short of taking the fender off, to find where it is getting in from. Thanks!!

[@hoohoohoblin]

It has to be somewhere in the airbox. There is a drain hole in the bottom, and any water is supposed to go down it. Make sure the edges seal properly. I bet you could hose down the front of your truck and then look for where the water leaks in and seal it with silicone or duct tape.

[@jerradguillory7909]

Stevie Wonder mine was coming from under the hood where the welding on frame next to the passenger side of the windshield cowl is and it would leak into the passenger side floor of my 98 chevy try spraying water around that area and see if water goes to your floor or it may just be your evaporator drain stopped up🤔 i mean if 2 years now and you still have this problem lol😅 if thats it i just put some flex seal and solved the problem. Look at that welding for a crack mine was a crack from rust

[@jordan7275]

very nice

[@hoohoohoblin]

+GodTroll666 Thanks.

[@e.hernandez8732]

hey thank you for the great video. it helped out a lot when you live in AZ. one question my rubber cover for the a blower is in very bad condition, your looks fairly new? where can I get a new one? what's the proper name for the piece?

[@hoohoohoblin]

I don't know. The dealer would probably have them, but it would be a ripoff. I wonder if you could cut one yourself out of rubber.

[@paulwebber504]

look at junk yard. very cheap. they might even pull one out for you.

[@TH3C001]

The cover is mainly there to insulate against the blower motor noise. If you don't mind the noise then you can go without one.

[@ewalt5501]

My 1999 Tahoe is doing the same thing, when I spray the soapy water should I let it sit on the evap for a while?

[@palmtree_04]

Mine blows hard still and no funky smell. But when it snows it blizzards inside my cab bad. What would cause that?

[@austintufnell7529]

Man pulled a finger off and played it off like nothing happened

[@r.s.737]

great video I'm going to try it as I'm sure that's my problem, makes a noise when blowers on. Instead of rinsing wtth water do you think blowing out coil with air would work?

[@hoohoohoblin]

That might work as well. You could try that first and see if anything comes out.

[@84montecarlonazi]

thats was funny did u plant that tampon for Laugh's lol

[@hoohoohoblin]

+84montecarlonazi thanks.

[@markstrohecker5342]

I have a 99 gmc jimmy and notice vents seem to blow out pretty good checked the a.c. added a little 134a.and its charged but its still.not getting as cold and my brother said something like you just showed probaly what needs done..But this looked like a different vehicle.Can you let me know?

[@hoohoohoblin]

I know they changed the design and 99 or 2000. It’s possible that you have a different one. If you do, then yours also has a cabin air filter. You could change that, and if it’s dirty, you will have a lot more airflow.

[@kenhardy4167]

I have an early year 1999 Tahoe with the same issues (relating to no air filter). From mid ‘99 to 2003, a large removable plastic kick panel was installed, obviating need for the small plastic motor shield and permitting an air filter to be added. This is the only Utube video which addresses the annoying pre-2000 problem and it is very helpful. I wish more attention had been given to removal of the plastic blower shield as mine is also a bear to get at. Its bottom clip is very unwieldy. Easy removal of the glove box door does provide more open access to the area. Just pry in the upper right rear of the clove box interior after removing the small pull-tie on the left side. Take care not to break that clip-on pull-tie. Partially close the glovebox door to slacken the tie, then push/slide its connecter out where it is attached to the left inside of the glovebox. In the ‘99 model, the glovebox door is then just easily pulled down off of its open hinges. Earlier models had screw-on, or even riveted on hinges (PITA). Its hard to believe it took GM engineers that many years to install a cabin A/C air filter. Dr. K.

[@mikegross1810]

thanks bud

[@hoohoohoblin]

You're welcome.

[@atebitlegend9162]

I can't seem to get the purple and white wire out. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong

[@richardmedina5715]

Ate Bit Legend use pliers on the clip and pull. I think the top purple one needs a screwdriver to push the tab down as well. Pliers=needle nose.

[@alexanderabrigo1733]

cool video

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Alexander Abrigo Thanks.

[@Oicu-kw2uk]

great humor man... lol

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks!

[@janeflorendo2869]

Аll hot girls aаaare here => twitter.com/8a3883292096e4f0e/status/801992405775826944 How То Clean Тhе Airbоx ОООOn A Chevrоooоlet ТTTTruck

[@Americanrebel38]

Where can I find the switch I've called junkyards and haven't found one

[@Umadbro681]

I had a mouse infestation in there. Is there a way to get in there a little better? I'm not even wanting to try to test the drain hole.....

[@unclejack8295]

What tf is that cup holder system called above the glove box I'm trying to come up with a concept mold to UPGRADE it and cant find anything

[@anthonyizquierdo7181]

1Lt Uncle Jack same cant find anything to upgrade mine ive seen covers for the squared dash but not for this one

[@unclejack8295]

@@anthonyizquierdo7181 imma just have to cut it out and make a mold from scratch a bit expsinve and bull shit but really they just had extra room so they just said fuck it and put some screw holders in with a Godamn tray

[@justinwarren355]

Bezel

[@tylerwillman4704]

i have a 1996 chevy and the ac blows cool but not cold. i replaced the ac compressor and charged it up, there’s no leaks what could be the issue?

[@hoohoohoblin]

Mine doesn’t blow very cold either. I think that just might be the way it’s built. The guy I bought the truck from had the whole thing re-done with new hoses and a new compressor and modern coolant, and it still takes a while to get cold, and doesn’t have much power. If your truck has an air filter on the ventilation system, you might make sure that it isn’t clogged or dirty. On my 95 truck, there is no air filter.

[@Ripcurl552002]

I did this but did not help air flow.

[@thejokerking952]

My blower motor works but still cant get any air to come out

[@Jeff82556]

I really don't think you'll be able to "stick a vacuum cleaner up in here" (1:34) (a miniature Hoover)

[@pampowell4725]

I can't get the purple wire disconnected please help

[@antoniotorres4527]

my tahoe ac works pretty good but it sometimes it smells like mold.

[@antoniotorres4527]

what can be happening. Can I change any ac filter.?

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Antonio Torres it pens on what year it is. On old ones like mine, 1995 and older, there is no filter. I hosed out and sprayed some Febreeze in there, which helped.

[@antoniotorres4527]

mine is 1999 n i will clean everything but i think there is no filter.

[@rmeisberger]

Antonio Torres, change the a/c dryer

[@MikeyFraz1]

Thanks for the video! When I start my truck it sounds like there is water sloshing around in there... am I in for some trouble?

[@hoohoohoblin]

There could be water in there if the drain hole is clogged.

[@MikeyFraz1]

hoohoohoblin thanks man! Love your videos!

[@R3nat002]

Did you figure it out? I hear water too.

[@MikeyFraz1]

Renato no, I ended up selling the truck. Good luck!

[@davidbirkes7308]

@@R3nat002 they are notorious for getting water in the housing drill a whole in the bottom before it jacks your blower it shorted mine out and the truck dies if you turn of the heater lol

[@mr.unknownforreal7052]

How do you have a cd player in there? I got a 97 regular cab silverado but your cs compartment is a cubby for me.

[@hoohoohoblin]

In 1995 they offered a cassette player in the stereo and a remote CD player down below. I am going to replace it with a cubbyhole at some point.

[@jodirea9169]

What size wrench did you use to take the motor out?

[@irvinvega6616]

9/32

[@jodywooten5511]

On my 95 suburban, the fan only works when on Hi. Do you think it's the fan or the controller? I may put a multimeter on the connections to check the lower levels

[@hoohoohoblin]

I would suspect the controller is the problem. Using a multimeter is a good idea if you want to know for sure.

[@kichaels]

It's the Blower Motor Control Module / Resistor

[@josevillareal5795]

Did you get your low to wotk?

[@rbrooks1305]

I vote resistor pack as well. Blower motors default to running on HI. What the resistors do is basically absorb some of the power going to the blower, which causes it to slow down. Resistor pack blew in my 2015 cx9 after drain tube clogged (Less Tha 3 yrs old!) Since I didn't want to pay $179 for a new resistor pack ($10 if ordered straight from China in quantity of 15+) and had no luck with junk yard....I just wired it straight thru with a on/off switch. I only had HI speed for a couple years til I located a resistor pack. But it worked!

[@wayno60432]

is this the same for a 89 k 1500?

[@hoohoohoblin]

Probably

[@levigrafton6854]

Oh. Lol. Wondering why my air sucks. I’ll tinker around

[@mikegross1810]

i have a1995 chevey 5.7 V8 my fan controle switch only works at No 3 how do i change it please help do i have to take the dash out

[@hoohoohoblin]

On mine I replaced the whole heater control unit when the air conditioning stopped working, and I just needed to take off the dash plate to get to it. It was really easy to do.

[@locodre1valdez397]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5CmknSmodiFd80 Check this video out if you havent done it already. Hope it helps.

[@BrianJonah88]

There's a resistor/ sensor right behind the glove box, a couple of wires come off if it pointed straight up. It rides on top of the hottest part of the heater ducting and they changed the shapes in there around 95 meaning you may need a micro wrench to undo the 6.5mm screws.

[@84montecarlonazi]

u know what i forgot to ask my pass floor gets wet when it rains some times ill c it come right from fan motor that hole u cleaned out is it a drain any other ideas its not heater core

[@hoohoohoblin]

It might be coming in from under the windshield. Maybe a hole has rusted into the drain under the windshield, and the water runs into it and goes onto the floor of the truck.

[@larryboye6457]

It's probably the panel under your windshield cowl. Its a common problem on the 88-98 chevy truck. Just clean it then silicone it. Put a dab on the passenger side screws when reassembling also.

[@84montecarlonazi]

Larry Boye u mean the one that's sealed from the factory I saw it is need to chisel it off the water comes right into ware the squirrel cage for motor is and falls on matt

[@larryboye6457]

84montecarlonazi Yes that's the one. I used a wire brush wheel to break it free then cleaned it up and sealed it.

[@84montecarlonazi]

ok thank you itl take sum time but worth it carpet gets wet under Matt itl get moldy lol

[@johnharrison5098]

u cudve just pulled the glove box out to get the smaller screws for the cover

[@namelesssd]

my ac only blows to 60 degrees. what do you think it could be

[@hoohoohoblin]

In most cases, it is low on refrigerant. Try buying a recharge kit and putting more in.

[@namelesssd]

hoohoohoblin did that

[@Jclownwalk]

namelesssd maybe it's your condenser or evaporater

[@Jclownwalk]

namelesssd I have the same problem with my 99 Tahoe but only when it to highest setting.... When I drop down halfway or to the lowest, it comes out at 38 °

[@paulcastruita9700]

suburban noise under ac

[@ginosanchez1569]

My air doesnt work and I don't really care but today I started getting a ticking sound from there what could that be? I would like if someone knows and can help me out

[@hoohoohoblin]

Maybe some leaves got through and are hitting the fan.

[@yokahama3344]

Sounds like the "Blend Door Actuator" to me.

[@ginosanchez1569]

Yoka Hama I know but thanks

[@willpuchalsky8900]

Haha, that was priceless ! WTH was that thing you pulled out ? Anyways, I have an O3 S10 Blazer, do you know if that process would be similar ?

[@hoohoohoblin]

+Will Puchalsky yours is probably different. I bet the design is a lot smarter. It probably has a paper cabin air filter, so if you look up how to replace the cabin air filter, that would be the way to get all the crud out of the airbox and get the air flowing faster.

[@ivejennyts5318]

@@hoohoohoblin it does have a paper cabin air filter. I gotta change mine out too, and clean the sensor

[@maluorno]

I like easy.

[@hoohoohoblin]

Me too.

[@carlarodgers5011]

+hoohoohoblin. great video. a little tinkering is a pickup truck's best friend. I am a women and crawl under my 81 and grease the u joints and throw out berring. GM all the way!

[@levigrafton6854]

I hope you’re gonna throw away the tooth brush when you’re done and not re use it

[@hoohoohoblin]

Haha! Definitely!

[@jackofalltrades12]

I think I used too much water and now my truck is shaky and stalls. It's been a week out here in AZ and I though whatever water entered in the wrong spot would evaporate by now but I still have that problem. Any ideas on how to fix it?

[@hoohoohoblin]

Putting water in there or shouldn’t have any effect on the engine. It gets its air from a totally different place.

[@jackofalltrades12]

you are absolutely right. It was another problem that just happened to occur when I turned on the truck that had nothing to do with spraying water in there. Thanks for the reply.

[@cristianbob3192]

Where is the cabin air filter

[@hoohoohoblin]

This generation of trucks didn’t have a filter. That’s one of the reasons it gets full of leaves. The next generation of trucks came with a removable filter.

[@endlesspoints]

was that a used tampon??? lol wtf

[@doctorbillzable]

.....I thought it was a crab claw...lol

[@angelcortez9662]

LOL ! !

[@blankstares4355]

idk but it creeped me out and now i'm afraid to open mine up and reach my hand in there even tho i can tell mine needs this cleaning

[@connorferrara6780]

My rubber just crumbles

[@110americalovingpatriot2]

I said the same thing about the widow I married😜 hehe

[@humbertovillarreal44]

Hay químico risa para eso

[@malcolmdastur4411]

The hardest bit was removing the two bolts holding the cover and you didn't show how you did that.

[@rbrooks1305]

I have not tried this yet. However, I would mention that they sell a tiny ratchet at Harbor freight for like $4 (pre-covid price) . It comes with some screwdriver tips and a socket adapter. With a socket on the tiny ratchet I have been able to get into some tight places on my motorcycles.

[@1939Masterdeluxe]

I can imagine all the crap in mine 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@hoohoohoblin]

You’ll find some treasures in there.

[@drewwilliams7419]

WTF was that!?!?!?! Lol

[@jeffjohnson9058]

Bruh.

[@trooperthorny9783]

i just painted the blower motor rear black. eff that plastic piece

[@hoohoohoblin]

That works too.

[@anwr640]

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[@chrisg1007]

7 years later and this video still helping people including me 🫱🏾‍🫲🏼

[@hoohoohoblin]

Thanks. Glad I could help.

[@bigloads3600]

8 years for me.