A coworker asked me to look at her SUV because she had no heat
Its a late model Chevrolet Equinox 2010?

I checked the coolant in the tank and it looked good as far as level and there is no way to even see the rad
She started it up and I could feel the slightest of warm air coming from the vents but not enough to defrost a window in late winter weather
It was equipped with auto climate control and no matter what I did I couldn't increase the air flow and the A/C kept coming on

I told her I was merely guessing it had an issue with the climate control system since It was moving so little air and the A/C kept coming on


She took it to the dealer that has serviced it since brand new and turned out it needed a new cabin air filter
SHE HAD A MELT DOWN
They had obviously never checked it in the last 4 years
For $200 they replaced the cabin and engine air filters

posted this in case anyone ever runs into it and to show all dealerships can be crooks

 

ive seen some very clogged cabin air filters and never one that restricted a lot of air floor. wonder if something died in it or something.

 

she said the cabin filter was completely black when they showed her the old one
I don't understand how she made it this far with as cold of a winter we had around here
It is garage kept overnight and she leaves mid afternoon but cant imagine it went from good to bad overnight
It doesn't sit under trees that might aid in clogging things up


I always changed out the ones in my Honda every other year without issue