Hi!
Can't find the location of the cabin filter in my mazda 323 f Ba -98 1,8.
The only information I have is under the glovebox. I have AC so maybe the construction differs from the ones without cause it seems that it looks different under the glovebox on the same models. It's three filters and I have never experienced any leafs or anything blowing in the car when I use the fan so it HAS to be one somewhere. Would be thankful if someone could help me with this. A marked picture would be fantastic! Thanks!

It's behind the glovebox, get in the footwell upside down to find it (gl with that!!) It's near the heater blower resistor thing (that controls the actual fan speed). Look for a long slot cover with 2 screws either end, say 3cm x 15cm ish. If you just find a blank indent in the plastic about that size it means you don't have the filters.

More info here:

http://www.club323f.com/forum/viewtopic ... 18&t=58236

I actually lucked out and found a car in the scrap yard with filters fitted, nabbed the cover but the main unit is linked to the aircon and seemed a big job to get out so gave up on that. Was another plan to add them to mine by doing the above mod....

Jon

Thanks for the answer!
Add some pictures that I took, maybe you can see if there are something that gives a clue if there is a filterplacement there. In case it does, can you mark it on the picture. Don't know if you can copy picture here?
Thanks again!

Don't think I covered the whole space. Will try to take a couple more. Before I broke my neck

What you're looking for is in the white housing of the aircon matrix, I think the blower motor housing is black and rounder. At the bottom (facing the footwell) should be a slot like this:



(red outline not included )

If you have cabin filters you will see a black plastic retaining piece in there with screws/bolts at either end. The black corner at the bottom of that image is the blower resistor. If it's just as shown above, you don't have cabin filters I'm afraid

Jon

Following with interest as had exactly the same experience as Ghoststrokes: cracked neck, spatial disorientation resulting in strange 'arty' type photos and no found filter orifice!

Will have another look when I get back to the car, I have A/C.

Can't be as bad as a Mazda 3 though, that can pretty well only be done by feel unless you've got a boroscope and involves putting one half in and holding it up whilst slipping the second half in underneath it. With one hand & out of view if I remember..! It was a most annoying job.

Patrick

Thanks a lot Jon! Is it possible that you have to remove the whole glovebox to be able to see if there is filters installed? In case they change the placement for it. I also have AC and never have any dirt blowing up in my face on full fan speed. Maybe I'm just stubborn and can't accept to not have any filter

Here is another very beautiful piece of art.
This is what I see if I just pull down the glovebox and get a glimpse on what's behind there. Probably nothing that has with filters to do. Or?

Ok, lets see if this helps. Bit of a photo-montage of under my dash from about 10 mins ago (took me that long to get out of the footwell!!!):



I didn't remove any trim or lower the glove box, just a bit of human origami to get under the dash.

Bear in mind I have a right hand driver car, but even the EPC lists it as the same and most of that is for LHD cars:

http://mazdaepc.com/parts/323F/AEBM02/Y4/6150/

Filters at the bottom with the retaining plate shown below them.

Anyway, they should be located between the fan and the matrix.

Jon

You have been of great help Jon!
Very informative and perfect pictures to describe the position of the filters. Very well done!
Just have to accept the fact that I don't have any filter. Although I don't have any bad smell, or as I said earlier, dirt up in my face. Just to send it back and move on in life, not happier but a little more wise I suppose. Thanks a lot Jon!

Great work to produce that excellent image Jon, thank-you, a top effort!

It will certainly be a help to me, the reason I'm interested is 'cos of the opposite to Ghoststrokes- I've got no dust/dirt coming out, not even on/in the vents in Oz so I suspect mine has one. After 23 years it's due!

Many thanks,

Patrick

The thing Patrick is that I don't have any dirt either. Its totally "clean" even on full speed after standing under a tree in the autumn. That's why I'm a little confused about why I can't find one.

Hi Ghoststrokes,

yes but I'm guessing dirt in Sweden is rather different to dirt in Oz. Unless it can be raised in a rotating column several 1000's of feet high (willy-willy/dust-devil- which can also contain dry grass, or smoke, mind you) it's not airborne particulates and unlikely to spread through the ventilation system the way it does in Oz.

If leaves, etc penetrate they're likely sitting at the bottom, composting (at least when not frozen). Makes for a great smell in the A/C esp. when the A/C deposits condensate water on it to keep it mouldering. Can play havoc with allergies. And that all happens in Oz too!

Patrick

Hello!
Yes you are probably right. Although my experience with earlier cars without filter the dirt (whatever it contains) have found it's way in to the cabin. My AC doesn't work on my car so no bad smell from that. Talked with mazda and there were a filter in their catalogue on my car but they couldn't say it for sure. No mechanic in place to help with ideas of potential position.
What year and model do you have?

Ghoststrokes,

I have a 1994 (early) BA. See my thread here.

There is also a car parts company in Australia, SuperCheapAuto (SCA) (also sometimes known as SuperCrapAuto ). However one thing they do well is their website, with matching of spare parts by vehicle model. In checking the BA it doesn't list a cabin air filter (although does for the subsequent BJ) so I think I'm likely not to have one.

Cheers,

Patrick

Patrick!
The white pearl!
Looks nice!
I don't really know if there is any modifications made between 94 and 98 that I have. Might be different between oz and europe maybe?
Mine is pure original with no mods made. The wing was original but the former owner took it away which I actually like. Will have a look at that ws. Thanks!
Skål! (cheers in Swedish)

Many thanks Ghoststrokes! Must say yours looks a treat too in your avatar. Always thought the green was one of the nicer colours for this vehicle. Any chance of you doing a "my car" thread with pics?


Modifications were mostly minor in form and function but more real in terms of actual design/build as far as I can tell. Others more knowledgeable can correct me where I'm wrong.

There were 'upgrades' and changes to the bumpers, headlights, wing mirrors, interior trim/buttons, audio systems, HVAC controls, interior door panels/cards, dashboard, wheels, trim badges, etc. There may be running engine changes, suspension changes, etc. However the underlying engineering, setup and look basically remain the same throughout the model run with running changes/tweaks/minor upgrades e.g. engine, drivetrain and suspension tweaks during the whole-of-model life.

There are differences early to late due to the Ford takeover of Mazda mid-run. For example the wing mirrors and headlamps are not interchangeable being of different designs.

From what I can tell listed in the Pick-n-Payless wreckers here in Oz there were three 'phases' (I, II and III) from 94-98.


Mine's all original too except for the wheels now (but still have the original steelies w/ wheelcaps) and some maintenance items (battery, tyres, front struts, aerial post in particular).

Cheers,
Patrick

Thanks Patrick!
It still looks pretty good even if the winter and salt on the streets is pretty rough on cars. I am the second owner and the former owner never used it in the winter which explain the minimal rust on it. Even under. Under my ownership with no garage, just parking on the street, there has been some "age wrinkles" but still nothing that catch the eyes in a bad way. I will absolutely put up some pictures when it's clean!


Yes I notice that. There are a lot of different names on this car when I search in english terms. In the beginning I didn't even know there was a BJ model under the same 323 f name. In general, the exact description of what version I have is pretty poor over here. Even when you search on regnr the product list is not precise which brings me back to the cabin filter. All shops says I have one but no one can tell where.
Not even mazda.
Mazda 323 f Ba was not a big hit here in Sweden from what I know. The bj model is far more common (but more boring) here, probably because it's more just a standard car that attract the boring middle aged citizen that just want a reliable car . But even they are rare over here.

Cheers!

Put up a few pictures

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=60309#p752530

Patrick
In case you haven't given up the cabin filter issue.
I got this from mazda and might be in hand for someone with the same mystery.

Excellent, thanks!

Patrick

No problem!