Easiest is Try to remove the cabin air filter, and check at that side. Maybe it is the filter element itself, you can check also the blower if it is located near the filter.

Is anyone encountered this problem before… where new Almera’s air-cond suddenly emitting a large amount of snow-liked “White Sticky Films” into the car (see the pictures below) ? That was what happened to my new Nissan Almera which I bought in 2016 but still at very low mileage (i.e. at below 6000km) as I only drive quite a short distant on weekdays.

It all started on 23rd December 2016 (Friday), where, after leaving my Almera at home (without driving) for 6 days, and then, as usual, I started my car engine & switched on the air conditioner, then all of the sudden the air-cond blew out a horrible amount of snow-liked “White Sticky Films” ( which I had never seen before ), the amount of this “white films” was so huge that it stuck all over my body, my face, nose, mouth & the entire car interior... and as a result of that, I was choking & coughing non-stop but I immediately drove the car to the nearest Nissan Service Centre (in Chan Sow Lin) for inspection.. & the Supervisor there told me that he has seen a few cases like this before, where car owners left their cars without driving for 3-4 days & then when they started the engine the air-cond blew out white films (similar to my case).



I was totally terrified because the entire car interior & my whole body were covered with this “white sticky films”... It was like a volcano erupted & emitting large amount of white sticky films non-stop inside the car… but the Supervisor told me it was just the “normal dust” (that we see everyday) -- which I don't believe because as a car driver for more than 20 years I had never seen anything like this (i.e. air-cond emitting white sticky films), or heard anything like this before.. For sure, it was not the kind of "normal dust" that we see every day !

Since air conditioner works on close-loop environment... & in order to get rid of this whole mess, I have thoroughly vacuumed my car many times... also, my family members have to wear face mask (whenever I drive the car) because all of them have serious Sinus problem (and need to take sinus medication regularly), but still, regardless of how many time I vacuumed the car, after a short while of driving... the new “white films” will re-appear again... although it appears to be in smaller size & lesser quantity now... but still, it can be seen emitting all over the car whenever I switched-on the air-cond… and since I have coughing almost every day for the pass two months, I have to stop driving the car for the time being because I just couldn’t keep vacuuming the car everyday... What I am worrying the most is,

1) What are those snow-like white films (that keeps emitting out of the air conditioner) ?
2) Are they toxic/ poisonous & hazardous to human (as I was coughing for nearly 2 months since Dec 2016) ?
3) How could that possibly happen (to a new car) ?

Is anyone encountered this problem before, or knew about the problem... please help to advise, or share your experience.

Thank you very much.

I think its related to the fan blower. The last time I saw something like this is on my 2nd hand kancil. Where the foam that seals/direct the internal vents in the car like front, leg, windscreen position. It was old car so the foam slowly crumble off and blow in the whole car.
I highly suggest you to check the cabin filter yourself. Microfibers/filter might be poorly made. If in doubt,, try removing it for few days and see if the white stuff still comes out.
Last option is to flush the aircond vents with those car aircond foam cleaner
Worst option is there might be a possibility that the evaporator is having oxidation/karat. In this case it should be white (aluminum oxide), it will flake off white stuff when the blower is on. Maybe press the white flake, see if it feels like powder.

happens to me one time then back to normal 

I bought my car in July 2016

Visually it looks like dandruff... except that it is much bigger in size..
Yes, when press it with finger, it feels like powder form... it would just disappear like when we are pressing on flour (tepung)..

What did you do to make it back to normal again ?  Did you replace, or change anything ?
I bought it in late March 2016... it could come from the same batch of production (during that time) & having a same defective part, or quality issue..

Confirm aluminium oxidation. Aluminium quality used not to par!!!

I was very sure I came across this thread before...

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/4180300/+0&#entry83443735

Yeah you are right. It is the same TS.

Yeah you are right. It is the same TS.

Yes, it was the thread that I posted just one week before Chinese New Year, the reasons being:

1) The pictures I posted back then were really very small (unable to see those white films clearly)… so, I decided to enlarge it so that it is clearer.

2) Secondly, I hope more car experts, or more people (with the same problem) could have seen it after CNY & give their valuable comments/ share their experiences… and indeed, there is another Almera customer (that purchased the same car model around the same time) had faced the same problem...  Also, another expert commented that it could be “Aluminium Oxide” & later another expert confirmed that it was indeed “Aluminium Oxide” (based on the powder nature of the white films) - which can potentially causing severe health & life threatening issue to its passengers…as you know, all these extra information were really really important & I must personally thank them for providing those invaluable inputs, because without them,  I would have thought that it was just the “normal dust” (like what the Nissan supervisor told me when I sent my car to them for inspection)… and, I would like to sincerely apologise if this thread has directly, or indirectly annoyed or offended anyone in whatever way, because all I wanted was really additional information & suggestions to solve the problem.

For those who have commented, thank you very much for your invaluable inputs.

Look at this video. He have the same problem like you.



From the first comment he said it was from the evaporator. Maybe you can look into it.

Just wondering did the SC try to solve your prob? Have they check your evaporator yet?

I didnt do anything

Just drive the car normal but yours a bit serious, maybe need to check it thoroughly 

No, not yet.
I have sent the car to Nissan Service Centre 4 times..
1) First, on 23 Dec 2016 - they asked me to come back if problem persists (where I had very serious cough for 2 months until after Chinese New Year)
2) Then on 9 Feb 2017 - no air-cond technician available on that day
3) Then on 11 Feb 2017 - all full booked, they scheduled my appointment to 16 Feb 2017
4) Then on 16 Feb 2017 - again they re-scheduled my appointment to the following week (because they have only one air-cond technician at the centre)
So, untill now, I am still waiting for my appoitment next week.. which they also told me I have to leave my car over-night, and, as a matter of fact, they told me they have not seen & have not encountered this kind of air-cond (white film) problem before..

To ascertain the risk of those white films (allegedly Aluminium Oxide),
1) I have sent an official "customer care request" to Nissan Malaysia Website on 8 Feb 2017 (http://www.nissan.com.my/?gclid=CjwKEAiA8JbEBRCz2szzhqrx7H8SJAC6FjXXTLibLTBeSvFFdDozvPdzKUEwzQR8xoMH3zHMkaaLiBoC26fw_wcB#) - But until today, No Reply.
2) I also sent a "technical assistance request" to Nissan Motor Corporation Japan on 10 Feb 2017 - But also, until today, No Reply.

is that your case?  http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/1640183

how's your case now? nissan msia take full responsibility?

Wasn't that came out in the NTV7 news recently ?

happens to me one time then back to normal 

I bought my car in July 2016

when almera malaysia become 5 years warranty???

2018?