To pull out the pollen filter, it's a bit of a devil of a job.

Take out the driver's side mat (if you have one) and see a plastic panel from the clutch pedal out to under the gears shift.
There's three bolts (I think). Two are Allen heads and one is a Torx. Take them out and pull off the panel.

Right at the front near the clutch pedal, there's a vertical black unit with a cover on it. The cover just unclips and comes away, and inside it is the pollen filter.

By now, your knees will be aching and your back too, as it's a bit of a squeeeze to get at it all!

The filter sort of folds and crushes to come out but it'll come with some persuasion. It's maybe 6" square by an inch thick.

I took ours out to look at it, knocked a couple of dead flies and a few small leaves off it, then put it back. I'll leave it where it is for another twelve months.

We have a Clio at 95,000miles @ 14years old and she's still only on her second pollen filter. Mind you, it's a damned sight easier to get at in the Clio than in the Fiat500.

Good luck,
Mick.

Joe Dolce said:

Good news All sorted.
Took the car back to the dealer today and it turns out that there was 50grams of refrigerant gas in it. It should have 500grams
The compressor won't kick in unless there is at least 150grams. They have regressed and oiled and added some dye and checked for leaks with a uv light and all is well. They also said that if the previous owner didn't use the Air Con the seals may have dried out but there are no leaks now so should be fine. Happy and relieved it was nothing major and it is all working ok

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Which leads me back to the entire point I've been making about aircon. After at least three years, it should be checked by people who know what they're doing. And also the point you have made about aircon use, it should be used, frequently, summer and winter. Hope it keeps trouble free for you in the future, but remember, as long as you keep the car, a bi-annual check at least is worth doing.

I always have the Air Con on all year round anyway. I can't see any point to not having it on so a service every other year is small change in the grand scheme of things.

Joe Dolce said:

I always have the Air Con on all year round anyway. I can't see any point to not having it on so a service every other year is small change in the grand scheme of things.

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uses more fuel? = ) in the winter I only use it to demist then go to normal heating

ahmett said:

uses more fuel? = ) in the winter I only use it to demist then go to normal heating

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I don't go in for all that. I have a more simple approach. When the tank is empty you put more fuel in. Whether it does a mile or so more or less per gallon by using the air con doesn't really bother me but I accept the point you make

Trust me this car runs on fresh air compared to my Golf R

Joe Dolce said:

I don't go in for all that. I have a more simple approach. When the tank is empty you put more fuel in. Simples !!
Trust me this car runs on fresh air compared to my Golf R

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Golf R? haha HMRC must love you = )

ahmett said:

uses more fuel? = ) in the winter I only use it to demist then go to normal heating

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Lol ahmett! You do make me laugh sometimes I've just done a 500 mile round trip this weekend in my own car and the aircon was on the entire time. Extra fuel use is negligible, certainly not worth worrying over a few extra pennies.

I personally just can't understand the mentality of not using it to be honest. Let's face it, for those that never use it and then the one day they want it and it doesn't work because they could never see the point or worried themselves about using a little bit of extra fuel, then there really can be no complaints can there.....?

frupi said:

Lol ahmett! You do make me laugh sometimes I've just done a 500 mile round trip this weekend in my own car and the aircon was on the entire time. Extra fuel use is negligible, certainly not worth worrying over a few extra pennies.

I personally just can't understand the mentality of not using it to be honest. Let's face it, for those that never use it and then the one day they want it and it doesn't work because they could never see the point or worried themselves about using a little bit of extra fuel, then there really can be no complaints can there.....?

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it most definitely uses a lot more fuel 10% more urban in my opinion in the summer heat = )

Maybe on heat mode it uses a bit less.
Oh and less power, again probably noticed less in the TA than the 1.4 NA

ahmett said:

it most definitely uses a lot more fuel 10% more urban in my opinion in the summer heat = )

Maybe on heat mode it uses a bit less.
Oh and less power, again probably noticed less in the TA than the 1.4 NA

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I must admit, I don't notice any increase in fuel consumption with the aircon switched on, nor any difference in performance.

puntofan01 said:

I must admit, I don't notice any increase in fuel consumption with the aircon switched on, nor any difference in performance.

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As said in my previous post you have a clutch in most modern climate control systems, which operates when you use the system in eco mode. This disconnects the AC compressor when not required to maintain the requested temperature (it does cycle it but significantly less) it also does so when you apply a large throttle opening (to reduce parasitic losses and give full engine performance), this minimises additional fuel use. Obviously in hot weather the compressor runs more so economy will dip but depending on speed windows up air-con on can be more efficient than windows down air-con off, crossover is around 50mph where drag is worse than air-con apparently (myth busters).

StevenRB45 said:

As said in my previous post you have a clutch in most modern climate control systems, which operates when you use the system in eco mode.

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I've never seen any Fiat literature mention that Eco affects the A/C at all. Renault does, but I don't think Fiat's does. The A/C works the same in either mode. It does cut out at high load which is why you can't 'feel' the difference in driving.

If you live in the UK and say A/C make no difference to MPG, it's only because the system isn't really doing anything. It takes 1,800W to drive a 500 at 25mph, guess what? A car A/C is rated at 1,800W, so at 25mph, you can double your fuel consumption - assuming it's hot and the A/C actually has something to do. Biggest hit I've seen on a hot week is 30% - that meant stopping for fuel every 275miles- I decided I'd rather sweat it out.

It's funny that so many people don't care about MPG but will moan for pages on end about paying a few quid in VED.

UFI said:

It takes 1,800W to drive a 500 at 25mph.............. A car A/C is rated at 1,800W

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Not that I'm arguing with you or disbelieve you, but where did you get those figures from?

1.8Kw for either/both of those seems rather high to me.

Thanks,
Mick.

UFI said:

I've never seen any Fiat literature mention that Eco affects the A/C at all. Renault does, but I don't think Fiat's does. The A/C works the same in either mode. It does cut out at high load which is why you can't 'feel' the difference in driving

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Not the eco button on the dash as in reduced throttle response. Not seen the Fiat system but many cars do have a separate eco mode for the climate control. Given the current focus on achieving mpg figures you would imagine most systems would have something similar (whether or not they make you aware of it happening) in place to stop the compressor running unless required to cool the vehicle.

The car would need climate control though so it knows when the cabin is the correct temperature.

UFI said:

I've never seen any Fiat literature mention that Eco affects the A/C at all. Renault does, but I don't think Fiat's does. The A/C works the same in either mode. It does cut out at high load which is why you can't 'feel' the difference in driving.

If you live in the UK and say A/C make no difference to MPG, it's only because the system isn't really doing anything. It takes 1,800W to drive a 500 at 25mph, guess what? A car A/C is rated at 1,800W, so at 25mph, you can double your fuel consumption - assuming it's hot and the A/C actually has something to do. Biggest hit I've seen on a hot week is 30% - that meant stopping for fuel every 275miles- I decided I'd rather sweat it out.

It's funny that so many people don't care about MPG but will moan for pages on end about paying a few quid in VED.

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UFI they don't know what they are talking about because in the UK they never use the MAX AC setting like you and I when temperatures are 40c = ) With AC at max, fuel consumption easily down 20-30% in traffic with a noticeable decrease in power and increase in engine braking.

Oh and the radiator making a lot of noise as well in an attempt to keep the car cool, and make sure you check your coolant! I notice it tends to go down a bit in hot conditions when AC and radiator is used a lot.

We're often on maximum air con in both our cars.
Clio is frequently at its coldest setting, and the 500TA is also often set at LO in the summer.

500TA AAC goes down to 16.5degC and the next setting down goes to LO and the auto light goes out and the fan comes on full. Still not a patch on the Clio's aircon.

Not noticed any performance drop-off or excess fuel consumption in either car.

We've often been up the motorway 300miles in the Clio on full aircon and still get 45mpg at around 65mph. Not tried the 500TA on full cold up the motorway, but with it running normally set at about 20degC we get about 53mpg. Running around locally - even this summer - we've been getting 45mpg.

This is why I suspect 1.8Kw is a little high to run an aircon. Maybe it would consume that power if you opened all the windows and attempted to air condition the countryside.

Regards,
Mick.

Mick F said:

We're often on maximum air con in both our cars.
Clio is frequently at its coldest setting, and the 500TA is also often set at LO in the summer.

500TA AAC goes down to 16.5degC and the next setting down goes to LO and the auto light goes out and the fan comes on full. Still not a patch on the Clio's aircon.

Not noticed any performance drop-off or excess fuel consumption in either car.

We've often been up the motorway 300miles in the Clio on full aircon and still get 45mpg at around 65mph. Not tried the 500TA on full cold up the motorway, but with it running normally set at about 20degC we get about 53mpg. Running around locally - even this summer - we've been getting 45mpg.

This is why I suspect 1.8Kw is a little high to run an aircon. Maybe it would consume that power if you opened all the windows and attempted to air condition the countryside.

Regards,
Mick.

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its weird but there may be differences between the effect on AC with the TA and the 1.4 as the TA has more torque. I always feel a power loss with my AC on = )

I said up-thread (or was it on another thread?) that our Clio's aircon has never been switched off.

Actually, I have tried switching it off and then later switching on whilst at a constant speed. I agree that the car slows, but it's only momentarily as the compressor runs up to pressure and the interior temp stabilises.

Leaving it on isn't a problem unless it happens that you've left the car in the direct sunshine and then drive up a steep hill (like what happens here frequently). You notice the power drop easily, but it passes as the interior temp decreases.

Not noticed any such issue with the 500TA.
However, when you start her up in the heat, the Auto Aircon doesn't come on until the engine is up to temp. Until the engine is up and running properly, nothing happens aircon-wise.

The Clio, on the other hand, runs the aircon immediately the engine runs. Therefore it's noticeable as you pull away.

Two different systems.

Regards,
Mick.

Mick F said:

Not that I'm arguing with you or disbelieve you, but where did you get those figures from?

1.8Kw for either/both of those seems rather high to me.

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If you google you'll find a typical car A/C's draw around 3hp. I can also read A/C power usage off the CANBUS in the case of the Prius. This figure seems to be pretty solid for every car I've got.

You think 2.5hp is a lot to push a 500 at 30mph, keeping in mind your car has 85 of them? I use a physics calculator to work out what my cars use at various speeds and what difference changes to tyres or aero will mean to my MPG

UFI said:

If you google you'll find a typical car A/C's draw around 3hp. I can also read A/C power usage off the CANBUS in the case of the Prius. This figure seems to be pretty solid for every car I've got.

You think 2.5hp is a lot to push a 500 at 30mph, keeping in mind your car has 85 of them? I use a physics calculator to work out what my cars use at various speeds and what difference changes to tyres or aero will mean to my MPG

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how about the torque ufi? my ac feels like it takes a lot = ) not like the 1.4 has much torque to begin with anyway!

UFI said:

I use a physics calculator to work out what my cars use at various speeds and what difference changes to tyres or aero will mean to my MPG

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I thought you might!

Thank you for your enlightening info. I'm grateful for it and no doubt others are too.

Thanks,
Mick.