Hi I am querying my services over last 3 years and notice that the first post on the subject of pollen filter mentions that the replacement isn't included in the service unless you pay an additional charge. I've looked in my Quick Guide book and it states that this filter should be replaced at each service? My car has done almost 60,000 miles without it being mentioned or replaced.
Can anyone help?

Indeed, the pollen filter won't get replaced during an ordinary service. Dependent on your geographical area, I'd say two years between changes was about right. If yours hasn't been changed in 60k miles, I can guarantee, it will be stuffed. The problem is, the pollen filter on a right hand drive vehicle, is located just to the left of the clutch pedal and trust me, it is a total pain in the backside to change. I've changed two pollen filters and it took me 40 minutes the first time and 30 minutes the second time, not helped by the fact I've got pretty enormous hands. I know if I were a Fiat technician at a dealership, or a mechanic at any other garage, I wouldn't be volunteering to do the job. We now have a Hyundai i10 and that takes just 2 minutes to change from start to finish as it is located directly behind the glovebox.

My pop 59 plate non ac car has no filter if that helps

So where is it exactly? You take off that trim panel next to the clutch which I always do when I change an airbag ecu, but never noticed it. Anyone got a picture?

Mine got changed on my service 3 weeks ago. He showed me my old one and it was black as opppsed to white. He was surprised I hadn't smelt any fumes in the car and that was just short of 38,000 miles.

JNAnderson said:

Mine got changed on my service 3 weeks ago. He showed me my old one and it was black as opppsed to white. He was surprised I hadn't smelt any fumes in the car and that was just short of 38,000 miles.

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The filter only filters particles not general road fumes even if a activated carbon one after a few months.I change my Mazda one every year .

typecastboy said:

So where is it exactly? You take off that trim panel next to the clutch which I always do when I change an airbag ecu, but never noticed it. Anyone got a picture?

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It's in a narrow black plastic box up to the left of the clutch mechanism behind that panel. I inspected mine recently just to check the garage did actually change it which in fairness they did, mine had 3 screws holding on the lid which removing and replacing proved to me the most awkward part of the job, I think earlier cars may not have the screws and the lid just pulls off, it's awkward alright, I found if I stuck my legs out the sunroof it made it easier!![emoji4]

typecastboy said:

So where is it exactly? You take off that trim panel next to the clutch which I always do when I change an airbag ecu, but never noticed it. Anyone got a picture?

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You'll see the black plastic cover in the first photo in this thread. It's that thin black panel just behind the grey plug toward the top of the clutch pedal:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/446181-finding-pollen-filter-now-becoming-quest.html

Oh I see, just above The airbag ECU. There is a mention on that thread that they are only included on cars with climate control rather than standard air con. Is that right?

typecastboy said:

Oh I see, just above The airbag ECU. There is a mention on that thread that they are only included on cars with climate control rather than standard air con. Is that right?

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Check this out, it's for a leftie but the position is identical and yes only climate has it AFAIK

[ame]https://youtu.be/QRF-6PahJ0c[/ame]

Cheers for that. I won't buy one then!

I looked at ours at 20,000miles.
As far as I know, it's never been changed. We bought her at just 3years old @ 13,500 miles.

I wouldn't say it was clean, but I wouldn't have described it as dirty.
One or two dead flies and a smattering of dust.
I knocked it about a bit to clean it off, and put it back.

We have a 2001 Clio we've had since brand new. I keep records, and the pollen filter has been changed twice.
Brand new car in April 2001
Changed Oct 2003 @ 22,900miles
Changed again May 2013 @ 84,600miles

I may look at it again soon perhaps .......... if I'm bored.
The car has done 97,700miles as of today.

Regards,
Mick.

I can get a cheap standard one for £5 for my Mazda it gets pretty black after only a year maybe the volume of air is greater through it?

A lot depends on the environment the car is driven in I would imagine - city driving been the worst

The pollen filter was only fitted to vehicles with air conditioning.

You can see where the filter fits in this instruction https://catalog.mann-filter.com/media/einbauanleitung/HBckbCpR.pdf

typecastboy said:

There is a mention on that thread that they are only included on cars with climate control rather than standard air con. Is that right?

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No.

All 500's with A/C have a pollen filter.

Mercky said:

A lot depends on the environment the car is driven in I would imagine - city driving been the worst

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Exactly.
Same for air filters too.

Mick.

I wouldn't say it's that difficult to do. I did my first 500 Pollen Filter on my daughters car and it took me one google to find it then 15 mins to change it.

I was shocked to find it was the original dated '08 and it was blocked solid with greasy black residue.

I service quite a few cars with many of them being yearly regulars. And I always recommend a pollen filter every two years at the most. I do my own, the wifes and will now change my daughters, every year. Considering the air that you breath comes via that filter? I'd put it as possibly the most important filter on the car and when ECP sell them at a little over 13 quid, It's hardly going to break the bank.

I got around to my pollen filter today, but stupid me bought the pre 08/11 filter lol. So I'll have the fun of doing it again when I get the right filter. The lower of the two 5.5mm bolt head screw is a pita, I couldn't get any of my sockets or nut drivers on as it was too close to the steering column. In the end I jammed the socket in on an angle and turned it with a pair of pliers, I've trimmed the lip on plastic cover that counter sunk it so now I can get it easy with a spanner.