General Wot no pollen filter?

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General Wot no pollen filter?

rolyapples

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My late 2005 dualogic eleganza was having its 2nd annual service yesterday and I asked them to make sure the pollen filter got changed. When I went to collect it, there was nothing about the filter on the sheet they tick the boxes on (to make it look like they've actually done something). I asked, and they said that it didn't need a pollen filter (they checked with someone in the "workshop" too).

So today I had a look for the fabled filter and found this:

filter.JPG


- so there's what looks like a slot that's a bit bigger than the slot on the CD player, and two screw holes with no screws.

I can't work out if there's supposed to be a filter there but it's missing, or if this is a blanking plate that doesn't allow the filter to be fitted - anyone got any ideas?

I thought all the Pandas with aircon were supposed to have filters :confused:
 
That plastic cover should hold the pollen filter inside. Have you tried looking inside? The only problem I can forsee is the fact that the steering column is quite close and would make the task of removing and refitting the filter rather tricky. Well...there's only one way to find out, I guess !! Good luck and please let us know if you find it.
 

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The thing is that the screws aren't there, so there doesn't appear to be anything holding it down - I tried pulling gently on the cover, but it didn't want to move. Like you say, the steering column will make it difficult to remove.

I'll have another look over the next few days to see if the cover can be persuaded to come off.

Has anyone ever done this themselves? Would love to know if this is how it's supposed to be.
 
Correct. There is actually 2 screws that hold the black cover. You need to remove those 2 BEFORE you can pull out the filter.

From your pix, if you can see, diagonally from each other, one at the top and the other at the bottom.
Best to have them replaced yearly...

It's a real pain trying to get to those 2 screws, more so, the inner one. Really difficult due to space constrains...
 
Keeping the screen and side windows has been increasingly difficult on my 4x4 with aircon, so I decided to bite the bullet and replace the cabin filter.
I got one for £9.05 at a local motor factors which I feel is a fair price.
What a bugger to fit though. I do suggest that the grey plastic footrest to the left of the clutch pedal is removed as it gives a bit better access. An assisstant to depress the clutch pedal would help as well. The screws have a peculiar sized head to them but I found an imperial size socket that sort of fitted, a bit loose, but then the screws are not torqued up much anyhow. The top one is the worst to get at.
To remove the cover it is best to pull it away at the top first then work down. The filter needs to be bent a bit to remove and insert as the steering column is in the way. Tightening the little screws is harder than loosening them, maybe why they are missing in Rolyapples picture.
The old filter was pretty mucky with lots of little leaves in it (after 25,000 miles and 2yrs 7 months) so will just have to see if the ventilation works better.
 
To complete the picture, I just looked at my daughter's 1.1 Active, no aircon, and it's just the same as in Rolyapples' picture, i.e. no screws and in fact a cover permanently sealed to the unit.
Therefore it looks like aircon means a pollen filter that's a bugger to fit and Fiat dealers probably won't bother with it, no aircon means no filter and an easier life all round.
 
i replaced the pollen filter in my calibra, think i was the 1st to change it after 85000 miles it was black and restricted the flow of air, i have no aircon
 
The Fram filters part no. is FRACF10025, £9.05 from my local motor factors here in Sunderland.
Re fixings for the filter cover, don't know what to call them as they have tiny bolt heads (I reckon 5.5mm which I don't have but 7/32in just about fitted) but a screw thread. Whatever, they really screwed me and I bet the dealers avoid this job like the plague.
 
Then your air con chiller gets clogged with gunk.

Sorry, but I'm afraid that's complete tosh. With respect, cars haven't always had pollen filters.

Plus I have run a Punto for another 110,000 miles after removal to no detriment whatsoever. Maybe I'm cynical, but it's just another item to add to the service costs - and removal usually gives a slightly better throughflow of air.

No offence intended - honest!
 
I agree with you, Upnorth, to a certain extent in that the cabin filter is upstream of the aircon condenser, thus its removal will have no effect on this component.
However, a very important issue, especially for the ladies, came to light when I replaced the cabin filter on my wife's Honda Jazz and told her that it was full of tiny, dead spiders. Now, she is seriously arachnophobic and the concept of her car having a spider filter was extremely appealing and important to her. Just think on it, a cabin filter doesn't only exclude pollen and dirt!
 
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