I've been getting fumes in the cabin at idle after a 30min drive? Any ideas Fiat charged me £80 and found nothing?
Technical Cabin fumes
- Thread starter TempraTDSX
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Technical Cabin fumes
There's a 95% chance it's the exhaust flexi.
Look under the car with a torch - there's a braided section just behind the engine. If the braid is blackened then it's blowing fumes out. I saw smoke from the wheelarch when mine went.
You can also get one person to rev the engine while the other looks, to be sure.
If this is the fault, then go to your Fiat stealer and get that £80 back. This should cover the cost of the new flexi!
Look under the car with a torch - there's a braided section just behind the engine. If the braid is blackened then it's blowing fumes out. I saw smoke from the wheelarch when mine went.
You can also get one person to rev the engine while the other looks, to be sure.
If this is the fault, then go to your Fiat stealer and get that £80 back. This should cover the cost of the new flexi!
OP
OP
Thanks a lot Doof, you know I have suspected that, as I ran over a tyre on the motorway and it went with a god almighty bang and ripped down the under engine cover! Wont I have to take the under engine cover off to see the flexi?
OP
OP
Turns out the smell was coming from the pollen filter! A local garage air blasted it and it's not much better, but not perfect, so I want to change it completely. I've no idea where it's situated though? Easy Slot in
job?
job?
Do a search on here - theres loads on changing it including some good tips from Doofer.
tarquin1867
Member
Its under the passenger side windscreen scuttle, take off the windscreen wipers and "gently "remove the securing sdrews on the scuttle and take it off.
The filter is then easy to get out and replace.
My good tip is to replace the drain tube from the scuttle with a longer one which will reach below the level of the filter and guide the water away and down into the bottom water drain which is a "flap type" which acts as a one way valve.
the filter has started smelling due to mould growing on it after it got wet, mine has lasted 4yrs since I did this pipe extension so I know it works
PS- There are two "flap valves", one at each side. Clean them both out while you are delving around will reduce the risk of corrosion setting in due to standing water. I have to park under a Sycamore tree which 4 dropping seasons and can block these flaps up very easily. Bet yours are clogged with crap when you get to them
The filter is then easy to get out and replace.
My good tip is to replace the drain tube from the scuttle with a longer one which will reach below the level of the filter and guide the water away and down into the bottom water drain which is a "flap type" which acts as a one way valve.
the filter has started smelling due to mould growing on it after it got wet, mine has lasted 4yrs since I did this pipe extension so I know it works
PS- There are two "flap valves", one at each side. Clean them both out while you are delving around will reduce the risk of corrosion setting in due to standing water. I have to park under a Sycamore tree which 4 dropping seasons and can block these flaps up very easily. Bet yours are clogged with crap when you get to them
it's easy enough and cheap to do although the plastic screw things that hold the black plastic windscreen scuttle are a bit of a nuisance and I have to dig them out with a small flat headed screwdriver.
There was a bit of debate about squirting a small amount of disinfectant into the hole while you've got the old one out and whilst I did it and was OK - and it fairly freshened up the cabin - there was some concern that it might burn the heater motor out so on balance I'd say best avoided.
There was a bit of debate about squirting a small amount of disinfectant into the hole while you've got the old one out and whilst I did it and was OK - and it fairly freshened up the cabin - there was some concern that it might burn the heater motor out so on balance I'd say best avoided.
The black plastic retaining fittings are QUARTER TURN, if they haven't been damaged they will come out easily, but tend to pop out and disappear.
There is a small rubber drain pipe in front of the pollen filter with a double bend which must be fitted to the small drain pipe leading down from the windscreen bottom rubber. Also make sure the rubber drain below is not blocked, you can poke a finger down it.
When the drain pipe was left off I needed a new fan control unit, the car nearly caught fire.
There is a small rubber drain pipe in front of the pollen filter with a double bend which must be fitted to the small drain pipe leading down from the windscreen bottom rubber. Also make sure the rubber drain below is not blocked, you can poke a finger down it.
When the drain pipe was left off I needed a new fan control unit, the car nearly caught fire.
I still don't think they're quarter turn, cutters work best - get them between the screw head and washer then GENTLY squeeze, enough to grip it, not cut it. Then pull it up, and the whole thing will come off.
I'd agree that my previous idea of squirting germ killer was probably a bad one, as the way the fan is made it can fill with liquid. If you need germ killer then I've found the only way is to remove the fan and squirt it in further downwind from the fan.
4 years with one pollen filter is plain minging! Mine gets all sorts of stuff in it after a year.
You don't have to take the wipers off for the pollen filter - it's just under the removable flap on the passenger side.
Take care with the hinged clips that hold the filter itself in - they're very flimsy and will tear off if you try and make them go the wrong way.
I found the easiest way to check the rubber drain tube is to pull the bottom end up and blow into it (with your mouth). Then wipe away any bits that came out of the top, or they'll block it again.
I'd agree that my previous idea of squirting germ killer was probably a bad one, as the way the fan is made it can fill with liquid. If you need germ killer then I've found the only way is to remove the fan and squirt it in further downwind from the fan.
4 years with one pollen filter is plain minging! Mine gets all sorts of stuff in it after a year.
You don't have to take the wipers off for the pollen filter - it's just under the removable flap on the passenger side.
Take care with the hinged clips that hold the filter itself in - they're very flimsy and will tear off if you try and make them go the wrong way.
I found the easiest way to check the rubber drain tube is to pull the bottom end up and blow into it (with your mouth). Then wipe away any bits that came out of the top, or they'll block it again.
OP
OP
Thanks a lot everyone I really appreciate your comments! Going to take a look this weekend.
I can assure you if the correct fastners were fitted and not butchered they are quarter turn, are very easy to fit and remove.
I replaced mine and they have been off several times, and fit back in OK.
I got 10 for about £12.
Still quarter turn.
Yes they are quarter turn.
The reason they fail is that the 1/4 turn lift/eject of srew head totally relies on the spring tightness of the expanding rivet head to still close down tightly on the screw and provide enough grip and tension to a) keep the whole assembly from turning and b) enough inner track drive to allow the screw to "track out and lift".
Most of mine are now shot and will probably replace them with the more traditional "bottle brush" rivets.
The reason they fail is that the 1/4 turn lift/eject of srew head totally relies on the spring tightness of the expanding rivet head to still close down tightly on the screw and provide enough grip and tension to a) keep the whole assembly from turning and b) enough inner track drive to allow the screw to "track out and lift".
Most of mine are now shot and will probably replace them with the more traditional "bottle brush" rivets.
That all makes sense. Mine had clearly already seen too many neanderthals before I got it. Mine were all just hole-fillers - I don't think they actually held much.
I asked my friendly local Fiat dealer for a price for replacements once. They were over £1 - each! I got a pack of 10 standard trim clips from Euro Car Parts. They work pretty well - they just squeeze in with friction. Not a bottle brush, more like a springy diamond shape.
They're much better than an old worn out Fiat clip, but not as good as a new £1 each one, but I'd rather keep the tenner in my pocket.
I asked my friendly local Fiat dealer for a price for replacements once. They were over £1 - each! I got a pack of 10 standard trim clips from Euro Car Parts. They work pretty well - they just squeeze in with friction. Not a bottle brush, more like a springy diamond shape.
They're much better than an old worn out Fiat clip, but not as good as a new £1 each one, but I'd rather keep the tenner in my pocket.
OP
OP
So I phoned Perrys at Amersham, gave them hell and I'm taking it in this Thurs to get it replaced for free! Pays to have a moan! Credit to them though, they were very apologetic and bent over backwards to book me in this week!
i'd want more that a 7 quid filter if i'd been charged £80 for nothing. is it free filter plus money back?
Yep - thieving scum. It's not a job for a mechanic - it's just maintenance. If you can fill up the windscreen washer bottle then you've got enough skill to change a pollen filter!
I'd bet they keep you waiting an hour to justify their £80 too.
They've conned you.
I'd bet they keep you waiting an hour to justify their £80 too.
They've conned you.
tarquin1867
Member
Really Doofer how very dare you disparage the good name of our Fiat Dealers, tut tut you will be saying that they only want to sell new cars next!!!
To be fair, they did spend some time looking for an exhaust leak that wasn't there. £80 though? I suppose they do need to pay for the potted plants and shiny suits. I guess the free pollen filter is a reasonable compromise. If it turned out to be an exhaust leak that they missed then there'd be good grounds for complaint.
