Technical Changing the pollen filter - my ‘easy’ way!

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Technical Changing the pollen filter - my ‘easy’ way!

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I thought I’d give this a go, since it seems to be a challenge :)
I didn’t need to hold the clutch pedal down or unbolt anything in the steering - just needed a couple of less common tools.
After removing the side trim/footrest, I used a 5.5mm miniature open ended spanner to remove the bottom screw to the filter cover, and a miniature socket ratchet with 5.5mm socket for the other (quicker than lots of part turns with the spanner). To remove the filter I just squashed the top down and fed it out behind the clutch pedal. To get the new filter in I squeezed it in the centre which forms a ‘fan’ shape (see photos), and posted the top and bottom bits into the housing - it 'held' itself in the squashed shape. (check the airflow arrow!). Once most of it was in, it sprung back to being square and just slid in the rest of the way. Replaced the screws and put the panel back. Total time less than 10 minutes (excluding removing and replacing the footrest panel).

The mini spanners came from an electronics workshop years ago.. https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/spanner-sets/1848033/ and the 1/4 drive socket set (made by Stanley) was from Lidl I think! Its too small for anything 'serious', but ideal in this situation.

The new filter, a genuine Fiat one from Shop4Parts was pure white. The one that came out was dirty, but also looked like it may have had an activated charcoal in it too - uniformly grey, and not from dirt.
 

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Thanks.. good info :)


I will ask..
All 2012 pandas have a filter?

Only if air con fitted. Because the air con chiller 'radiator' inside the heater box gets condensation on it (because its cold), a filter is fitted to stop pollen and other spores getting onto that damp surface as they then go mouldy and smell. No need if there not a chiller plate in there. (Thats' why cars with air con 'dribble' water out underneath when parked - because the condensate drains off that chiller plate and through a drain under the car. In the photo of the filter folded like a paper fan, just above my finger and to the left of the clutch pedal theres a black tube which is that drain - it goes through the floor just beyond my middle finger.)
 
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Finally got around to this job, after about 7 1/2 years and 36500 miles ! I've even had the new filter awaiting fitment for a few years.
I thought I was well prepared with a 5.5mm socket and a 5.5mm nutdriver, but I couldn't even fit the socket between the steering column and the screwhead.
After a bit of a search I bought a set of miniature spanners from MachineMart (with 5.5mm open- and ring- spanners) and the job was then quite straightforward.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/10-piece-micro-combination-spanner-set-4-11mm/
For the record, the original filter was a Denso part and my replacement was Magneti Marelli.
IMG_0823.JPG
 
Finally got around to this job, after about 7 1/2 years and 36500 miles ! I've even had the new filter awaiting fitment for a few years.
I thought I was well prepared with a 5.5mm socket and a 5.5mm nutdriver, but I couldn't even fit the socket between the steering column and the screwhead.
After a bit of a search I bought a set of miniature spanners from MachineMart (with 5.5mm open- and ring- spanners) and the job was then quite straightforward.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/10-piece-micro-combination-spanner-set-4-11mm/
For the record, the original filter was a Denso part and my replacement was Magneti Marelli.
View attachment 214316
see my original post at top, where I said ‘use a miniature spanner, which photo 1 shows :).
 
Did mine a while back.
I just undid the UJ on the column and slid it up and out of the way. After this it was easy. No squishing the filter and easy access to the screws to remove the cover. Just need to use correct torque when doing up. I also used a drop of thread locker on the nut. I would always do it this way now as it is just a 5 minute job this way.

I would love to know how the dealers recommend to do this job as disconnecting the steering to change a filter seems daft to me.
 
Last edited:
Finally got around to this job, after about 7 1/2 years and 36500 miles ! I've even had the new filter awaiting fitment for a few years.
I thought I was well prepared with a 5.5mm socket and a 5.5mm nutdriver, but I couldn't even fit the socket between the steering column and the screwhead.
After a bit of a search I bought a set of miniature spanners from MachineMart (with 5.5mm open- and ring- spanners) and the job was then quite straightforward.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/10-piece-micro-combination-spanner-set-4-11mm/
For the record, the original filter was a Denso part and my replacement was Magneti Marelli.
View attachment 214316

Wow, I bet that smells a bit fresher... that was well over due!
 
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