I have just been told my Avensis (1.8) need a new pollen filter and quoted £65 by Toyota specialist. Does anyone know of an alternative supplier (this is one part I don't mind going non-Toyota for).
Also can they be cleaned or simply taken out - and to what effect?
Thanks
MB
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It's an air filter for the ventilation system which is fine enough to trap pollen grains and anything larger. Try Halfords or similar outlets.
Leaving it out would not be advisable, all the filth would collect in the ventilation ducts, from where you'll never be able to clean it out and where obnoxious organisms will feed on it. Defective edge seals or neglected, collapsed filters will do the same thing.
You could clean some of the filth off with a vacuum cleaner or blow it out with an air-line, but I can't recommend it. You'll inhale some of the stuff and the savings aren't justified by the labour involved.
Bag it, bin it and fit a new one.
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Did you ever have any problems in your last car that probably didn't have a pollen filter? If not, then bin it and run without.
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I've never owned a car with a pollen filter, and have just put up with dust and occasional dead leaves being blown through the ventilation ducts. No problem for those of us not suffering from asthma or hayfever.
So the question really is, "Does a pollen filter actually do anything else useful apart from trapping a bit of dust?"
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As well as being of benefit to those of us who suffer from hayfever keeping the dust & diesel grime out will keep the interior of the car cleaner over the long run. My car has no filter and the vents in the sunroof slide are very dirty around the edges - this dirt must have come in through the vent system before exiting through the sunroof, some getting trapped in the light fabric fibres.
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Exactly iant!, never had one for the first 40 years of my motoring so whats suddenly happened to make themm essential.
And remember that pollen sufferers such as my daughter are only affected for perhaps three months of the year at most.
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Hmmm... You can tell you don't suffer from it :)
Try spending three months of the year constantly sneezing with a runny nose, and feeling crap even on the sunniest and nicest of days. Then see if you would want to do without the pollen filter in your car. For me it's practically a safety feature, stops me sneezing at 70mph and killing people... As well as helping to keep the car clean...
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I have a pollen filter on my Skoda Fabia TDI Comfort, with aircon. If you don't change the filter reasonably regularly you will find the cold airflow from the aircon will diminish substantially. (I expect the same is true of hot air flow, but I dont use that much in Southern Spain!) I complained of poor aircon. performance at my local Skoda dealer & a new filter cured it instantly! BTW it cost only around 18 Euros +vat and 1/4 hrs labour @ £18 per hour equivalent
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Most cars use pollen filters which are available from most car shops. My 2K Vectra and 94 Astra both have a pollen filter and they cost about £10 and are a doddle to fit. They look a bit like a car's 'panel' air filter element, but is not as deep. £65 for a new pollen filter?! Go to your local H***ords and look to see if your car is featured in the vehical parts lists by the aisles.
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The '98 on Astra is very different. Halfords don't do a pollen filter, the OEM one is £12, but fitting it is a b*****d. After taking the glovebox and CD autochanger out, the nut is easy but the plastic clips are still difficult to reach. My local franchised dealer who does my servicing simply omits the pollen filter from every service schedule.
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Re: Astra Pollen Filter.
Amazing how Vauxhall can make one job impossible one one car, but on another from the same stable a simple job to change the pollen filter. On my Vectra, you just pop the bonnet and lift a flap at the top of the bulkhead to change it.
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"...never had one for the first 40 years of my motoring so whats suddenly happened to make them essential."
Well, air conditioning for one. This has introduced moist air in the ventilation ducts and cooling heat exchanger coils with closely spaced fins, due to the fairly small temperature differential between the coolant and the air, compared to the heater. Leave the filter out and the coil makes a fairly effective filter. How would you then clean the cooling coil?
Cars that last for more than 7 years for another. 5+ years worth of filth in the ventilation ducts would need a pressure washer to shift it.
Ventilation systems, even with no A/C have got better in 40 years. The filter is there for a reason. The 'pollen' prefix is mainly a marketing ply, but the filter is needed. Leaving it out would be the mother of all false economies.
Malteser's problems were due to a clogged filter restricting the air flow.
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Another minor benefit is that the interior side of the windscreen stays clean - I only have to clean mine about twice a year as opposed to once a fortnight on the old car
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You can find an alternative at this site:
www.puravent.co.uk/filters/display_static_page.pl?...m
They are £20 each. I also need one and if you know of a cheaper supplier please let me know.
Regards,
MEZ
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