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Is this literally just a pollen filter? Long story short, my old car seems to collect autumn leaves around the PF housing, which when it rains become a big wet muddy sludge which causes all kinds of electrical issues, from resetting the milometer to completely conking out and refusing to start on a torrential bank holiday.
After I worked out what was happening I removed the PF and it's housing, cleared all the sludge and left it to dry out. I've been driving around without it for a while now, but should I put it back? Not bothered about pollen, I drive around with the window open usually anyway. But am I going to gas myself on engine fumes or something? Or risk leaves getting into the engine? The car seems to suck them in from the top of the bonnet.
I thought the pollen filter is just a filter for your internal blowers? Take the filter out and risk getting leaves blown in yer face. Maybe
I literally had this conversation with my partner last week, only regarding something in the kitchen.
"Is there a reason you keep removing this filter?" I asked.
"Yes, it keeps getting full of crap."
"Uh... that's what filters are for..."
If your pollen filter is getting full of sludge, and you remove the filter, where do you suppose that sludge is going to go instead?
It's Just to filter the cabin air - could you put a bit of mesh/screen underneath the intake, a sort of pre-filter filter? hahah.
Just sounds like bad design really.
Ah right yeah. Thought so. No, it's not the filter that is getting blocked Cougar, but the kind of area around its housing where all the wires live. Ok thanks, I can live with leaves in my face. But having to get towed home again by the AA... nope. Although he did give me an attaboy on my towing-steering skillz so...
Bet he says that to everyone.
It's pollen and whatever else is being blown in. Some cars have activated charcoal to remove smells. But yeah it may be that something else is happening to allow it to get full of crud. Check that the scuttle drain cover is in place, clear leaves out from there. And don't park under trees in autumn.
What car?
Sounds like the drain holes are getting blocked, which is quite common on various vehicles where they often get parked under trees.
A periodic removal of leaves, and flush through of drains with a hose is a better option.
It also raises the question as to what exactly is getting wet. The electrical system in that area should be sealed, so even if the entire area is submerged, it shouldn't cause problems.
I personally wouldn't remove a pollen filter, as it then means any debris that does get blown in, will end up lodged in your AC evaporator and/or heater matrix, where they can cause expensive problems.
My Saab has a large flexible drain in the scuttle area that blocks with leaves and sludge. The service schedule mentions changing the filter and cleaning out the drain.
it’s not the filter that is getting blocked Cougar, but the kind of area around its housing where all the wires live.
Right. Point stands though, it's there for a reason. If it's getting crapped up as you say them either it's bad design as Matty said or there's Something Else wrong which needs fixing. This feels like the wrong fix to me.
When I bought my car it had what must have been years worth of dead leaves and tiny crab apple(?) things in there.
It's a regular job between services to take it off and clear it out or the car starts to smell musty. Bad design, but no electrics nearby and it's easy to get to so could be worse.