Clio smell/ pollen filter

Unread post by **rogerc5** » 25 Jun 2010, 12:12

Hello folks,
My daughter has a strange smell in the cabin of her recently acquired 09 plate Clio diesel.
We have scrubbed everything and everywhere and I am now looking for the location of the pollen filter to change it. Anyone know where to look please?

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 25 Jun 2010, 19:52

What type of semll is it?

Chemically?
Musty?
Damp?

It could be anything, most likely is that someone has spilt somehting in the car, if its milk it really smells awful. It could be screenwash which has gone off, the heater matrix leaking, a leak from the outside somwhere.

Does the smell come and go? Is it there after using the air con?

I wouldnt think it would be the pollen filter.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 25 Jun 2010, 21:53

Chris - pollen filters can get damp, mainly from condensate after the car has stopped. It can be minimised by turning the aircon off a few minutes before the end of a journey and allowing the aircon system to disperse ice and moisture.

The damp pollen filter is a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial infestations that can produce very unpleasant smells and bad reactions from people with allergies and respiratory tract problems.

There is a chemical solution - a fumigator, that supposedly is quite effective but a simpler and cheaper way is to spray the condenser matrix with Dettol antibacterial spray - the pollen filter has to come out for access of course and should also be treated at the same time and dried completely before reinstalling.

If the filter is clogged then it is the ideal opportunity to replace it.

As for the location in the Renault, couldn't say but most Citroen an Puegeot ones are in the passenger footwell just below the bulkhead and behind the centre console.
It helps to be a double jointed gymnast to get them out.

Unread post by **rogerc5** » 27 Jun 2010, 10:06

Blow me down if there isn't a diagram in the Fram filter box!!
It's under the dash and clips out wothout acrobatics or a struggle.
Also looked at the air filter which is equally easy to click out- is it really French?
Didn't cure the smell though so back to scrubbing.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 27 Jun 2010, 10:11

You may need to spray some bacteriostatic solution into the matrix behind the pollen filter, nasty stuff can grow there as it is almost always moist.

Dry it out by turning off the aircon but run the ventilation on high power for a while.

Could also be a clogged ventilation system drain. It gets blocked by bits of leaves and rubbish over time.

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Clio smell/ pollen filter

Clio smell/ pollen filter

Clio pollen filter