Why Do Exactly Pollen Filters Cause Water Ingress?

[carterc_ae]

Pretty much as the title says. I've read lots of excellent descriptions about how to change and refit the pollen filter, but why EXACTLY do you get water ingress after having one changed? :rolleyes:

 

If I follow the steps in one of the guides on here, how do I myself avoid fitting it incorrectly? Is there a tight seal to be made somewhere; do garages not seat the filter housing fully home; what should I be acutely aware of checking when putting it back? ;)

 

Also, now my scuttle panel at the bottom of the windscreen has been disturbed, would it benefit form a line of silicone sealant across its top edge, as it seems to now sit a few mm off the surface of the windscreen?

 

 

Any answers please?

[Andrew T]

You're looking at the effect rather than the cause - blocked scuttle drains allow a pool of water to build up on the scuttle, which tries to escape any way it can. If the filter is incorrectly fitted it will pour in, if properly fitted it will still get in, just not as fast .

 

If you pour some water on the bottom of each corner of the windscreen it should pour out from behind the front wheels within a second or two, if it only trickles out or nothing comes out you have a problem and you need to unblock the scuttle drains. Do a search it's been covered many times.

[carterc_ae]

Thanks Andrew T.

 

I've read the procedures for unblocking the scuttle drains, but I honestly thought that the pollen filter was a seperate area of weakness (with regards to water ingress).

 

So if I clear the scuttle drains first, the pollen filter can remain in situ whilst I wait for an improvement?

[Andrew T]

Yes, there may be nothing wrong with your Pollen Filter. Bear mine that a damp passenger footwell / under seat area can also come from a split rear washer pipe or very occasionally a poorly sealed windscreen.

[Guest Sam]

Pretty much as the title says. I've read lots of excellent descriptions about how to change and refit the pollen filter, but why EXACTLY do you get water ingress after having one changed? :rolleyes:

 

If I follow the steps in one of the guides on here, how do I myself avoid fitting it incorrectly? Is there a tight seal to be made somewhere; do garages not seat the filter housing fully home; what should I be acutely aware of checking when putting it back? :blink:

 

Also, now my scuttle panel at the bottom of the windscreen has been disturbed, would it benefit form a line of silicone sealant across its top edge, as it seems to now sit a few mm off the surface of the windscreen?

 

 

Any answers please?

 

 

 

Dont know if this will help but i work in a garage and ford sent out technical for focus about pollen filter seal maybe worth looking into

[Masked Marauder]

The pollen filter carrier was modified to stop water from the scuttle splashing onto it and then causing the screen to mist up.

 

The modification involved masticing a plastic shield onto the front of the filter carrier.

[El Dingo]

The cabin filter cover IS a weakness on some VAG vehicles. On recent Golf/Leon/A3 a badly fitted scuttle trim will let water in even if the filter is properly fitted - the bit that fits around the filter mounting is flimsy and easily wrongly fitted.

[Vanbursta]

I have just bought the kit to stop water getting in (cost under

[keith9534]

Hi

 

I wouldn`t mind seeing a photo please?

 

I am looking for some information on th drain hole location, before I remove the scuttle panel, etc

 

Thanks

 

keith9534@ntlworld.com

[Vanbursta]

Heres a Photo of the revised pollen filter on the passenger side - note the extra plastic added to where the pollen filter touches the drain channel on the plastic engine cover.

 

 

And this is a pollen filter that HASN'T had the modified cover:-

 

 

And here is the new foam filter for the Driver side:-

 

 

 

And here is the complete fitting procedure including the modification that must be made to the Carbon canister:-

 

Pollen_Filter_renewal_to_stop_water_ingress.pdf

[keith9534]

Thanks for those......could I suggest that on a right hand drive car they may be the other way round?

[Vanbursta]

Yes on RHD they would be the other way round, the attached PDF shows exactly this so of course you need to mirro it for LHD

[keith9534]

Cheers

 

I have just re-covered the holes in the top of the inner wing with some thin aluminium sheet and high grade silicone to stop any water breaking through here

 

I also made a small "deflector" to stop any water flowing straight onto the pollen filter

 

Will get a picture soon

[Vanbursta]

Top man, I can't beleive that they would leave 2 holes open like that - especially if they lead into the car!!

[keith9534]

Top man, I can't beleive that they would leave 2 holes open like that - especially if they lead into the car!!

 

I`m not sure they do......I just thought they should be blocked off in case