wiper linkage removal to access pollen filter

[marinabrid]

Am going to check the pollen filter on the mk2    just looked at Mirez page on how to do the job,   you mention its just as easy to remove the 3 bolts and remove the linkage,  is it necessary to remove the linkage altogether to access the filter or can you just remove or slacken the bolts so as to wiggle the linkage around without removing it.

[Mirez]

Err you could I suppose but since you'll already have the bulkhead extension, scuttle and wipers off - it will just slide out once the three bolts are undone so I can't see any advantage of leaving it in situ myself, plus its a good opportunity to lubricate it up.

[marinabrid]

ok  i was just reading about the wiring loom plug or something that is clipped on and is a tough thing to unclip, didn't know if the linkage would just move out of the way with the wiring still connected,    1st time I've tried this job, once again the mk2 i have is throwing up all the common problems on here  , the old mk1 never had any of them !

[Mirez]

Yeah funny that isn't it - my old Mk1 was immune to everything as well and both my Mk2's have had issues!

Still, to answer the question it can be a bit of a sod to remove so if you can't do it then yes - you should still be able to gain a fair bit of room to help the situation

[SilverBeast]

I have always removed the mechanism as it makes it a lot easier.  As the car is new to you I would take it out anyway and check it is operating freely as Mirez reeccomends. (Definitely always worth listening to Mirez!)

When mine started to seize up it was unbelievably tight and it was only missing 4" of sweep on one side and must have been puttling a lot of stress on the motor and mechanics.  Definitely worthwhile preventative maintenance.

The wiring can be a pain to unplug.  The clip to hold the harness to the mechanism is circled in the first photo below.
[attach=1]

And detached below
[attach=2]

It may be easier on the V6 if it doesn't have the booster heater.  The Gold cylinder in the photos is the temperature sensor that determines whether the temperature is low enough for the booster heater to operate.

[Etihad84]

I suspect my pollen filter hasn't been changed in years would this cause my problem in the cabin where when I put my blower motor onto number 4 there isn't much air coming out of the vents? The blower works on all 4 settings ok.

[insanitybeard]

An old/clogged/blocked/soggy pollen filter will certainly reduce airflow into the vehicle, I noticed a definite change in blower performance when I changed mine, not that I'd call it outstanding even with it changed but then it is a big cabin space.

[marinabrid]

wonder if anyone came across same thing i did when changing the filter, i took the old one out  a MANN brand, this has arrows pointing with air flow  this way,   the one i got was a quinton hazel brand,  this very confusingly has one arrow pointing  it doesn't say  air flow this way or anything, you would think the arrow means  air flow but no    it means fit it this way into the housing. also no instruction sheet as with the Mann brand, i was convinced the arrow meant to point inwards but on the qh filter there is a large strip of plastic on either end of the filter that stops it sitting in the housing unless you turn it so the arrow points towards the housing. odd.  i thought.

[insanitybeard]

When you say the arrow points towards the housing, do you mean inwards, towards the vehicle, or towards the removable plastic filter housing frame that slides into the fixed housing on the body (away from the vehicle)?

[marinabrid]

the arrow points in one way only,  but doesn't say   air flow this way,  you have to fit it so that when its in the housing the arrow is pointing in towards the engine bay rather than towards the housing it fits in,  if you try and fit it the other way it just won't fit and buckles up in the middle because of these plastic tabs, so you have to fit it with the arrow towards the housing that you remove to fit it in, it don't make sense to me   you would think the arrow is  airflow direction but not in the case of QH brand filter

[insanitybeard]

That does seem rather arse about face, especially as it defies convention by not relating to the airflow direction!
Still, if it will only fit properly with the arrow pointing the opposite way to how you would expect then you've no other option. It would be helpful if they could give some kind of instruction though which would avoid any confusion! 

[marinabrid]

yes  thats what i thought   i wondered if anyone else had the same problem with different brands,  normally i buy Mann or genuine  but this was all the local shop could get. I sure aint removing it now after the time and effort i took changing it, seems to work anyway,  why though do they have a correct way to fit ? i blew through it and the same air seemed to come out from whatever side i blew through

[insanitybeard]

The only reason I can think of is because as you just said, the filter only fits properly one way round, or the fabric of the filter is slightly different on one side to the other and the exterior facing surface is better at catching dust/crud, 'odour' filters as they call them also have carbon to supposedly reduce nasty odours from outside entering the cabin, perhaps that makes a difference.