Pollen / cabin filter replacement

What is the pollen filter?

The pollen filter — also called cabin filter or cabin air filter — is a filter that sits between the outside air intake and the cabin, usually behind the glove compartment or under the hood. It captures particles in the air drawn into the AC system: pollen, dust, exhaust soot, mould spores, animal hair and bacteria. Many modern filters also have a layer of activated carbon that binds odours and light gases from your driving environment — particularly useful if you often drive in heavy city traffic.

Why does it matter?

The pollen filter affects three things you feel every time you drive: AC performance, air quality and odours. When the filter clogs with accumulated dirt, the blower has to work harder to push air through — and the same airflow gives lower cooling because warm air isn't pulled away from the evaporator quickly enough. A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons people think their AC needs new gas — it's often just a 10-minute swap.

Equally important: a clogged filter becomes a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria. When condensation on the evaporator meets accumulations of organic dirt on an old filter, you get the characteristic "the car smells musty when I turn on the AC" odour. That smell can make passengers nauseous and is strongly allergenic for people with pollen or mould allergies.

When should the pollen filter be replaced?

The rule of thumb is every 15,000–20,000 km or at least once a year — whichever comes first. If you drive a lot in city traffic, park under trees that shed pollen, or have animal hair in the car, replace it more often. We routinely check the filter during AC service and periodic service at no extra cost — if it's black, damp or smells bad we recommend replacing it on the spot, and the price is moderate because the job is simple.

How we replace the filter

Time estimate is 10–20 minutes depending on the model. On most cars the filter sits behind the glove compartment — we lower the compartment, open the filter housing, remove the old filter and insert the new one in the correct orientation (there's an airflow arrow on the filter). On some cars the filter sits under the hood by the windscreen, often under a plastic cover that must come off. We vacuum the filter housing before fitting the new filter, so old debris doesn't get blown into the cabin.

Filter types and price

There are three levels of cabin filter, and the price reflects quality:

• Standard particulate filter — captures pollen, dust and particles down to around 5 micrometres
• Activated carbon filter — in addition to particles, binds odours and light gases from traffic
• HEPA / allergen filter — captures particles down to 0.3 micrometres, recommended for allergy sufferers

Price including filter and installation is typically 600–1,400 NOK depending on filter type and how easy the housing is to access on your car. We stock filters from Mann, Mahle, Bosch and OE manufacturers for most car brands.

Book your AC service online or call us on 41 17 32 24.