95' 850 Turbo 210K+ miles Cabin Filter, is there one needed?

[Linanas]

Hi,

There may have been posts about the cabin filter for the 1995 850 volvos' but I just unscrewed my 25 torx and fliped up the flap as suggested on the manual that came with the cabin filter I bought and didn't find one. All I found was this odd shaped retainer with part #6802305.

It's not rectangular like this cabin filter I bought from eBay hoping to be able to replace it, since my car smells like mold and nasty air:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volvo-85 ... QQtcZphoto

Does this year and model even need a cabin filter? In some forums they say the part # is not carried in the U.S. anymore.

I will post photos when I get them off my camera and show you what I mean.

Can someone please let me know?

Thank you!

[Ozark Lee]

The cabin air filters were not standard on the earlier models which is why there are so many evaporator core failures. The evap gets clogged with tree stuff like pollen and seeds and then the aluminum rots from being damp from all of the condensation.

In order to add the filter you must also buy the filter retainer - as I recall they run around $15.00 a pop. The filter retainer replaces the intake that you have now and then, of course, you need to have a filter.

...Lee

[Linanas]

Okay...that explains it...so all I'm missing is the retainer then.

I hope nothing else is messed up from not having a cabin filter for a prolonged period of time. I bought my car used from the orginal owner and this is the first time I've ever had the chance to manage to replace the cabin filter. No wonder my heating system is messed up because there never was a cabin filter in there to begin with.

I guess I'll have to buy the retainer before I can do anything else.

I'll keep posted with my progress.

Thanks!

[Linanas]

The cabin air filters were not standard on the earlier models which is why there are so many evaporator core failures. The evap gets clogged with tree stuff like pollen and seeds and then the aluminum rots from being damp from all of the condensation.

In order to add the filter you must also buy the filter retainer - as I recall they run around $15.00 a pop. The filter retainer replaces the intake that you have now and then, of course, you need to have a filter.

...Lee

I forgot to ask, but do you think I could still be possible an reasonable to just pop in the filter anyways with out the retainer?

[Ozark Lee]

The filter won't work without the retainer - the shape is totally different.

By description but not by picture this looks like it has everything you need.

Cabin Filter

FCP sells the adapter as well.

...Lee

[Linanas]

The filter won't work without the retainer - the shape is totally different.

By description but not by picture this looks like it has everything you need.

Cabin Filter

FCP sells the adapter as well.

...Lee

Hmm.. how come I didn't find that earlier. I would have just bought that from them. Well I guess I'll have to ask if I can pay the difference.

[mbsl98]

I have come to believe that the cabin filter has very little do do with the demise of the AC evaporator. We just bought a very well cared for '98 V70M, which had a filter as standard equipment. It had its evaporator replaced at 29k miles, under warranty, in 2001. The system is currently leaking (at 101k), and the PO had it diagnosed as a leaking evap. This car has had an extraordinary number of filters installed. The shop PO used seemed to replace the cabin filter just about every time they saw the car, and at least once a year (at about $50/per with labor). When you look at the evap failures discussed on these boards, it doesn't seem to me that there is any substantial reduction in early 70's vs late 850's (to get ages close). In any case, at the miles of the OP's car here, adding a filter now doesn't do much. He really needs to clean out the air box in any case to get teh smell out. Lack of a filter won't have anything to do with the overall operation of the heater either.