Cabin (pollen) filter for RHD Yeti - it's backwards!

[Crow-eater]

 

The direction of the airflow through a cabin filter medium is obviously a design issue, as the direction is marked on the base of the filter.

 

I purchased an aftermarket cabin filter (in Australia: Repco part number RCF549A, $30) to replace the OEM filter ($270 supplied and fitted by dealer) in a 2014 Skoda Yeti Outdoor (4x4, 103kW 2.0 L diesel, automatic DSG). The Repco filter matches the Skoda OEM filter, too well if the markings on both the OEM and the Repco filters showing the airflow direction; if my logic below is correct.

 

Skodas were designed as LHD vehicles, and the Yeti's cabin filter was designed to fit under the dashboard in the front passenger's footwell, with the air flowing from the cabin/rear towards the firewall/front. The filter is asymmetric, with a 'cut corner' which is probably to account for a ventilator pipe outboard of the filter housing, so the cut-corner faces the passenger door (to the right in a LHD vehicle). This means the feed (dirty) side of the filter medium faces the cabin, and the filtrate (clean) side faces the front of the vehicle.

 

In producing the Yeti in a RHD configuration, as sold in Australia and the UK, Skoda necessarily mirrored the dashboard layout. So the cabin filter fits in the LHS of the dashboard with the cut-corner now facing the LHS to clear the outboard ventilator pipe (to the left of the filter housing in a RHD vehicle). However,  I suspect that Skoda failed to recognise that this reverses the asymmetric filter relative to the airflow (still flowing from the cabin/rear to the firewall/front), and so failed to specify a specific cabin filter for RHD vehicles in which the filter medium is reversed to match the airflow in the heating and cooling system when the filter is fitted.

 

So in my RHD Yeti, the used filter had all the debris caught on what should have been the filtrate (clean) side of the filter medium. Duh!

 

 

[Breezy_Pete]

Airflow is surely the other way, through firewall, into cabin. Otherwise you'd be filtering the air on its way out, which wouldn't be very useful.

[Kenny R]

There are different pollen filters for LHD and RHD Yetis. If your airflow arrow is facing the wrong way you have the wrong filter, but I agree with @Wino it looks like your looking at it the wrong way.

[Crow-eater]

Thanks Wino and Kenny R, it makes sense that the air should flow from the firewall, rearwards towards the cabin. It also more probable that I am the idiot and not the RHD conversion design team at Skoda!

However, note the cut-corner on my second photo (the close up of the debris) for orientation. The filter was turned upside down for this shot, as all the debris was caught on the cabin side ('wrong' side according to the arrow). I took this as an indication that Skoda plumbs the airflow towards the firewall up to the demisting outlets, and so the arrow is wrong. None of the 'plumbing' can really be seen from under the dashboard, so the airflow can't readily be traced.

 

If there are handed filters, I wonder why the filters aren't labelled as RHD or LHD to avoid possible confusion in this global market? Obviously then, the Australian market has been supplied with the wrong ones on at least two occasions! (I reckon I'm safe to suggest there are no LHD Yeties in Australia, as the Yeti is pretty rare here on our distant island in its RHD configuration.)

 

As the filter is assymetric (due to the cut-off corner) and only fits one way, and there is only one filter type (unlabelled) sold here; I'll just carry on as is.

 

Thanks for your time and I appreciate your input.

[Breezy_Pete]

The ETKA diagrams covering RHD and LHD systems are the same, and both show the LHD orientation, though obviously the part number differ where asymmetries exist.

 

The airflow path is a bit counterintuitive, I think, sketched in in scruffy red arrows here:

 

 

So it does appear to go forwards through the filter towards the engine bay, but only as a 'wiggle' in the bigger picture!

 

The marked up '2' of the part number would be a 1 for the LHD part. That's a common way that asymmetric parts are differentiated.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by Wino

[langers2k]

The filters are used in many vehicles so although it fits a LHD Yeti, it may also be used in RHD variants of other vehicles and therefore available.

 

LHD Yeti: https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/jzw819653b-cabin-odour-filter-bosch-21702.html

RHD Yeti: https://www.skoda-parts.com/spare-part/1k2819653b-cabin-odour-filter-skoda-36005.html

 

RHD part with the arrows pointing up: https://www.theskodashop.co.uk/products/skoda-pollen-filter-1k2819653b

[Crow-eater]

Excellent explanation Wino. So my debris evidence was right, the airflow is a bit convoluted.

 

Given Langers2k's proof of sided Skoda parts, both filters used in my vehicle must have been LHD ones. Neither had a part number or other indication of handedness on the actual filter, just an airflow arrow. The aftermarket one I bought had a Repco part number on its packaging, so I've written to Repco to point out their compatibility database is wrong for that part number, for RHD Yeties in this country. Naturally, I didn't see the packaging for the OEM filter installed by the dealer, which I replaced.

 

Thanks both of you for definitive answers to an unclear issue.

[Breezy_Pete]

I'd suggest buying genuine ones from a dealership, unless they are silly money. Then you should get the right part with the airflow arrow correct.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by Wino

[J.R.]

51 minutes ago, Crow-eater said:

so I've written to Repco to point out their compatibility database is wrong for that part number, for RHD Yeties in this country. Naturally, I didn't see the packaging for the OEM filter installed by the dealer, which I replaced.

 

I doubt that they will give a Four X as the Fosters adverts would have use believe you Aussies say!

 

One part number for a filter that will (physically) all vehicles regardless of the steering wheel position is to be desired, the cost of tooling, manufacture and inventory for 2 different yet practically identical filters would be significant, reduce their margins and increase the sales price driving customers to suppliers who would have taken the wise choice had Repco not done so.

 

They could of course have printed a double ended airflow arrow but that would have resulted in even more messages to them.

 

I doubt that either VAG, Skoda or Repco will be unaware of what you think is their mistake, it will have been a sound commercial decision.

 

But hey it could be the next opportunity for the Ambulance chasing lawyers on behalf of  people with breathing difficulties, on behalf of = to line their own pockets.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by J.R.

[KiNeL]

I just happens that I'm replacing the filter in my car and it appears there are versions for LHD and RHD

 

MANN CUK 2939 for LHD and CUK 2939/1 for RHD.

 

BTW the price here in Spain (Amazon) is €10.43 or AUD 17 !

 

I can't believe the dealer price is $270!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited 23 August, 2021 by KiNeL

[Breezy_Pete]

A bit over £20 for genuine here in UK, I think?

 

Cheaper ones on ebay.co.uk.

 

 

16 minutes ago, KiNeL said:

I can't believe the dealer price is $270!!!!!!!!!!!

Where have you seen that price?

[KiNeL]

The OP.

 

7 hours ago, Crow-eater said:

I purchased an aftermarket cabin filter (in Australia: Repco part number RCF549A, $30) to replace the OEM filter ($270 supplied and fitted by dealer) in a 2014 Skoda Yeti

 

[Breezy_Pete]

Oh, OK, that's some fitting charge! 

[KiNeL]

Having removed my filter I'm finding the same as the OP, all the debris is on the cabin side so despite Wino's annotated diagram, and the perceived logic, I have to deduce that cabin to outside IS the correct direction of flow, how else would debris collect on the cabin side otherwise?

 

It's a genuine VAG 1K1 189 653 B dated 15:09:15 although I cannot discern a direction of flow arrow.

[Breezy_Pete]

Is your car LHD or RHD @KiNeL?

 

Front of car in that diagram is in the top right corner, rear in bottom left.

 

 

[KiNeL]

LHD, I'm in Spain.

 

Clue in the part no. also 1K1 

 

1st. photo is cabin side.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by KiNeL

[Breezy_Pete]

So the side facing the rear of the car is the side that the fan blows air into, just as my diagram shows?

[KiNeL]

Your arrows appear to show air flow from from the engine side through the filter into the cabin.

 

Unless I'm reading it back to front but the orientation of the filter suggest not.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by KiNeL

[Breezy_Pete]

7 minutes ago, KiNeL said:

Your arrows appear to show air flow from from the engine side through the filter into the cabin.

Which is what happens. The flow originates engine side, then turns downwards through the fan, horizontally to the filter, FORWARDS through the filter, then horizontally across to the evaporator housing, and eventually out of the vents.

I'll do you a more heavily annotated version tomorrow.

Edited 23 August, 2021 by Wino

[KiNeL]

For info I'm looking at a different diagram to you directly applicable to my 2011 car.

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/yeti/yet/2011-666/8/819-819020/

 

In that where exactly does the filter fit?

Edited 23 August, 2021 by KiNeL

[Breezy_Pete]

Straight up the page from where it's drawn. In that bit with vertical ribs, and the shape of the filter shown at a slight angle.

[langers2k]

I think it's like this:

 

Air is either drawn from the cabin (left blue arrow) or the outside (right blue arrow).

 

It'll then follow the green arrows, down to the fan, through the filter (front to back) and finally through the heater matrix/AC evaporator and into the cabin

 

Edit:

Just for clarity, when I say front to back, that's based on the image above. When in the car, it'll push air from the rear of the car towards the front. As you drop the filter down, the collected crud will be on the side facing the rear of the car 

Edited 23 August, 2021 by langers2k

[Breezy_Pete]

Thanks! 

[KiNeL]

New filter fitted and airflow understood.

 

Sorry for the delayed update.

 

Thanks all