Cabin AirFilter - 02 S60AWD

I finally got around to replacing the cabin air filter. You need to
have done this at least once, so the next time will be *much* easier!
This is a job on the official maintenance schedule for 15K miles.

The OEM unit is part number 9171756, the replacement unit is 9204626 on
the box and (I realize belatedly) something different on the actual
filter (seems to me it was a 6-digit number, beginning 15xxxx).

The "story" here is that the unit from the factory was more than 50%
thicker in section and of *much* heavier material - looks like it might
be charcoal impregnated in aid of odor control. The "official" Volvo
replacement is rather flimsy, by comparison.

Has anyone else replaced the unit and noted this difference? Comments?

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

The 9171756 should be replaced with same #, and should be
available from dealer.
9204626 is *not* a direct replacement, it has its own
applications.
9171756 is part of a feature called IAQS, Interior Air Quality
System, which is not in every car model (IIRC only Touring
package)

--reed

 

Where does this filter go? Under the dash or do you get it from inside
the engine compartment? What did it cost?

Fweem on.

 

The lesser filter cost about $25 at my friendly local Dealer.

One of the DIY Volvo sites has instructions for changing this filter on
the S80, but the dash arrangement on the S60 is identical and the filter
*is* on the inside of the car, behind and below the glove box.

I'll be back to the Dealer tomorrow to order one of the heavier
filters. An interesting point is that the filter housing has two slots,
one for each type, so I'll likely leave the light weight unit in place,
which I would expect to prolong the life of the heavier (and I'm sure
much more expensive) filter. I'm not concerned about air flow as the
lighter unit is *much* lighter, and should present no resistance to air
unless/until really dirty.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

Bob do not leave the smaller pollen filter in place
once you install the particulate filter this will
decrease the efficiency of the ac system

 

Back to the Dealer today and got the "right" filter. It seems that this
is the unit that belongs in the air system that can sniff the air and
cut off the flow of nasty stuff when/where appropriate. It costs about
$10 more for a *much* better filter, so I don't know why they bother
with the lesser one. I realize that the sniffer system is not standard
in all models, but I'll be that there are very few U.S. deliveries that
don't include that item. Of course, there are always the folks who buy
a decent car and then *then* start counting their pennies.

Glenn Klein suggests that leaving the light weight unit in place will
decrease the efficiency of the a/c. I'm not sure that I agree, with the
lighter unit being so *very* light, but with a/c, one never knows what
it will take to degrade performance. It's enough of a hassle to replace
the unit, though, that I reckon I'll want to make a decision before I
have it open again.

My friendly salesman knows that I'm not seriously in the market for
another car, so he didn't call me in to see the one S60R that they have
been able to get and deliver. He opined that the manual box is the only
way to go, as the initial acceleration is just to sticky with the
Geartronic. Apparently their Volvo rep suggested that with the new and
much higher torque coming in at only 1,950rpm, the auto box is just not
quite up to the job. Maybe.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA