Pollen filter from hell

Hi All,
Apologies in advance for the apparent remedial thread. It should be so easy but I can’t get my pollen filter out for replacement. My 6mm socket of my 1/4” ratchet won’t even go into the recess to engage with the bolt head.
Am I missing something? Are they some obscure flavour of bolt. Thought they were female Torx, nope. Are there super thin walled sockets to be had somewhere? The filter has a LR badge on it so I’m hoping it hasn’t been there since 2006, 147k miles ago….!
I’d love to know what the secret is.
Cheers,
Michael.

U tube video shows four Phillips headed screws being removed with a stubby screwdriver in the passenger footwell, and below the glove box where it is on most cars including the Freelander 1 & 2.

Theres also a vid with the filter retained by hex screws but every thing else is the same, that vehicle is LHD

Hi Discool,
Thanks, but seen them both. Hence the ridiculous thread. As I said it should be so easy. Mine are definitely not cross head screws. Irrespective, I still can’t get my socket (Bahco, so it’s not as if it’s some Far Eastern rubbish) far enough in past the plastic moulding to engage with the hex head. I’ll get the LR part number off it tomorrow and compare. Maybe I’ve just had a senior ‘moment’.
Cheers,
Michael.

Moderators, could you please move this thread over the Freelander section.

Mine has 6mm bolts too but the plastic cup where they sit is so tight that some sockets doesn't fit there. Try to find a socket with thin walls.

When changing the pollen filter I also vacuum the air box to get all the dust and crap out.

Cheers Stance,
I think that’s the only option. Or sand the cup away maybe. Very tedious. Its replacement is similar but I can just get the socket in. It’s so tight I can turn the filter upside down and the socket stays put. A ridiculous design.

Managed to get it out, but not before some mini hacksaw blade action on the plastic moulding surrounding the hex bolts. Upside down with a mirror. It was pretty black.
PCV also replaced but that required three and a half quid at Screwfix for some bolt extractors. Someone had rounded off the top right hex bolt. Also black, but then it probably will be again in week.
Also did that funny little translucent filter that lives down the back. Turbo vacuum filter? That’s how all car work should be!
Air filter done, tomorrow oil and filter. Not looking forward to battling with the undertray….
Might clean the EGR first to get a small sense of achievement!

Sounds like progress! Sounds typical LR fight, with rounded bolts and stuff. When you have done all the typical maintenance tasks once, it gets easy.

I have a cut out under the sump in my undertray for easy engine oil change.

That cut out sounds like a great idea. Is it more of a slot oriented front to back to accommodate the oil pressure going down as it drains?

MaxTheDog1 said:

That cut out sounds like a great idea. Is it more of a slot oriented front to back to accommodate the oil pressure going down as it drains?

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It's just enough that it clears the oil dripping down. Was like that when I got the car but really handy.

Thanks Stance, hoping to do the oil when the 36mm socket arrives, hopefully later this week/weekend. Roughly where about is the hole or slot in the undertray?
Cleaned the EGR today:

MaxTheDog1 said:

Thanks Stance, hoping to do the oil when the 36mm socket arrives, hopefully later this week/weekend. Roughly where about is the hole or slot in the undertray?
Cleaned the EGR today:

View attachment 278855 View attachment 278856

Click to expand...

Nice one, cleaned mine in summer, but didn't get that clean. Thought to throw in an ultrasonic cleaner to get it cleaner. Especiallt the other entry.

Thanks mbrokof,
Brake cleaner and quite a bit of elbow grease.