Update: Pulled it out & looks like the manual was right, there is no filter that I can get to for the 1636. I checked the drainage hose though, nothing caught in there.
A Google search tells me that apparently our model has an internal filter that's located next to a high voltage panel, so would need an engineer to unblock. It can't be blocked totally 'cause the clothes are getting drier and the machine is emptying of water.. Hopefully it's just that the last few loads have been unbalanced or something (manual says in that case, it would have spun at a lower speed than normal to prevent damage..)
Oh well, we'll see how things go from here. *crosses fingers* Thanks for the help!
Also, I pulled out a few dozen dustbunnies from behind there. Will be happy to give them away free to a loving home.
