How To Replace Cabin Filter

Changing the cabin air filter is a maintenance particular that is healthy and your car.

Most modern vehicles are equipped with an air cabin filter to limit the contaminants from entering the car and keep the air smelling fresh and clean. Only like your engine air filter , though, the cabin filter can get clogged affecting the operation of your motorcar's ac organisation as well as the air quality within your vehicle.

If you're asking "can I change my automobile air motel filter myself," the answer is most certainly "yes." If you take your car to a store for oil changes or other maintenance, chances are they've tried to upsell a cabin air filter replacement. In fact, air filters are one of the five most common mechanic upsells . But what you may non know is that doing this job yourself will save a considerable corporeality of coin and is a very easy chore that usually requires no tools.

Exact instructions for replacing your auto's cabin air filter are ordinarily found in the owner's transmission, but hither are the basics for how to change the motel air filter in your car.

Step 1: Open up the Hood

open car hood and clean off cowl area before replacing the air cabin filter

On the majority of vehicles, the cabin air filter is located inside the car, but even then, the first stride you should take is to open the hood. All cars get fresh air from the base of operations of the windshield (called the cowl), which is where the windshield wipers are located. Practise a quick inspection of this area to ensure information technology is articulate of any leaves or whatsoever other debris that could affect air menstruation into the motel. You lot can pick up larger items with your hands and use a pocket-sized castor or a water hose to articulate off the rest of this area.

Step two: Locate Your Automobile'south Cabin Air Filter

Your car's cabin air filter is usually located behind the glovebox in the passenger side footwell area

The easiest way to locate your auto'south motel air filter is to check the owner'south transmission, only these filters are usually found in the rider-side footwell expanse. If you lot no longer take the owner'south manual or if the instructions aren't articulate, you tin can always check brand-specific forums or fifty-fifty videos online for the location and removal procedures. Some disassembly may exist required to proceeds access to the cabin filter such as the glove box or plastic covers found under the nuance, although very rarely will any sort of tools be required for removal of these pieces. Once you've located the cabin air filter housing, you're nearly there. Before you can get to the bodily filter, there will probably be some sort of encompass that either opens or slides off.

Step iii: Remove and Supersede the Cabin Filter

remove and replace the cabin air filter

On some vehicles, getting the motel air filter out is the easy part. Since the area under the dash is very tight, it can take a little finesse to become the new air filter back in place. There is usually an pointer to indicate the filter's intended air period, merely other than that, you only want to be sure that the filter gets installed properly without beingness damaged.

Step 4: Reinstall All of the Removed Components

reinstall air filter components and attach cover filter

Needless to say, one time you lot have the new motel air filter in place, it's fourth dimension to button things up. Be sure to properly attach the filter cover, and then put any of the items y'all may have removed back on.

Common Questions about Cabin Air Filters:

How Often Should You Change The Air Filter in Your Automobile?

In-cabin air filters should exist replaced at regular intervals, which tin can vary by different automakers. More often than not speaking, this tends to be recommended every 15,000 miles or and so. Of grade, if you oft bulldoze your vehicle in dusty conditions or loftier-pollutant areas, then you'll probably desire to replace the air motel filter more often.

What If My Car A/C Withal Smells Bad?

For stronger smells that won't go abroad, in addition to irresolute the air cabin filter, you may also need to try an odor neutralizer that can be sprayed into the HVAC vents. In that location are plenty of products available at car parts stores that use an aerosol spray and a long nozzle to shoot deodorizer down into the HVAC housing to reduce smells coming from the heat and A/C arrangement.

Does Changing your Automobile'south In-Cabin Air Filter Brand a Difference?

Virtually drivers probably don't call up about their air motel filter until the inside of their car starts to aroma or the bellboy at the oil change store adds one to the upsell list. The truth is, this is an easy maintenance item to address yourself to salvage lots of coin and feel a greater sense of accomplishment.

The car used to visualize this story is my friend's Chrysler Pacifica minivan, and he was given an estimate of more near $70 to replace the filter from a tire store. I took him to the local automobile parts shop where he bought a filter for $15 plus tax, and so I walked him through the steps to supplant it himself in less than twenty minutes.

By following the elementary steps above, yous'll be well on your style to improving the air quality of your car and saving money. Try it yourself one weekend and be sure to allow us know how it goes!

Lifelong automotive enthusiast with a soft spot for offroading. Wrencher turned author, only I still love to tinker on only about annihilation with an engine. Dream car: tie between a '71 Hemi 'Cuda and a '91 GMC Syclone. #GirlDad #SaveTheManuals