How to Change the Cabin Air Filter in Your Car
Over the past few years , air purifiers have become common household appliances, not only thanks to COVID-19 and wildfire smoke, but also to a better understanding of how dirty the air we breathe can be. In addition to the quality of the air in our home , we also need to think about what we breathe when we are in the car.
This begs the question: when was the last time you (or a professional) changed your car’s cabin air filter? Here’s what you need to know about the process, including how to replace cabin filters and how long they usually last.
How long do cabin filters last?
In most cases, cabin air filters are rated for 12,000 to 30,000 miles . But if you live in an industrial area with high air pollution or where wildfires regularly occur, you may need to replace it annually or even more frequently.
Signs that the cabin air filter needs to be replaced
So, if mileage isn’t always an accurate way of determining when to change your cabin air filter, how do you know when it’s time? According to Jonathon Klein of The Drive , here are some of the usual signs:
- You can easily smell what’s on the outside of your car – farms, factories, skunks, etc. – including when the air inside the car is being recirculated.
- The airflow from your vents is weak even when set to the highest setting.
- It appears that air is having difficulty getting through the vehicle’s HVAC system and out of the vent, or the vent itself is blocked.
- You can see smoke or other particles passing through the vents
How to replace a car cabin filter
Even if you usually bring your car to the dealership for scheduled maintenance, such as an oil change or a tire change, this is one situation where in most cases it doesn’t make sense to pay the dealer an inflated fee , which can range from $40 to $40. $130 for something you can do yourself in a few minutes.
The tools and process needed will depend on the type of vehicle you have, so it’s best to start by looking at your owner’s manual to find out where the cabin air filter is located and how to replace it.
The cabin air filter is most commonly found behind the glove box, although it can also be found at the base of the windshield under the hood.
Behind the glove box
On some vehicles, you simply press down on a tab on each side of the glove box that lowers it down to reveal the cabin air filter. From there, you pull out the old filter, put in the new one, and put the glove box back in place. End.
On other vehicles, you may need to remove the glove box door to access the cabin air filter. In this case, use a flathead screwdriver or a Torx/Hex wrench (depending on what the owner’s manual says) to remove the glove box door. This should allow you to access the air filter. Then you need to take out the old filter, insert a new one and finally reattach the glove box door.
under the hood
First, start the car, turn on the wipers, then turn off the car when the wipers point to the sky. Then open the hood. We’ll let Klein take it from here :
- Remove the windshield washer hose from the clips on the plastic cover at the base of the windshield.
- Remove the hood seal.
- Remove the plastic cover (you may need a flathead screwdriver).
- Remove the cabin air filter.
- Replace with a new cabin air filter.
- Reinstall the plastic cover, hood seal and windshield washer hose.
- Close the hood.
It’s a simple task that’s worth the effort: your car’s ventilation and air conditioning system will work better, and most importantly, you’ll breathe cleaner air.