DIY: Dust/Pollen Filter Replacement

[TekXoID]

I've got 15.5k and the filter looks brand new-I've used A/C a lot too, maybe they replaced it already at an oil change.

I stuck a new car smell tree in there, now the A/C is scented awesomeness, I bet it won't last long haha.

[Tofuik]

Originally Posted by TekXoID

I've got 15.5k and the filter looks brand new-I've used A/C a lot too, maybe they replaced it already at an oil change.

I stuck a new car smell tree in there, now the A/C is scented awesomeness, I bet it won't last long haha.

god that scent has got to be way to intense with the A/C on

[TekXoID]

Originally Posted by Tofuik

god that scent has got to be way to intense with the A/C on

Let's just say it can get really smokey in there at times and I don't smoke cigarettes...the tree helps with that

[pinkladies1959]

great diy. it seems easy enough even for me

[john21031]

Originally Posted by iambenny5000

I know it's time to change out that filter because it's starting to smell weird inside the car when I turn the a/c on.

The smell is due to fungi (bacteria) growing on the air ducts in the moisture left by cold air condensation.

Look it up, you are suppose to dry it out before turning the fans off. Once the bacteria is there, it could be very hard to get rid of.

[CuRiOuSfIsH]

Originally Posted by john21031

The smell is due to fungi (bacteria) growing on the air ducts in the moisture left by cold air condensation.

Look it up, you are suppose to dry it out before turning the fans off. Once the bacteria is there, it could be very hard to get rid of.

Yuup! So prior to shutting the car off completely after A/C use, turn the fan speed on to full w/ A/C off. If the smell is already there, you can get a vent cleaner from pretty much any automotive store.

[PhillyJoe]

Thanks StormSilverGD3 for the filter change pics. I was able to change my filter in 5 minutes. The most time consuming step for me was emptying the glove box. My filter was full with assorted seeds and other things from the trees in my neighborhood. I don't know if it is my imagination, but the airflow through the vents feels stronger. I also tend to think my car runs better after a thorough interior/exterior cleaning, so take it as you will. ;-)

I can't believe that my dealership charges $100 for this service. If you take into account the roughly $20 cost of the filter, the labor is $80 for 5 minutes of work, or a $960/hr labor rate!

[maxthedork]

Thank you SO SO much for this DIY! It took me less than five minutes to replace my cabin filter yesterday with no tools. Wonder why the dealer charges $80 for this? Thanks for saving me $60!

[ke422azn]

Why does
Honda and Acura Accessories dot com - Genuine Factory Honda and Acura Accessories at discount prices.

not have the cabin filter for the 2009 honda fit?

[Carbuff2]

Originally Posted by ke422azn

Why does
H and A

not have the cabin filter for the 2009 honda fit?

Call them and get a quote, they are a dealer so you should be able to obtain them. They may not sell it to you tho', they state all over the site that all the items they carry are online.

Otherwise try some of the other online dealers, San Leandro Honda on the west coast or Bernardi Honda on the east coast....Google might tell you even more.

[suketoborudo00]

Thanks for this! Finally changed mine at ~27k miles. pretty dirty filter, found a small bug lodged in one of the pleats.
now repalced with a nice clean white filter!

[Konservative]

+ REP to OP. Thanks for the write up.


I get allergies pretty bad so its good to know i can do this myself for the cost of a part. Does anyone know if there is a HEPA filter available for this application?

[batman697]

WOW. This is what the dealer wants to charge $90 for?? whoa. Now I need to read up changing the air filter...

[krakhed]

batman

the air filter (for the engine) will be easier to get to, but dirtier..cuz it's the engine

unless your glove box was like the death or something


and yea...i didn't catch my wife in time and she got her civic's cabin filter done...for $80....damn it...

[batman697]

Good to know...thanks. I'm trying to make sense of what to have the dealer do. I'm conflicted between what I'd regard as "preventative maintenance" and the philosophy I've seen on this board that you should only do what the maintenance minder tells you to.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by batman697

Good to know...thanks. I'm trying to make sense of what to have the dealer do. I'm conflicted between what I'd regard as "preventative maintenance" and the philosophy I've seen on this board that you should only do what the maintenance minder tells you to.

Modern engines, filters, and lubricants work extremely well, much better than the stuff that was used by our fathers and grandfathers. A lot of the lore you hear about how often to change oil and so on were created by people who were using products inferior to what we have now. Also, warranties last a lot longer now than they used to; for example car manufacturers are responsible for emissions-related equipment for 5 years or 60,000 miles, by federal law. So there is much less incentive to try to make a car appear less expensive to own by stretching its maintenance intervals. In short, following the manufacturer's maintenance schedule should be fine for most people.

Did I say "most people"? Yep. If you do an extreme amount of cold starts, stop/go driving (think mail delivery here, not driving in city traffic), or if you regularly drive in extremely dusty, sandy, climes, then you may want to shorten the intervals.

Back on topic: cabin air filters are nice for us humans, but they are not a necessary item for the health or longevity of your car. Millions of vehicles have operated just fine for hundreds of millions of miles without them. If you want you can take the cabin air filter out, throw it away, and never spend a penny on that particular maintenance item ever again, and not hurt your car in any way whatsoever.

[sbualuba]

sticky!!!!!!!