Anyone replaced the cabin air filter on their own? The dealer told me I was due for a new one and they wanted to charge $80+. I have about 75k miles (I haven't checked exact mileage in a while). Is it fairly easy to replace or would it be better to have the dealer do it? Thanks.

 

Assuming it's like the GE8—which I think is the case—it's very, very easy to do yourself. The filter is behind the glove box, which needs to be unhooked from its stops (a couple of little tabs along the sides) to open further. It just slides in and out behind there, rather like a furnace air filter. Total time required is a couple of minutes, depending mainly on how much stuff you keep in the glove box.

 

Great! I'll check that out. I think it's time to do a purge of the glove box anyway. Thanks.

 

Always fun if you don't empty the glove box first, because as soon as you unhook the sides of the compartment, and let it drop down, all the contents of the glove box fall on the floor.

 

I have. It takes less than 5 minutes to do. I bought the part online and followed this video.

 

Normally that's how i do things, then end up spending more time cleaning up my messes and swearing at myself.

 

Wow. That might be one of the, seemingly, easiest things I've seen. Thanks!

 

Congrats to OP for not having it done at dealer before asking here.

You can pick up cabin filters on Ebay. I got 4 for just a few dollars. I had to change mine often as for awhile a chipmunk kept shitting in it.

 

andeano: definitely do it yourself. I do all three cars myself by cutting up 90% efficient furnace filters. Saves a ton of money and works great. As was posted, make sure you empty out the contents of your glove box before lowering it to get to the filter housing. If you don't, everything will dump out on the floor. Forget buying "made to fit" filters unless you can get them very cheaply. The furnace filters (found at every hardware store and Walmart) is the way to go. They trim up relatively easy with common household scissors. Use your old filter as the template to determine the size to cut.

 

Thanks for all the info everyone. And, BurntZ, good input about the furnace filters. GLOVE BOX PURGING coming right up!

 

Jeebus, the dealer didn't try to honestly charge you $80?

Wowzers!

 

It's worth noting that the OEM filters have activated charcoal and the cheap replacements do not, just in case that is important to you.



PS, why is it that the stuff that was in the glovebox "expands" when you try and put it back in? Sheesh...

 

What does the magical activated charcoal do?

 

It absorbs odors, to some degree at least, albeit in a rather non-magical manner.

OEM filters also have more pleats to the material than furnace filters, so they may let more air pass through and/or filter more junk out before needing replacement. (More pleats means more surface area to filter stuff).

 

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

Thank you! Just what I needed.

 

When I did mine I used a TYC filter. $13 bucks on amazon. - TYC 800093P