I'm embarrassed to admit that I can't tell where the air filter is located just by looking into the engine compartment. Does someone have a photo they could post indicating which of the boxes I'm looking at contains the filter? Also, any tips on how to do so, and how often to do so, would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Look in the MAINTENANCE section of the owners manual...or Air Filter - Engine. Should be a pic of the location. On our 07 its at the LF corner of the engine bay. This could vary if you are in a different market (eg, different engine)

Once you have accessed the filter, look at the color of the pleats. If it is dark out to the edges, it's ready to be replaced. If the original color is still evident on 20% of the pleats, you could leave it in place.

On USA Fits, the Maintenance Minder will tell you when to change it. Note, however, that this is for average conditions. Around here they spread lots of road salt (dust!) during the winter so I check mine every spring. Our car had about 30K miles on it when I replaced it. Your car probably spend a lot of time idling in NYC traffic I bet.

 

Thanks, Carbuff2. They don't discuss the air filters in the manual for the USDM 09 Fit. Basically they take you up to tire rotation and that's it. I'll travel over there today (the car's a few blocks away) and snap a photo of the engine compartment and perhaps someone would circle the filter box or at least describe which box it is in words. I'm at 17k miles, half in pristine Newfoundland air and the other half on the filthy Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. If the engine-filter condition is anything like what the cabin-filter condition was when I changed it the other week, it should be changed out.

 

 

Thanks so much, Reako. I'd meant to get down the street to take a picture and post it, but it poured rain all day that day. I'll order a new filter from Honda Parts Warehouse and install it before it gets too cold.