- Deplete the glove box by opening it. If necessary, locate a screw on the lower right side and remove it (not all models have this)
- Look for plastic tabs along the glove box’s edges. You’ll see the glove box opening more fully when you press these.
- Then, pick a long, rectangular piece of plastic with two tabsone on each side. The plastic will come off when these tabs are squeezed in, revealing the air filter.
- Cabin air filter should be taken out and changed.
- Reattach the plastic strip and put the glove box back together by following the reverse directions.
Congratulations, you’ve just replaced your air filter. When you use the heater or the air conditioner, the air will circulate better and cleaner.
In This Article...
Can I replace the cabin air filter on my own?
As particles and occasionally odors are removed from the air entering new cars through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, cabin air filters are becoming more and more common. Premium models frequently come with cabin air filters as standard equipment, but other vehicles may offer them as a separate option or as a part of a package of options. Cabin air filters can be found in two or more luxury vehicles.
Depending on the particular filter design, a cabin air filter can capture different types and sizes of particles. A more comprehensive list, meanwhile, would include dirt, dust, leaves, twigs, insects, smoke, smog, mildew, pollen, mold, spores, fungi, bacteria, pathogens, rodent droppings, and other unwelcome material.
In addition to enhancing air quality, a cabin air filter can have an impact on a vehicle’s safety. According to the Filter Manufacturers Council, airborne particles either directly cause or aggravate the allergies of 40 million Americans. A cabin air filter can lessen or completely eliminate symptoms like sneezing, blurred vision, runny noses, and headaches that could cause a driver to become distracted and cause an accident by removing those particles.
A pleated filtering media, common in cabin air filters, imitates paper in appearance but is actually a more complicated substance comprised of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The physical properties of the filter trap the majority of impurities, and in many designs, air passing over the filter generates an electrostatic charge that aids in drawing in and trapping tiny particles. In order to sustain the filtering medium and provide various types and levels of filtration, quality filters may have numerous layers.
Cabin air filters vary widely in quality. A cabin air filter’s cost rises in direct proportion to its quality. At a neighborhood auto parts store, a simple filter might cost $15, whereas a quality original equipment part might cost $50 or more from a car dealership.
The normal efficiency of standard cabin air filters is 98 percent for capturing particles in the 5-100 micron range. This covers the vast majority of pollutants, but not the tiniest spores, soot, or smoke from cigarettes.
Even smaller particles can be captured by High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) cabin air filters. Based on rigorous industry testing, one significant provider asserts that their premium HEPA cabin air filters have a filtration efficiency of 99.97% at 0.3 microns. HEPA filters offer the highest level of protection against airborne particles despite being more expensive.
Many cabin air filters, in addition to filtering particles, also undergo chemical treatment with activated carbon, which gives them a gray look and aids in the elimination of a range of aromas. These exhaust gas odours from incomplete combustion include ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, hydrogen sulfide, and benzenes. Baking soda is sometimes added to cabin air filters in place of charcoal to help them combat smells from human waste, wet dogs, and mildew.
If the cabin filter in your automobile has to be updated, you should think about these three things:
- Mileage: The factory suggests changing cabin air filters every 15,000 to 30,000 kilometers. For precise mileage information, consult your car’s owner’s manual or your local auto repair shop.
- Fine particulate matter concentrations: If you travel in a region with higher than average concentrations of dust, pollen, and other airborne debris, you may need to replace the filter more regularly. When they notice how many impurities have accumulated on a cabin air filter that has been in use for a while, many drivers are astonished.
- Performance: The HVAC system’s limited airflow, quickly fogged-up and difficult-to-defrost windows, and lingering aromas are all signs of a constrained cabin air filter. Additionally, a constrained cabin air filter increases the burden on the ventilation fan and may reduce its lifespan.
The ductwork that carries outside air to the HVAC system contains cabin air filters. The filter may be located in the engine compartment of some vehicles close to the base of the windshield. Others have it hidden under the glove box or under the dashboard. The majority of cabin air filters may be changed without using any tools in less than 15 minutes, while some may take a bit longer and include removing fasteners holding the glove box or interior trim panels in place. Ask your neighborhood vehicle repair shop for assistance if you need it when changing your filter.
For those drivers whose vehicles didn’t come equipped with a cabin air filter, there is also good news. Many manufacturers use the same HVAC ductwork on all trim levels of a certain model in order to reduce the amount of different parts they need to produce. Therefore, even if a filter wasn’t fitted at the factory, there is a strong possibility the car is set up to take one if your owner’s handbook mentions replacing the cabin air filter. To find out if the ductwork has the required filter housing, just follow the replacement instructions.
When should an engine air filter be changed?
It’s a common tale of getting ripped off at an auto repair shop: the salesperson approaches you, kneels down, and hands you what appears to be a filthy air filter, saying, “It appears that you need to change your engine air filter, ma’am. But how can you tell whether your engine air filter has to be replaced or if you’re being conned?
Why should I replace my engine air filter?
The purpose of replacing the air filter isn’t to increase the amount of money you spend at the auto repair shop. In actuality, it’s important for maintaining and performing engine maintenance.
To function, engines require a lot of pure air. The engine air filter stops particles, dirt, insects, and other impurities from harming the engine. Reduced gas mileage, sluggish acceleration, shorter engine life, greater pollutants, and subpar engine performance are all symptoms of a filthy or clogged filter.
How often should you change the engine air filter?
You might want to think about replacing your engine air filter more frequently if your commute involves lots of pauses and construction zones, or if you routinely drive on dirt or gravel roads.
Here are some signs that it’s time to replace your vehicle’s air filter:
- Acceleration that Is Jerky or Slower Than Normal: If you find that your automobile isn’t accelerating as quickly as it once did, there’s a significant probability that the air filter is restricting the amount of air that gets into the engine. When you hit the gas pedal, you could experience jerky acceleration as well.
- Reduced Fuel Economy: A clogged filter makes the engine work harder to produce the same amount of power, which reduces gas mileage.
- Unusual Sounds: When the car is idle, a dirty or clogged air filter frequently causes a variety of odd noises. Unusual noises could indicate that the engine of your car isn’t getting adequate ventilation.
- You can also visually check your engine’s air filter for dirt. If you are having problems locating it, you can consult your owner’s handbook as it is typically simple to obtain. It’s time to change your air filter if it’s covered in a lot of dirt, debris, or grease. Uncertain if it’s too filthy? Place the filter in front of the light. It’s time to replace your air filter if there is no light visible through the filter.
How long does it take to replace my vehicle’s air filter?
Depending on your car model, installing a filter is often a quick 5- to 10-minute service. Some models make it harder to replace the air filter, so if that’s the case, it will take our professionals a little longer.
Air Filter Replacement at Virginia Tire & Auto
Visit one of our 17 sites, make an appointment online, or stop by to have your engine air filter changed. In no time, we’ll have you back on the road!
What happens if the cabin air filter isn’t changed?
If you don’t replace your cabin air filter, it will accumulate additional dirt and debris, reducing its effectiveness and that of your car’s HVAC system. The volume of air entering your passenger compartment will gradually decrease, which may cause a problem with unpleasant scents within your car. The air quality in your car will be significantly improved by performing the straightforward task of changing your cabin air filter.
Why do cabin filters cost so much?
It all boils down to psychology and marketing, to put it simply. To safeguard our health, we purchase air purifiers and HEPA filters. We place a high priority on our health. So much so that we’re frequently prepared to spend a lot of money to safeguard our health. Spending a little more on HEPA filters seems acceptable if, as evidence suggests, they might help maintain our health.
Let’s conduct a short test. Which of these filters would you buy if your health was potentially at risk?
If you go with the $34.99 filter, you’ve already fallen for the typical snare used by businesses. To make their HEPA filters appear more expensive and superior, businesses market and sell them. That $34.99 filter will undoubtedly safeguard my health more effectively than a $13.99 filter, right?
No, not always. Companies utilize this marketing strategy to deceive us into paying hundreds of dollars more on replacement HEPA filters than we need to because most people are unaware of the physics behind purifiers.
What should the price of a cabin air filter be?
Typically, cabin air filters cost $15 to $50. You could save up to $50 on labor charges if you can complete the replacement yourself.