How to Change the Cabin Air Filter in Your Car

A better understanding of how dirty the air we breathe is one of the reasons air purifiers have become a common household appliance. We should think about what we are breathing in when we are in our cars.

When did you last change your car's cabin air filter? How to replace cabin air filters and how long they last are included in this information.

How long do cabin air filters last?

The cabin air filters were designed to last for a long time. You may need to replace it on a yearly basis if you live in an area with a lot of air pollution.

Signs your cabin air filter needs to be replaced

How do you know when it's time to replace your cabin air filter? These are some of the usual signs.

• You can easily smell what’s outside your car—farms, factories, skunks, etc.—including when the air inside the car is being recirculated
• The airflow out of your vents is weak, even when it’s set to the highest level
• It sounds like air is struggling to get through the car’s HVAC system and out the vent, or like the vent itself is blocked
• You can see smoke or other particulates come through the vents

How to replace your car’s cabin air filter

It doesn't make sense to pay the dealership's inflated fee for something you can do, even if you bring your car in for regular maintenance like oil changes or tire rotation.

If you want to change the cabin air filter in your car, you should first look at your owner's manual to find out where it is and how to change it.

The cabin air filter is usually located behind the glovebox or under the hood.

Behind the glovebox

Pressing a tab on each side of the glovebox will allow you to access the cabin air filter. Pull out the old filter, slide in the new one, and pop your glovebox back into place. It was the end.

You may need to remove the glovebox door in other vehicles. The glovebox door needs to be removed with a flathead screwdriver or a Torx/Hex wrench. You should be able to use the air filter. The old filter needs to be removed, the new one put in, and the glovebox door reassembled.

Under the hood

The first thing to do is to start the car, switch the wipers on, and then turn the car off so they can see the sky. The hood needs to be popped. Klein will be allowed to take it from here.

1. Remove the windshield washer hose from the clips on the plastic cover near the base of the windshield.
2. Pull away the hood weatherstripping.
3. Remove the plastic cover (you may need a flathead screwdriver).
4. Remove the cabin air filter.
5. Replace with the new cabin air filter.
6. Reinstall the plastic cover, hood weatherstripping, and windshield washer hose.
7. Close the hood.

This is a simple task that will make a big difference in your car's air quality.