how to change cabin air filter

how to change cabin air filter

One of the most, if not THE most commonly overlooked items when it comes to basic car maintenance, is
the Pollen filter, sometimes known as the Cabin filter.

In fact, you may not even know your car is fitted with one!

In my day to day in the workshop, the pollen/cabin filter is one of the most neglected items in
modern cars, and a lot of people confuse it with the engine air filter, therefore it never gets
replaced.
​
You can save yourself anywhere from $30-$100 in parts and labour cost by replacing your own
pollen/cabin filter yourself.

You can find a link to an article I wrote about engine air filters at the end of this article, if you're not
sure of the difference.

In this article, I'll cover:

- What a pollen/cabin filter is
- What a pollen/cabin filter does
- How to change your pollen/cabin filter

Here we go:

What is a pollen/cabin filter?​

The pollen/cabin filter in your car is very similar in shape and construction to the engine air filter.
​
Both can have an outer case, and an element that the air passes through to be cleaned, as shown
here:

The pollen/cabin filter normally sits in behind the glovebox in its own compartment.
Here you can see what I'm talking about:

What does a pollen/cabin filter do?

The job of the pollen filter is to filter all the contaminants out of the air that goes through your cars'
air conditioning, that comes out the vents, which you breathe in when you're inside the car, including
pollen, particulates in the air, and debris like leaf litter.

There are different types of filters, some of which filter out smells also.
​
When you're buying your replacement, simply choose the one that performs the functions you're
after, as most of the time you can buy them in both types.

How to check / change your pollen/cabin filter

Almost all pollen/cabin filters are located behind the glovebox area of your car. To check and change
the pollen/cabin filter, most of the time all you need to do is remove the glovebox and undo some
clips or screws.

When removing the glove box, you'll find a couple of tabs, one on each side, that stop the glove box
falling too far out when it's open.

Some may have some tabs that are removable, by either twisting them or sliding them. In this case all you need to do is remove them.

All you need to do is open your glove box, squeeze each side in from the
outside towards the middle, and they should pop off.

In the case of the twist out ones, you guessed it, just twist them out.

Here is a picture of what I mean, in twist out and squeeze together styles:
​

And here you can see what I mean about squeezing the glove box in, as well as twisting out the tabs:

Some, mainly in Toyotas but some others as well, will have a little rod attached to one side of
the glove box as shown here:

All you need to do is squeeze the little locking tabs together and this will pop off,

This will allow the glovebox to swing all the way down.
You'll then be left with something like this:

In this particular example on a Toyota Kluger, you need to lift the plastic door out of the way like
this:

Then you'll see the plastic plate that covers the pollen/cabin filter here:

All you need to do is unclip it from each side, and it will come out, allowing you to see the
pollen/cabin filter like this:

Then all you need to do is remove the old pollen filter, by sliding it out. Some come in two pieces, so
make sure you've removed it all, most are one piece however.

PRO TIP: Pay attention to which way the pollen/cabin filter comes out, as they normally have an
arrow on them indicating which way the air needs to flow over them to work, as shown here:

The new filter must be put in facing the same way for proper function.
Once the old one is out, you'll have something that looks like this (maybe worse):

Now all you need to do is follow these steps in reverse to fit the new one, making sure that the new
one is in the right way, and also that everything you unclipped and removed to get the old one out,
is re fitted and re clipped when you put the new one in.

Easy as, right?
​
The pollen/cabin filter replacement is honestly one of the easiest things you can do yourself when it
comes to basic car maintenance.
​
Now that you've finished this article, you've learned:
​
- What a pollen/cabin filter is
- What a pollen/cabin filter does
- How to change your pollen/cabin filter

Leave me a comment if you replace your own pollen/cabin filter using this guide!

I hope you got a lot out of this article,

If you'd like to learn more about car basics, you can check out my other articles by following these
links:

Air filters
Brake fluid
5 basic car maintenance tasks you can easily do yourself
Tyres
Alternators
Wiper Blades
​​
You can find me on social media by following these links:

I'm creating a course and Ebook about car basics and repair, if you'd like to go
on the waiting list for the course or ebook, simply sign up here:

​
You'll be able to help me develop the course and ebook content, and have a say about how the
finished product looks!
​

Have a great day, and the next time you drive somewhere, enjoy the fresh air now that you have a
nice new pollen/cabin filter installed!

how to change cabin air filter

Source: https://avoidthelemons.com/guidesandhowtos/howtochangecabinairfilter

Posted by: simsreeas1980.blogspot.com

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