Now as many know on here, i am not always a fan of technology, mainly if its inferior and unreliable. I think we can all agree on one thing, the Cabin Air Filter was an idea that got implemented way too late.
With this crazy wildfire smoke I am so thankful to have a vehicle with a Cabin Air filter. Its a wonderful addition to any vehicle.
When was the first Cabin airfilter equipped vehicle made? My old silverado had one but I was ignorant at the time and removed it.
Right now I am enjoying cleaning Air in my Tahoe thanks to a little miracle called the Cabin Air filter. I even upgraded to a HEPA yesterday and installed it in the Oreillys parking lot. Even fresher air despite what the cocky guy behind the counter told me.
But his attitude has not and will not dampen my enjoyment of the HEPA Air filter helping clean wonderful air to be piped to me while the outside air is just about unbreathable.
I do wish that it had a seal on it so very little air could bypass it, however it helps so much as it is. Thos one was easy to change too with the help of a torx bit and a power driver.
My Prius I seem to remember being even easier.
I hear some of these Cabin air filters are a job to change. Whatever it is, I’ll take one!!
IIRC, Ford was the 1st one in the US to use them in the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in 1995…
However I think Saab pioneered them globally in 1979…
And yes, some are a PITA to replace…
I remember one of the Honda’s for certain years you had to cut and remove a small section of the dash (covering a bar), the Labor rate paid 0.7 for the 1st one and then like 0.4 from then on…
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I have never replaced one in any of my vehicles, yet, I just blow mine out, but I have sold and or installed thousands of them over the years… I have an OEM one ready to install in my truck for warranty reasons, but once it’s out of warranty I may go back to blowing it out… None of mine have ever gotten bad, but wow have I pulled some nasty ones out of customers vehicles in the past… Mileage wise it is not due yet, just based on time, I really need to check it, but the last time I check the engine air filter it still looked brand new…
But yes, the are a maintenance item and should be replaced when dirty…
Just changed mine in my Mustang. I’d.like to have a word with the engineers (or the beancounter who made them…) place it way up under the passenger side dash.
And that word would definitely be censored by the WebBot!
I’m guessing that it wasn’t similar to the procedure with most Japanese-engineered vehicles. While I’m not a big fan of having to drop the glove compartment down in order to access the cabin air filter, it isn’t really that difficult, and the entire job takes… maybe… 5 minutes.
My 2 previous Mustangs had access underhood for the cabin filter. Fiddly but easy.
This one is behind the glovebox.. which stays in place… and up about 6 inches from the lowest point of the interior. It would be easiest if I had removed the passengers seat and laid in the car on the floor on my back. I did it using a mirror with the seat installed.
Some seem like they weren’t designed with much forethought. Some Ford Escapes required removal of the Body Control Module, Volvo S40 (I believe) step #3 was remove the gas pedal assembly. But generally they’re pretty straightforward.
They don’t really do much if you like the window open though.
Doesn’t your owner’s manual state to use “recirculate” on the HVAC system during smoke or dusty conditions? The cabin air filter is not effective enough to filter out all the smoke. You may be giving too much credit to the filter.
My 1998 Buick Regal was like that. There was a problem, though. A rubber gasket slid onto the windshield above the cabin air filter to divert water on the windshield. Mine slid off and rain filled the blower motor. I found out when the water overflowed onto the passenger side floor. I reseated the rubber gasket, replaced the soggy air filter, and replaced the blower motor. Stuff happens.
I replace it at the same time I do the engine air filter, about 20,000. But yeah the hardest part is taking everything out of the glove box. No gloves but everything else.
One of the nice features of my 2014 Camry is the ease of replacing both the cabin air filter and engine air filter. Even I am able to easily replace both and have done so.
The cabin air filter is utterly simple to access. Open glove compartment, remove items, open access panel with two fingers, slide out old filter, slide in new filter, pop panel back in place, put stuff back in glove compartment and, voilá, all done.
The engine air filter is only slightly more work to access and replace.
Nice, clear instructions are in the owners manual, that handy book that lives in the glove compartment.
@old_mopar_guy Thank you, sir. I still drop in to read here when I can but don’t comment very often.
To answer your question, I’ve been dealing with some major health challenges the past two years. A severe three week bout of COVID two years ago resulted in lung blood clots, heart issues, and a stroke. It has slowed me down but I refuse to lose. I still live independently, still drive, and even returned to work, albeit on a reduced work schedule. I’m stuck often needing to use a cane to maintain my balance when walking outside of my home. I had to adapt how I step out of my car without falling, a most annoying transition to make in my car use habits.
Although my ability to drive normally was not compromised, my stamina for doing so took a big hit along with my stamina in general. I’ve had to work hard to now be able to drive about two hours / eighty miles non-stop at a time of mixed highway and local streets driving. But I do regularly still drive far enough to keep the car battery well charged and, as my dad used to say, the “engine cobwebs blown out.” Gas may be expensive but is still far cheaper than driving too short distance too often and ending up with a sludged engine and/or dead battery.
I’m glad you’re recovering nicely. Your spunky attitude is an important part of that process. I had my bad stroke in 2008, and im astonished that ive regained all (or at least, most) of my brain power since.
My biggest issues have been balance, neuropathy with resultant pain, and minor speech issues. The area of stroke damage is in the part of the brain that controls nerve messages to and from the muscles controlling balance and muscles coordinating speaking. Some days are better than others; some more challenging than others.
It was a reality check when I needed to get a handicap placard for my car. grumble grumble. But I’ve decided that guarding my safety is more important than being stubborn. I’m due to renew the car license plates in November. The DMV will be issuing me permanent handicap plates then. If it weren’t for the balance issue I wouldn’t need the accomodation.
