Think you’re protecting your passengers from harmful outdoor pollutants by keeping your car's windows rolled up? You might be surprised to learn that chemicals and irritants are being sucked into and circulated throughout your car’s cabin. According to the Car Care Council, roadside air—especially along busy roads and highways—contains high levels of pollen, dust, soot and smog, the harmful effects of which are well documented. A cabin air filter helps protect against these pollutants by trapping dust, dirt and grime from the road before they are pumped into the vehicle. Here’s how to replace a cabin air filter and protect the occupants of your vehicle from potentially hazardous pollutants.
Make sure the vehicle's engine is off.
Locate the filter. A cabin air filter may be in the outside air intake, visible with the hood up and perhaps the cover lifted. Or, it will be located under the dash above the blower in the back section of the outside air intake. It may also be located between the blower and the rest of the HVAC case. If the filter is not immediately apparent with the hood open, check behind the glove box. You may see an obviously removable (with spring tab or similar retainer) rectangular plastic cover. Next, look under the dash (on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides) for a removable plastic cover in the HVAC case. If you can remove its cover, look inside the case.
Remove the filter cover plate.
Remove used air filter.
Install the filter according to manufacturer's directions included in the filter box. Make sure the filter is placed with air flow markings in the correct position.
Replace the filter cover plate.
Remove all debris that might have collected in or around the cabin filter housing. This will prevent air leakage and improve the filter's efficiency.
