How to Change Your Cabin Air Filter

Read Time:6 Minute, 20 Second

Here are some general guidelines for changing the cabin air filter in your car. Exact instructions can typically be found in the owner’s manual.

Every year or every 12,000 miles, you should replace your cabin air filter. If you drive on dirt roads or in highly polluted areas, you might want to consider replacing the cabin air filter every 5,000 miles. If you have allergies, you might think about replacing the cabin air filter more frequently to ensure the air is clean.

The best option for your car is to replace your cabin air filter with a high-quality Champion cabin air filter. It eliminates 98% of airborne impurities like pollen, dust, and road grime. The optimized pleat construction of a Champion filter, which is made for perfect fit and performance, uses carbon-enhanced media for the best odor control.

The cabin air filter replacement process is simple and should be doable by most people. Continue reading to find out how to change the cabin air filter.

16. How to Change Your Cabin Air Filter2

Table of Contents

What Does a Cabin Air Filter Do?

As you might expect, the cabin air filter stops debris, dust, and other contaminants from entering the interior of your car. Additionally, some filters include activated charcoal, which lessens odors. To put it another way: Your car’s cabin air filter helps to clean the air you breathe inside.

The HVAC air distribution system and the evaporator core of the air conditioner are both kept clean as a result of the cabin filter’s secondary function. By preventing the growth of odor-producing microbes, a clean evaporator core keeps the air conditioning system running at its peak efficiency.

Before changing your cabin air filter, you can watch the following video for the overview steps.

Step 1: Open the Hood

Despite the fact that the cabin air filter is typically found inside the vehicle, you should still open the hood as soon as possible. All automobiles receive fresh air from the cowl, or base of the windshield, which also houses the windshield wipers. Check this area quickly to make sure it is free of any leaves or other debris that could restrict airflow into the cabin. Larger objects can be picked up with your hands, and you can clean up the remaining debris with a small brush or a water hose.

Step 2: Locate Your Car’s Cabin Air Filter

Although checking the owner’s manual is the simplest option, cabin air filters are typically located in the passenger-side footwell. You can always check brand-specific forums or even videos online for the location and removal instructions if you no longer have the owner’s manual or if the instructions are unclear. It might be necessary to disassemble certain components, such as the glove box or the plastic covers under the dash, in order to access the cabin filter, though very rarely any kind of tool will be needed to remove these parts. You’ll be nearly there once you find the cabin air filter housing. There will likely be some sort of cover that opens or slides off before you can access the filter itself.

Step 3: Remove and Replace the Cabin Filter

The cabin air filter removal process is simple in some vehicles. It may require some dexterity to get the new air filter back into place because of how small the space under the dash is. Other than making sure the filter is installed correctly and isn’t damaged, there is typically an arrow to show the filter’s intended air flow.

Step 4: Reinstall All of the Removed Components

It goes without saying that once you’ve installed the new cabin air filter, it’s time to secure everything. Put any components you may have removed back on after making sure the filter cover is securely fastened.

We suggest watching this video on how to change your car’s air filter for better visualization.

How Often Should You Change Your Cabin Air Filter?

Your vehicle’s type will determine exactly when you need to replace your cabin air filter. Between 15,000 and 30,000 miles typically separate each interval. Consult the service schedule provided by the vehicle’s manufacturer to find out when to replace the filter. Your owner’s manual or supplemental service booklet should have this information.

How Much Does It Cost to Replace the Cabin Air Filter?

You can anticipate paying (on average) $50 to $100 to have a professional replace your cabin air filter if you decide to do so. By changing the filter yourself, you can save cash. The majority of replacement filters in the OEM style are less than $25. It goes without saying that the exact cost of the filter will vary depending on a number of variables, including the year, make, and model of your car.

Common Questions About Cabin Air Filters

Benefits of Changing Cabin Air Filter

Reducing Pollution: By routinely replacing the cabin air filter, you can cut down on the amount of pollution that gets into the cabin of your car.
Better HVAC Air Flow.
Fewer Allergens.
Fewer Odors.

Does Cabin Air Filter Affect AC

Believe it or not, your cabin filter can affect your AC system, and the The power of the entire vehicle can be significantly impacted by the AC. You might need to turn up the AC if your filter is clogged. Your AC’s workload is inversely correlated to the engine’s workload.

How Often Should You Change the Air Filter in Your Car?

Regular intervals, which can vary between automakers, should be used to replace in-cabin air filters. It is typically advised to do this every 15,000 miles or so. Of course, if you frequently drive your car in polluted or dusty areas, you’ll probably want to change the air cabin filter more frequently.

What If My Car A/C Still Smells Bad?

In addition to changing the air cabin filter, you might need to spray an odor neutralizer into the HVAC vents if the smell is stronger and won’t go away. There are many items offered at auto parts stores that use an aerosol spray and a long nozzle to spray deodorizer down into the HVAC housing in order to lessen odors coming from the heat and A/C system.

Does Changing Your Car’s In-Cabin Air Filter Make a Difference?

Most drivers most likely don’t think about their air cabin filter until their car starts to smell or the mechanic’s assistant adds one to the list of upsells. The truth is that you can take care of this simple maintenance task on your own to save a ton of money and feel more accomplished.

My friend’s Chrysler Pacifica minivan serves as the vehicle used to illustrate this narrative. A tire shop gave him a replacement filter estimate that was almost $70. I accompanied him to the neighborhood auto parts shop where he paid $15 plus tax for a filter. After that, I showed him how to replace the filter himself in fewer than 20 minutes.

Read the following post about spare parts replacement if you are interested!

InAir Filter, Cabin Air Filter, Change Air Filter

What Does a Cabin Air Filter Do?