Changing cabin air (activated charcoal) filter

[Ron F]

I plan to do my own oil and oil filter changes. Also required at every 10K miles is replacement of the cabin air filter. This is located just forward and slightly right of the gas pedal and is an absolute bear to get to. The plastic filter enclosure has three tabs that have to be released and that is what is so difficult. Has anyone changed their own cabin air filter and, if so, could you please tell me how in the world you were able to do it. Thanks much.

[Okie Boy]

Originally Posted by Ron F

I plan to do my own oil and oil filter changes. Also required at every 10K miles is replacement of the cabin air filter. This is located just forward and slightly right of the gas pedal and is an absolute bear to get to. The plastic filter enclosure has three tabs that have to be released and that is what is so difficult. Has anyone changed their own cabin air filter and, if so, could you please tell me how in the world you were able to do it. Thanks much.

I have had mine out once and changed it once. Changing the filter takes 5 min. The release tabs are not difficult to get to and come loose with little effort.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by Okie Boy

I have had mine out once and changed it once. Changing the filter takes 5 min. The release tabs are not difficult to get to and come loose with little effort.

Was yours really that dirty that you had to change it? How many miles? My old Insight's/Civic's filter was horrible after 10k so I can only imagine how bad this one is since I moved out to the country (dusty dirt roads)

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Was yours really that dirty that you had to change it? How many miles? My old Insight's/Civic's filter was horrible after 10k so I can only imagine how bad this one is since I moved out to the country (dusty dirt roads)

Tap it out once in a while
karl

[Evilution]

Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia

[Quagmire]

I haven't checked mine yet in the smart, but in my other vehicles I remove light debris with a soft paint brush and then carefully vacuum. This will double the life of the filter. Eventually you will need to replace the filter at which time the stealerships will help remove large amounts of money from your wallet for a $2 item. On some occasions you can use the filter as a template and cut your own filter replacement from a similar type of furnace filter.
Just say NO to stealership rip-offs

[Okie Boy]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Was yours really that dirty that you had to change it? How many miles? My old Insight's/Civic's filter was horrible after 10k so I can only imagine how bad this one is since I moved out to the country (dusty dirt roads)

I change it at 10K miles and it did need it. The smart replacement filter is a much better filter than the one that came in the car.

[pitstopautoinc]

Any one have photo's of the cabin filter area?

[jwight]

Photos are at the evilution.co.uk link.

[MNMadMan]

The pics shown at evilution site show the 3 tabs that make up the hinge of that access cover. The far edge, that closest to the firewall, are 2 tabs that can easily be pushed in to release the cover. It then hinges back towards you for an easy off. Makes more sense once you do it. It only took me a few seconds to open it up and pull the filter off

The owners manual states replacement at 10,000 miles/1 year. Most folks may only drive 10k a year. I do that every 5 months. I checked mine today and it was clean. Ill change it once a year or every 20,000 miles or so.

Good luck!