by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: August 27, 2008

In the old days, dust and dirt entered the car's cabin at will. Pollen, an irritant to many people with allergies, also made its way into the car. But today, many cars are made with an air cabin filter which traps these nasties before they make their way into your vehicle. This becomes very handy in higher pollen areas of the country, for example, in North Texas when during certain times of the year the pollen literally forms a thick coating on cars and surfaces.

In response to the growing focus on heath and well being in today's world, car manufacturers have seized on the opportunity to provide an added incentive to purchasing their vehicle. And for good reason; the idea of breathing in clean, fresh air while we spend to much of our time stuck in traffic is a good selling point for car dealers.

Some may wonder the need for a cabin air filter since the car already has an air filter. While the engine air filter traps dust and dirt so that these particles don't enter the engine, the cabin air filter is much finer and traps particles before they enter the car's cabin. The result is a much cleaner interior vehicle environment.

Mechanics and quickie lube joints are happy to replace the cabin air filter for you. That's because it's a very simple repair that garners them a substantial payout for time and labor. But if you want to save money and do it yourself, replacing your car's air cabin filter is a relatively simple task that can be done in a few minutes with minor tools. You'll need:

New cabin air filter
Screwdriver
Rag

1) Go to your favorite automotive supply shop and pick up a new cabin air filter. You may want to ask the salesperson behind the counter to locate it for you since it's likely in their back stock (imagine if every part for every car was out on the sales floor; it would have to be a store the size of several football fields to cover that!).

2) Locate the air cabin filter access cover. Typically it is found under the hood at the very back of the engine compartment, or under the dash on the passenger side.

3) Unscrew the cover and remove filter.

4) Place the old filter next to the new one to see if the new one is the proper size.

5) Inspect the filter to see how dirty it is. If you tap it and dust falls out, it needs to be replaced.

6) Using your rag, wipe out the cabin air filter compartment to remove remaining dirt and dust. You'd be surprised at how much excess dirt collects outside the filter.

7) Place the new cabin air filter in the compartment, pressing down and side to side to ensure proper fit. Some filters have a foam gasket on the underside; make sure the filter is installed correctly.

8) Replace the air cabin filter access cover.

Now you can have the peace of mind to breathe in clean, fresh air wherever and whenever you drive. And for allergy sufferers, that means a more enjoyable driving experience.

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