Car How to change a cabin air filter
Car · Beginner
How to change a cabin air filter
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On many cars the cabin or pollen filter is a simple swap behind the glovebox or under the bonnet, if you buy the right part and you can reach the housing. This guide is for that kind of job. It is not for dismantling a dashboard, and not for anything that means disconnecting an airbag or a wiring loom you cannot see clearly.
Your call
Go or no?
Fancy giving it a go, or would you rather call a garage? There’s no wrong answer.
Right then. Here’s the kit, then the steps.
No problem. We’ll show you how to find a local garage.
At a glance
Shop the full kit
You can pick up the items below as you need them. Prices vary by shop and country, so we have not invented a figure here — check the live price before you buy. Shop links go to a product search on a local store for your country.
All-in-one kit
There is not usually a single boxed kit for this job. Buy the items below as you need them, and skip anything you already have.
Before you start
Safety
Stop and get a pro: Do not disconnect an airbag, a yellow SRS connector, or a large wiring loom to reach a filter. If the handbook or a parts diagram shows the housing behind the dashboard with no obvious access panel, find a garage. Do not force brittle plastic clips on a cold day until they snap.
- Park on level ground, apply the parking brake and switch the ignition off.
- If you are working under the bonnet, let a hot engine cool. Keep loose clothing and a scarf away from the engine bay.
- Wear a dust mask if the old filter is filthy — cabin filters hold dust, leaves and sometimes mould.
- Do not start the engine with the housing open and tools sitting in the vent path.
Prep that is worth doing
- Look up the exact filter for your registration, or the make, model, year and engine. Note whether it is a standard or a carbon “anti-odour” type.
- Read the handbook or a reputable fitting note for the access point: often a glovebox stop or a cover under the windscreen cowl.
- Have a torch and a pad to catch leaves that fall out of the housing.
Tools and materials
Check the live price at a shop you trust. Typical prices on this site, where they appear, were checked in the UK and may be out of date. Do not invent or assume a figure from this table. Shop links go to a product search on a local store for your country.
| Item | Why you need it | Typical price | Shop link |
|---|---|---|---|
| The correct cabin / pollen filter for your vehicle | The wrong size will leak dirty air around the edge, or will not go in at all. | Typically £10–£30 at a UK shop. Check the live price. | |
| A torch | The housing is often in shadow. | Typically £8–£18 at a UK shop. Check the live price. | |
| A small screwdriver or trim tool, only if a cover needs easing off | Many lids are finger clips. Do not prise a dashboard to pieces. | Typically £6–£12 at a UK shop. Check the live price. | |
| A dust mask and a cloth or small bag | The old filter can be unpleasant, and loose debris should not fall into the blower. | Typically £3–£8 at a UK shop. Check the live price. |
Shop this list:
Step-by-step
Find the housing, note how the old filter sits, swap it for the new one the same way round, and close every clip before you test the fan.
Find the housing
Common places are behind the glovebox (you may need to unclip a stop so the glovebox drops), in the passenger footwell, or under a plastic cover at the back of the engine bay. If you cannot see a rectangular lid or a slot, do not start unscrewing the dashboard.
Open the cover and look before you pull
Take a photo of the old filter. There is usually an airflow arrow, and one edge may have a tab. Note whether it slides, or drops in.
Remove the old filter and clean the housing
Slide the old filter out. Pick out leaves and debris from the housing so they do not go into the blower. Do not spray cleaner into the fan.
Fit the new filter the same way round
Align the arrows with the airflow mark on the housing, or with your photo. It should seat fully, without being crumpled down one side. If it will not go in, you may have the wrong part, or it may need to be slightly curved as it enters — do not tear it.
Refit the cover, glovebox or cowl and test
Every clip should be home, or water and leaves will get in. Switch the ignition on, run the fan on a moderate speed, and check for unusual rattles or a loud whistle. A little dust for the first minute is common; a loud noise is not.
If a clip breaks, or the fan now sounds wrong
Stop and find a garage. A loose cover or a filter sucked into the blower is a bigger job than the original swap.
General guidance only. Check our disclaimer.
Common mistakes
- Fitting the filter the wrong way round. The airflow arrow matters. The wrong way can reduce flow or let the filter collapse.
- Buying a “universal” filter and folding it to fit. Air will bypass the media. Use the part listed for your car.
- Forcing a glovebox past a hidden airbag or a tight loom. If it does not drop as the handbook or a clear fitting note shows, stop.
- Leaving leaves in the housing. They rattle, block the drain, and can end up in the fan.
- Never changing it at all. A blocked filter reduces airflow, can mist the windscreen, and can smell. Follow the service interval, or sooner if you drive on dusty roads.
FAQ
How often should I change it?
Follow the handbook, often around once a year or at a major service. Change it sooner if the fan is weak, the screen mists a lot, or you can smell the vents.
Standard or carbon filter?
A carbon or “activated charcoal” filter can help with smells and some fumes. It must still be the right size for your housing.
The new filter is slightly thicker than the old one.
Some aftermarket filters are a tighter fit. If you have to crush it, it is the wrong part. Take it back.
Can a cabin filter affect the engine?
No. The engine has a separate air filter. Do not confuse the two. The engine filter is usually in a housing in the engine bay and is a different part.
Would rather not DIY? Find a local garage
If the housing is buried, a clip has already broken, or you would rather not drop the glovebox, a garage can fit the filter quickly and check the blower.
We may earn from shop links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure