Cabin filter and its maintenance. What do you need to know?

10/26/2020 2,758 Air and cabin filters

Author: Victor

The cabin filter is one of the components of the car, which is designed to clean the air entering through the heating system. The car manual, which specifies the replacement schedule, contains recommendations on how often to change the cabin filter. But in fact, this type of work is carried out more often. The reasons and frequency of filter replacement will be discussed in the article.

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How often should you change the cabin filter?

If your car is still under warranty, then you simply will not have a choice; you will have to contact a specialized car service, otherwise the warranty will simply expire.

Manufacturers recommend replacing the filter element every 15 thousand km. mileage _ But real life is far from the established standards, and the filter can clog much earlier. That is why you need to know the main signs that indicate that the filter should be replaced:

an unpleasant odor inside the car , then most likely this indicates that it is time to replace the filter. This is often due to the fact that the filter element becomes clogged with organic residues. And when moisture gets there, microorganisms begin to multiply quickly and this smell will indicate this process.
If you begin to notice that smells damp and the windows sweat quickly, you most likely need to replace your cabin air purifier.
Being in a car for a long time makes you feel bad (dizzy, high blood pressure), and this happens when the airflow is on. The problem can be eliminated by replacing the cabin filter, and it is important to do this in a timely manner. Remember, if oxygen does not enter the cabin, a person’s reaction speed usually slows down and drowsiness increases; this is a very dangerous phenomenon on the road.
If the mileage has long exceeded 30,000 kilometers , then the filter needs to be changed urgently, since on trains you are already breathing bad air.
When the replacement was not made by you, and you are not sure of the quality of the replacement , then it is worth checking it yourself. This way you will make sure that the filter is of high quality, and if something happens you can replace it with your own hands.

How often to replace

Most drivers consider this process optional. But it is important not to forget that road safety directly depends on the well-being of the car owner. At the same time, clean air flow should always prevail in the cabin.

The expiration date of the cabin filter is indicated in the instruction manual. But the period of use of one filter must be calculated depending on what conditions prevail in the environment while driving.
The situation on the highway is different in each locality.
In the Russian Federation, the filter will last less than the specified period.

It is impossible to understand on your own that it is time to replace this part. Even if there is no dust on the surface, this does not mean its cleanliness. There is a category of motorists who prefer to remove this part in the winter. This is due to the use of the stove. This is only permissible when there is no dust and debris on the roadsides and roads. The manufacturer also plays a big role in the operation of the cabin filter.

Most foreign manufacturers advise replacing this important element in the cleaning system after the next 20-25 thousand mileage of the car. A more accurate frequency can be found in the manual for your vehicle. If the machine is used in a big city or metropolis, then the part must be replaced after every 10,000 kilometers traveled.

Which cabin filter to choose

Many motorists always want to buy everything “original” for their car, so what do they think? that then their car will work better. However, such components are often incredibly expensive. For this reason, many motorists will look for analogues, but in this case they will need to take into account many features of their car in order for the filter to fit exactly.

We have selected basic recommendations for you to help you make the right choice:

We advise you to give preference to well-established manufacturers, for example, Knecht, Bosch or MANN. You should not buy Chinese components - they are often cheaper, but the quality of such filters is much worse.
If you don’t have a budget for original spare parts, buy cabin filters in the mid-price category. If you buy cheap ones, they will work after a maximum of 5 thousand kilometers, and in the future they may become completely clogged.
Ask the seller to give you the filter, carefully inspect it, especially the finish of the surface parts. Cunning manufacturers do not really bother with quality, and therefore, in the upper part of the filter, you can easily pierce the fastener with your finger, since it is not made correctly.
Carbon versions of filters cope much better with the task of air purification. But they cost an order of magnitude more, so the choice is up to you. If your budget allows, it is better to buy them.
When purchasing, make sure that the filter is specifically for your make and model of car. Otherwise, the filter simply will not fit into the groove, and money will be thrown away.

There are not so many types of air filter mounts, and in order to know for sure which one is used on your car, you can use the table below.

Pay attention to the quality of the filter, and then you definitely won’t go wrong. We would not advise you to buy the original; it is better to buy filters from a German manufacturer, they have proven themselves well over many years.

That is why you should not pay a lot of money for expensive original ones, when you can easily purchase a high-quality filter at the best price. The filters are not that expensive - you can buy them for around 500 rubles. But just remember, you need to buy it specifically for your car brand, otherwise you will buy it and it won’t fit in the compartment.

When should you change the cabin filter in your car?

If your car is under warranty, you won't have much choice. Filter replacement is necessary to maintain warranty. The manufacturer recommends this procedure in accordance with the service mileage interval. That is, for most cars this is 15,000 km. It is with this frequency that the filter element is changed at the service. But in reality there are more precise requirements that should be taken into account if you are not puzzled by warranty issues. Here are some criteria for performing routine work:

if humid air appears in the cabin, the windows begin to sweat, and condensation appears, it is worth checking the condition of the purifier; most likely, it will have to be replaced with a new element;
in the case when the cabin is filled with unpleasant odors, it is important to inspect the air purification unit in the cabin - sour water and organic residues can cause such troubles;
if the mileage without replacing the filter device is more than 30,000 km, you should perform the procedure, since you are potentially breathing unhealthy air while driving;
when oxygen quickly runs out with the windows closed, but the airflow is turned on in normal mode, pay attention to the filtration unit, it often becomes clogged and does not allow air into the cabin;
If you have doubts about the quality of the previously performed maintenance, you should immediately get rid of such doubts and replace the cleaner to be sure that the car is in good condition.

It is better to be guided by these criteria, which will allow you to complete all technical and routine work on time. But sometimes you shouldn’t wait for condensation and an unpleasant odor to appear. Thrifty drivers change this part after 1 maintenance. That is, at 120,000 km a replacement is made, but at the next service of 135,000 the product is not changed. However, you should always pay attention to these criteria. Sometimes a car owner begins to struggle with high humidity in the cabin, and the problem is only in the filter.

How to replace the cabin filter

The easiest way to replace the cabin filter is when it is located near the engine compartment. The replacement procedure is performed as follows:

Open the hood of the car, this will give you access to the front panel (not for all models).
Further actions may vary. For example, some cars have a removable panel or hatch, and in order to get to the filter compartment, you need to remove this hatch. But most often you can get to the filter through the space between the windshield and the engine compartment. There is a shield that must be carefully removed, and then we will gain access to the filter compartment. The method of fastening the shield can also be different, for example, sometimes there are sealing profiles fixed with bolts.
You can now release the cartridge. Typically, latches are used to secure it; carefully push them aside and the filter will snap off. In the future, you will have to act differently, since it depends on the developer’s imagination. Sometimes you have to slide it up to get the element out, and on some cars it just comes out straight out. The filter element can be solid, but it also happens that it consists of several parts. Be sure to remember how the cartridge is correctly positioned in the compartment; this is necessary in order to correctly install a new filter in the future.
On many models, the cabin filter is located in the cabin, under the glove compartment or passenger seat, for example. Then there is no point in going under the hood.

The process of replacing the cabin filter on Lada Vesta
Some car versions have a dust sensor, so remove the filter carefully, otherwise the sensor may be damaged.
Vacuum the place where the filter is attached well, and use a rag to completely remove dirt.
Carefully and slowly insert the new filter element. Sometimes the filter may not work, do not try to use force, this often happens due to a mismatch of the filter. If you continue to push it further, you may break all the fasteners in the cell. Sometimes it’s worth paying attention to the marks; maybe you’re just not inserting it correctly.
After the new filter is installed, you can begin assembly, but only in reverse order.

If you want to watch and understand even better how to replace the cabin filter, you can watch this video:

How long does it take to change the cabin filter (antiplatelet agent)?

In a typical passenger car, which is mainly used on routes and also in small towns, it is enough to replace it once a year or once every 20,000 people. km, of course.

A diametrically different situation arises when the car is often used in the city, especially on the streets of a big city. So where is the greatest threat of smog? It is then recommended to replace the cabin filter once every six months - in early spring (especially important for allergy sufferers) and in late autumn, when the threat of classic smog increases.

The cabin air filter also gets dirty faster if the car is frequently used in forested areas (pollen), on sandy and gravel roads (dust, sand) or on construction sites (dust from sand, cement, etc.).

New cabin filter - installation in the engine compartment

Replacing the cabin filter can be combined with a typical car service. For example, with annual maintenance of the air conditioner (checking the tightness and level of refrigerant and compressor oil, as well as disinfection) or with oil maintenance and the accompanying replacement of oil and air filters. In a few minutes you can make an appointment at your chosen workshop, at Motointegrator.

Is it possible to drive without an air filter?

Of course, you can drive without a filter, but is it necessary to do so? For example, in some cars, such as Daewoo, the air filtration and circulation system is so complex and sophisticated that changing the filter is incredibly difficult. So that you can decide for yourself whether it is worth driving without a filter, we will give you several reasons why you should not do so:

Symptoms of a dirty cabin filter

The main symptoms of a dirty cabin filter:

intense fogging of car windows in wet weather
presence of an unpleasant putrid odor when the windows are closed.

They can appear together or separately, as they are caused by different reasons. In the first case, this means that, most likely, the dirty cabin filter is “tightly” clogged with dust and the fan’s efforts are not enough to force fresh air into the cabin, resulting in a greenhouse effect. You can compare fogging with normal ventilation and without it by closing the damper separating the interior from the engine compartment for a while. If there are no problems with fogging of the windows, but you are constantly bothered by the smell that no air fresheners can drown out, which intensifies as the fan speed increases, you should all the more look at the cabin filter. In this case, it can be assumed with a high degree of probability that the source of the “aromas” is some organic matter that got into the filter element and began to decompose, which will inevitably affect the “life” of the cabin filter. Perhaps the filter itself will still serve, but you will definitely have to remove unnecessary elements from it.

On which cars does the ventilation system fail more often?

The lowest quality units for filtering the air entering the cabin are installed on budget versions of cars. For this reason, car owners have to pay a lot of money to car repair shops for ventilation processing. And all this happens due to the fault of the manufacturers, who did not work out some elements.

Here are the models you most often encounter difficulties with:

Daewoo Nexia is a car brand with the worst ventilation system, which is also completely ineffective.
Lada Priora is a well-known domestic car, and it is a leader in ventilation difficulties. Although the car does not have air conditioning, the filter needs to be changed very often, and car owners also have to deal with a number of other problems.
Chevrolet Lacetti - this car is also common in Russia, its roots come from Daewoo. That’s why you shouldn’t be surprised at the shortcomings in the ventilation system, but unfortunately, this information doesn’t make things any easier for owners.
Renault Logan 1 is a car that has a number of significant shortcomings, but this was only in the first generation of cars. When the second modification came out, motorists appreciated it, since all the problems were worked out well and now the system functions correctly.

Sometimes air filtration systems break down not because the designers didn't think through the system correctly, but because of the owners. For example, many motorists try to save money on servicing their car, so they buy cheap Chinese filters. For this reason, the entire ventilation system may fail. Treat your car well and have it serviced by specialized services.

Where is the cabin filter located in Kalina

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The cabin filter in Kalina is located under the right (as viewed from the passenger compartment) protective grille, covering the space between the hood and the windshield. So first you have to remove it. The main difficulty in this case is that it is attached using self-tapping screws with an asterisk, which are unscrewed using a special TORX-20 socket screwdriver. They are located under the plastic plugs. Having removed the grille, you will find the protective casing of the stove, which is held on by more familiar self-tapping screws, which are unscrewed using a regular Phillips screwdriver. After removing this element, you will have a view of the cabin filter, based on the results of its inspection, you will be able to make an unambiguous conclusion about the need to replace it. Ideally, when performing this procedure for Kalina, it is better to have a new filter with you just in case.

What are cabin filters for?

These devices close the only hole from which air enters the car interior while driving. If the filter is not installed, as many motorists do, this place will remain empty. Most likely, you will not like such a trip, since all the odors from the street will immediately end up in the cabin, and a huge amount of dust will begin to accumulate on the surfaces. Without a filter, the air supply and distribution system in the cabin will very quickly deteriorate.

The main tasks of the filter are:

ensure air purification in the cabin, removing dust and other large contaminants that may enter the interior of the car;
partially eliminate the consequences of entering an area with unpleasant odors and increased gas pollution;
remove excess moisture from the air that enters the cabin, which reduces the effect of window fogging;
prepare and purify air before supplying it to the car, eliminate odors and other unpleasant effects;
serve as a kind of shield against bacteria and other microorganisms that may enter the cabin.

Of course, not all filter elements can perform these tasks really well. In particular, the cheapest filters, made from ordinary paper with holes, do not clean the air flow even from dust. More expensive, but still budget products from large companies can protect you from the main types of pollution, but not from all. High-quality and expensive carbon filters can clean even complex contaminants and odors. The more expensive the materials, the better the device will cope with the task. But the selection, of course, should be based not only on the price segment.

Location & Replacement

Below are the most common locations of cabin air filters on popular vehicles.

Under the windshield

The filter may be located under the windshield of the car. To get to it, you need to disconnect the connectors of the filter housings or open a special cover - it is better not to use any tools, because it is possible to damage the plastic, and then water can get into the filter.

The filter is located under the windshield in the following models: Audi A3 I / A4 B5, BMW E46, Ford Focus I / Mondeo III, Mercedes A (W168) / C (W203), Opel Vectra B/C, Peugeot 206 / 307 / 406, Seat Toledo II/Leon I, Skoda Octavia I, Volkswagen Golf IV/VI/Passat B5.

Remove the plastic carefully so as not to damage it. Sometimes the filter is located in the central part under the window

Inside, on the front passenger side

The most common location of the cabin air filter. Cars with a filter located inside the cabin: Chevrolet Lacetti, Daewoo Nubira II, Fiat Punto II, Fiat Grande Punto, Kia Cee'd, Opel Astra G/H (II/III), Renault Megane II / Laguna II, Seat Leon II, Skoda Octavia II, Toyota Corolla E12 / Avensis II / Yaris I/II, Volkswagen Polo 9N / Golf V, Volvo S80.

Ideally, you just need to open the housing cover and remove the old filter. In some vehicles, the filter can be accessed through the glove box or on the side of the dashboard.