AMGala

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for all the help guys! I just replaced my cabin filters in 10-15 minutes, and Acura was quoting me $45 for parts + $88 for labor = $133! Just FYI, if you don't have access to a Dremel or pair of wire cutters, you can just use a utility blade. It was pretty easy to cut through with mine.

DiveforTL-s

Quick and easy thanks to Flounder... At least they were not the origonal filters but they were dirty.

TlsNavi03

iTrader: (1)

I did mine last night. Very easy job. I thought the pics comparing the use to the new filter looked pretty bad, but sure enough my old one looked just as bad.

Thanks

KevTL-S

If we have to cut the plastic piece off, then how does the dealer do it when we bring it in? Surely, they don't cut it off like that. So, there must be another way. Does anyone know?

AMGala

iTrader: (4)

They probably do exactly the same thing

BAPE head

The dealer indicates that they do the exact same thing.

CJITTY

Great job on this DIY. I used it and it helped out tremendously. 53K miles of straight nastyness was found in my old filters...damn that sh|t was nasty. After driving for awhile, I actually can tell the air is much more fresh smelling. My filters were pretty much black!!! yuck!
I got mine from AutoZone, Bosch filter 3600 and it came with 2 filters for $17...actually a little cheaper with my military discount!!

AcuraBuddy

Thanks for the DIY instructions, this was my first DIY on a car and I did it in under 20 mins well hehe thats because the previous owner already had the filter changed, which explains why the filter was only greyish compared to the black charcoal ones others had. Keep up the good work and DIY's info flowing.

vidhartha

this was one of the easiest DIY's and its such a big difference in air quality...

2Rude

This is some good stuff!! i Will be doing it myself soon! Thanks!

importvizion

the autozone here only have bosch I think it was like $8 sumthin each so about 18bux for both....still smells the same to me, gotta spray some disinfectant spray on the vent under the windshield area that sucks in the clean air I'm guessin

canadiantls

Did it today, WOW what a difference !!!

imagerockone

Wow, I just changed my cabin air filters right now and boy was it filthy in there. My car has got about 77K and this is the first time it's been changed, since none of the notches were cut. Just like someone else's thread, light could not penetrate the filter, because it was so clogged with dust, dirt, bugs, twigs, pollen, and so on. It took about an hour, because I did it in the dark while trying to balance the flashlight. Thanks for this DIY.

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

Can anyone post better pictures of this or give better, detailed instructions? I bought the air filters and can't get past the first screw. The two black clips are just really hard for me to get out. Once I get past that, it seems pretty easy but I just can't get the glove box out. Thanks.

fsttyms1

With the glove box open take a flat head screw driver and slide it under the black clip and twist. It will pop it loose, then its just a matter of taking it out

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

Thanks fsttyms1. I felt like I was doing it too hard and was breaking something. Did it a little harder and they popped right out.

Aqua

I just bought a cabin air filter but in all the previous posts, it mentions of air filterS. Are there two air filters that we have to replace?


[1999 3.2 TL]

Aqua

Is it me or are dealerships making 500% profit? to the link ups, I bought my cabin filter for $3.12 CDN ! [80291-S84-A01]

imagerockone

When I bought the Bosch cabin air filters, there were 2. They stack on top of each other into the slot. Maybe you bought a filter that takes the place of two?

Johnny Canuck

Bought my 2003 TL-S a month ago and after reading all the posts about changing cabin filter(s) I went to my local dealer and asked for cabin filter set for a 2003 Acura TL-S. $35. with tax, Canadian funds. The "set" is one unit with green filters, within a black plastic frame and looked like nothing shown in pix here. Went to Canadian Tire in Burlington Ontario and they have the set for around same price but it is listed as Honda which is fine. I assume same parts for such simple items. The Can. Tire kit has the two filters as shown in posts here. Followed instructions posted here and the filters had been replaced before - the plastic cover had been neatly clipped and was installed sideways correctly. The filters were quite clean and only a few leaf bits/pieces in the slot. Vacuumed the filters with a shop vac and put them back in. Previous owner was a non smoker, he/she had the filters replaced recently so I am even more confident now in my recent purchase. Hardest part was getting the two bottom hinge screws back in to replace the glove box.
Aqua: Where did you buy filters for less than $4. Canadian? JC

Aqua

i know someone that delivers parts to shops so the filter i bought was at wholesale price.

bigkahuna

Flounder, thanks for the great DIY !!!

And thanks jdpadilla for converting it to a PDF...

Submariner2

where did you get yours again? purchased my bosch brand from autozone for $17, it was the last one. I needed another one for my gf's tl, and it was the last one also at that autozone store. anyone know where I can get them cheaper online. thanks

bigkahuna

Did mine today. Took about 25 min. Bought the Bosch at Autozone.
Damn these suckers were dirty

thanks again for the DIY !!!

red00tl

Hats off to the OP. Thank you for a great post.

I had my cabin air filter changed around 36k, and now that my car is at 72k (and after about 3 years) I've decided to change the filter again.

Well, whoever that worked on my cabin filter threw away the pop-up piece of plastic cover (the thing that you cut/drill off and then put back in the horizontal orientation).
I suspect the acura dealership that I had the 36k service done.
Think they charged me around $450US (I was in the states at the time) as I recall.

It makes me rather annoyed to find someone cutting corners with a job as easy as this while charging me $70-80.

Johnny Canuck

red00tl Quote "Think they charged me around $450US (I was in the states at the time) as I recall.

It makes me rather annoyed to find someone cutting corners with a job as easy as this while charging me $70-80. "

So how much did they charge you, $450. U.S. or $70 to $80.? Big spread there. JC

fsttyms1

Im guessing the 450 was for the 36k service. Dealers typically charge 80+ for the cabin filter replacement

red00tl

Exactly.

bangumandoo

awesome tread guys! im gonna do this asap.

skipwillson

Did mine today. The filters themselves didn't look TOO bad, but it looked like the previous owner had been driving through a wheat field:



The cover had been clipped and reinstalled, so the filters had been changed at least once in 43k miles.

As has been said many times in six pages, Great DIY post!

ChrisQ1980

I just did mine tonight. $20 for the Bosh filters from Autozone. It was my first time doing it so it took me about 30minutes. Everything went well. It was never done before on my 03 TL-S with 29k. The performance of the heat is greatly improved now. Here are some pics.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Thanks for this great DIY. this is one of the things i was looking to fix. will replace before this weekend! im guessing the filters will cost me about 20 bucks at autozone. 01 with 75k, unsure if its been changed. if not, im guessing it gonna be bad! lol, need pics anyone?

Johnny Canuck

Checked mine last summer and didn't look too bad and the filters had been changed at least once by previous owner. BUT ... now it looks like my cabin has dandruff!! Lots of very fine white particles on steering wheel hub and on dash top. Black leather doesn't help with visibility either. So I will once again dig down and this time the filters will be changed, provided this banana belt weather continues here in southern Ontario (emphasis on southern). Should I invest in Selsin Blue or Head and Shoulders, automobile version? JC

fsttyms1

Id go Head and shoulders. Smells better


Thanks for the thread revival. I need to do this as well (why i didnt while i had the dash apart 6 months ago for my 6speed swap is beyond me)

assclown

iTrader: (1)

i'll go ahead and do this when i do suspension later this month

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

well i found out that they have been replaced at least once before but someone threw away the plastic piece that you were supposed to cut out
the filters werent as bad as some of the ones you see people post here but it was still bad. im gonna change them soon

assclown

iTrader: (1)

yuck!



i thought this was funny too, i knew how to do the filter change but i looked at the directions for shits and giggles and i saw this....



if i can do this i'm almost as good as fsttyms1 and his six speed swap



and i added a lil more touches to the filters with this:



gave it a nice subtle clean smell.

the_hunter

I found this thread just in time. I am going to get the 60k tune-up next week. Per the dealer's pricing sheet, they will do the following;

Air Filter Replacement & Clean Filter Box for $49.99
Replace Heating & Air Conditioner Filter for $99.99

I would think that air filter replacement and replace heating & air conditioner filter are the same, but maybe they are charging $100 for the filters and $50 for the labor.

Either way, I'll be telling them to NOT do this part of the service. Thanks for saving me $150.

MikePA

The first service is the engine air filter, the second service is the filter referred to in this thread.

fsttyms1

at teh directions.