YCY

Does anyone have any experience to share regarding carbon-coated cabin filters? I installed my 3rd MicronAir combi filter (with carbon coating) recently in my 2008 TSX, which currently has about 16000 miles. The exhaust smell coming through my last filter (about 2,500 miles) prompted me to replace with another new MicronAir carbon-coated cabin filter. I can smell exhaust fumes when following a motorbike or an older car even when the filter was new! It leads me to believe these filters are not designed for high concentrations. Anyone has similar experience to share? I am thinking about switching to another brand of carbon-coated filter but didn't have any luck locating one. Bosch does not carry a carbon-coated kind for the TSX.

Thanks!
Acura/Honda Fan

davidspalding

Thought I answered this.... Oh, other thread.

hiptech

Here's a "dumb" question, are you running your HVAC system in "fresh air" mode or "recirculate" mode?

It does make a BIG difference...

SirataXero

Hey David,

Just wanted to say thanks for your detailed walkthrough. It was really helpful. I was quoted $40 for a replacement filter installation today at EZLUBE, which I think was a good deal, relatively speaking. I then asked the Acura Dealer here at Bakersfield, CA (Superior Acura) who quoted $120 for the installation, and $60 if I wanted just the filter.
SHEESH.

I checked online at Kragen auto parts and the filter for the 2008 Acura TSX comes out to be $30.99. Not bad.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...ype=10&PTSet=A

I followed your guide and was able to remove my filthy air filter under 5 minutes. Thank you VERY much! I intend to buy the Purolator air filter from Kragen and install it myself.

Awesome help!

btw: I followed this guide, in essence, for my dad's '04 Corolla, and realized that removing the glove compartment is about 10000 times easier on that car... it literally pops out... lol... technological advances make end-user life difficult >.<

sac_32294

just changed mine after 22000 miles, and didn't notice the pneumatic arm with the C hook and ended up breaking it I feel hella dumb, thats going to cost me $24 to replace.

stylin

i did this... noticed a slight noise coming from that side now... like a slight light rattle when i drive slow... possibly something loose? any idea? i took it out last weekend again and made sure everything was locked in place... any comments from you guys?

davidspalding

Pull out and reseat the left and right stops? Maybe one's loose.

stylin

yah i was thinking that.. ill try again... thanks

philrodd

Thanks for the detailed explanation of how to change the cabin filter. (I have a 2006 TSX with 55000 mi)

ak3883

I just got an A1 service yesterday(18k miles), and they brought the cabin air filter out to show me, it was dirty indeed, but I asked how much they wanted to change it, $65!!! And they still did the labor to take it out and show me and put it back. But that doesn't cost anything(or rather is included in the oil change service).

I said no thanks I'll take care of it myself. Plan to do it next week when I have some time off for the holiday. I should have known they would show me it and taken the 09 TL I took out for a spin while waiting and go and buy one at Autozone or the Honda dealer not far away, lol. Would they charge me to put a new one in that I give them myself, when they are putting the old one back in and not charging me any more? I mean they already had it out...

Oh well when he said $65 i instantly thought of this thread and smiled a bit, saying that I would take care of it myself. Thanks AZ

jlukja

I just ordered 4 from fleetfilter.com (Wix#24815, NAPA#4815). $12.39 each plus shipping.

danr43

The pneumatic arm is broken on mine as well. Is the part $24? Does anyone know how to replace it without pulling the dash apart? I just bought my TSX used - I wonder if the dealer would replace this arm under warranty?

davidspalding

Danr43, recommend you start a new thread (maybe a mod will be charitable and split your post off).

If you bought from a dealer recently, and it's covered under the used dealer warranty, take it in. If it's under factory warranty, take it to an Acura dealer. Problem solved...?

aaronng

The arm comes as part of the damper assembly used to slow down the opening of the glovebox. You change it by lowering the glovebox, and then reaching your hand into the space to the right of the A/C fan. That is right behind the panel which is on the dashboard where the door meets the dash. Push the panel out. Then you'll see the plastic damper assembly which is held on by one bolt. Take that off and put the new one in.

danr43

Thanks for the tip. I'll crawl in there tomorrow and see if I can figure it out. The only problem with the warranty/dealer option is the closest one to me is four hours away over two mountain passes. (I really wanted an Acura!)

davidspalding

Search online, there are dealers that sell parts at a discount.

If you change it out yourself, please take some pics and post them here. Others have had problems with that damper arm.

danr43

Check this out:
http://www..com/forums/showthread.ph...+damper&page=4

ak3883

Just got around to doing this today, took all of 15 minutes my first time(and that includes the time at the Honda dealer getting the filter). I wouldn't have tried this if i hadn't found this thread! Painfully simple, if the pics aren't totally clear once you see/do it in person it is not hard to figure out.

A couple pics:

Old and new. The little band of glue looks to be the only difference between the $45 Acura part and the $25 Honda part!



The old one. Time for replacement, but I bet there are people driving with filters that look far worse then this. The old one was the original filter, I have just over 18k miles on her right now.



Thanks a lot to everyone for the informative pics/scans and posts!

jlukja

^^ That old one looks nasty

kipsy

what honda part (for which honda model) did you buy ? i just ordered 2 filters for a 2006 honda accord and should receive wednesday. i have a 2006 tsx.

davidspalding

Kipsy, you've got the right ones on order. Check the first post under "Filters, filters...." You won't see a glue strip, but if you look at the edge, you'll likely find micronAir's name and a part number (you can check against the photo of the one I bought last year). BTW, those RAVs are fun, eh? My ex-wife had/has one, and I used to drive it to work. Zippy little go-cart.

ak3883, I coughed just LOOKING at your old filter. I'll bet your climate control air smells a lot nicer now....


BTW, I take the hint. I'll try to remember to take clearer pics next time and replace the originals in my first post.

davidspalding

OBTW, folks, the ATP HA5 filter is currently available from Amazon, qualifying for free shipping (two-day if you have Amazon Prime like I do). Pretty good price, too, without additional shipping or tax.

I won't post a direct link with my Amazon Associate code (not a qualified vendor here), but if you "visit davidspaldings homepage" you can search from there and I get a few pennies per sale.

dlee74

I just installed my cabin filter and it was so easy. Someone would be nuts to take it to the dealer to spend that much money in installing one. It took me only 5 minutes. The only problem was I had some wires in the way of pulling out the filter box but other than that, everything was easy and straight forward with the instructions. The 2004 manual instructions were correct on my 2007 TSX.

ak3883

Haha, I didn't think it was THAT bad, but I did notice a funk from the AC when I put it on last week coming home for the holiday. I'm sure it will smell a lot nicer upon the drive back I got the Honda filter, I know they are the same for 03-07 Accords. I was almost like "Can I get a cabin air filter for a, ummm, how about 2005 Accord?" lol.

I had a couple wires kinda in the way when pulling my filter tray out too, I was able to pull it out around them w/o disconnecting anything.

I'm not needing that AC anytime soon, I started her up this morning after 6 days of sitting in snow and wc's of minus 15 last night and daytime temps in the teens. It started better than I thought, even with a crappy 1 year old OEM battery!

dlee74

Do people leave the ventilation on while driving all the time? Or do you turn it off and turn it on when needed? I always keep mine on at low fan strength.
Just wondering.

davidspalding

FYI, the filter is for any air going through the blower assembly, not just air conditioned.

Not sure if passive flow-through goes through it as well (Colin? jlukja?).

I sometimes turn off the climate control when I'm starting up, driving out of the work parking structure. I'll crack the sunroof (upper button position) to let flow-through air vacate the stagnant air. In nice weather (65 degrees or so), I'll keep it off, and just use MODE (vent + feet, or windscreen + feet) to direct the airflow. But in city driving (slow), I find I'll turn it on just to keep consistent airflow through. (I rarely if ever open the windows, after 20+ years in a Jeep, I've had enough of outside noise and contaminants.)

I rarely set A/C OFF unless it's quite cold, and I know I won't need it, but eventually I turn it back on to keep the interior low humidity.

It's a matter of comfort, as Consumer Reports testing results a couple of years ago revealed that over a range of speeds, the a/c systems cost only about 1 MPG. I may turn it off if I'm going to climbing fast to escape velocity on an uphill freeway on-ramp (there are 2-3 of these in my regular escapade routes). More for power than economy.

I don't dicker with the settings much either, it's either ON and AUTO, or OFF with MODE set as mentioned. I might turn the fan down while talking on the phone (it's usually on 1 or 2, the low settings, already when I make a call), or select MODE windshield + feet to keep the vision ahead crystal clear in rainy weather.

HTH. It's an automatic system, meant to be self-regulating, so not a lot of adjustment is needed IMHO.

dc_37

Hi all,

I have a 2007 TSX/5AT w/ Nav and the B12 maintenance code just popped up today. Will the ATP HA5 filter from Amazon fit in my car? Thanks in advance.

jattditutti

What is the part number for the Accord filter?

davidspalding

The ATP HA5 is what's in my car right now.

If the part number is listed in Post #1, then I double-checked it as a compatible part, or quoted another 'Ziner who used it in a 1GEN TSX.

Delray Acura lists 80292-SDA-A01 as the 2007 TL filter. Another site lists this as the 2007 Honda Accord filter.

davidspalding

New part # (available from Amazon for pretty cheap):

Fram "Fresh Breeze" CF10134 (carbon + baking soda)

Packaged in an internal sealed bag to maintain freshness.

ramstein317

Hi you all doing! I have been reading the threads, and want to thank you all for the useful info. I do have a dumb question to ask even after reading all the info. I have a 2008 tsx automatic with Navi. It has around 34,200 miles. Only thing that I have been doing is regular Acura dealer oil changes, and a after market car care auto service to do my balancing, allignment, and tire rotation. I want to know if I want to change my filters, what kind of filters do I have to change in the car, and where in the car? Should they be Air Filter, and Engine filter? I am not sure. Before I buy those, I just wanted to ask. Thanks...

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Just the stock air intake box filter in the engine and then the cabin filter every so often.

sortudo7

+1 Make sure that you place them in the proper way when replacing. I imagine your cabin air filter might be filthy depending on how often you change it and use the A/C. Not sure about your engine but that may need changing too. Easiest way is to just check them and if they are grayish/dirty looking simply replace it. They should be checked ever so often. I replaced both of mine at like 12Kish and they were filthy. Hopefully, the dealer checked and replaced yours as needed.

ramstein317

Right now, im thinking to order the Acura Air filter, and the Acura Cabin Pollen filter. What do you guys think? Am I able to install these on my own? The dealer never recommend me for these two, and I don't know why? I just got my oil change at 34,000 yesterday at a acura dealer, and they did their multi-point inspection, and didn't recommend anything to me at all. How weird is that?

sortudo7

I wouldn't order the ones for the TSX specifically as they're over priced if you want to go with the dealer. Order the one's for the Accord as they are the exact same part number and everything but just cheaper from them. I just ordered one from eBay for the cabin filter for like 12 bucks and got the intake filter from AutoZone for like 13 bucks and they work fine.

Definitely just DIY. If you're not sure if you need it just check your filters, takes like 5 mins. If clean you don't have to change it but if it looks all old and dusty I would change them out.

ramstein317

Are there any videso from people here on this website, where they show how to change these filters? I can do it on my own, but its much easier on getting an idea how it can be done. I used to do it on my Altima, which was way easier. On acura it seems confusing. Thanks...

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmHKnbVZxV8 yea i did a bunch of them.

sortudo7

lcrazyaznl has a lot of youtube vids for stuff, I think he has one for the filters too. It's really easy, just be sure you get off the glovebox dampner on the right hand side when facing it. It just pops off but if you pull it down it will break easily and then your box just drops hard everytime. It shouldn't take more than 10 mins for both filters though.

edit: Holy crap, he beat me too it lmao. Guess that's what happens when I have a bunch of threads open in diff tabs haha

ramstein317

Thanks! Appreciate the video. I am gonna be ordering my oem parts for my 08 tsx. Quick question, if I wanted to change my brake pads front, and rear, do you guys know any auto service who can just do the work for me? And I just gotta give them the pads, and pay sufficient fee? What do you guys think? Thanks!

ramstein317

Lcrazyaznl- do you have any video of changing the regular air filter under the hood?