123

I have a 2001 CL-S with 90k miles on it, and have gotten the 30k and 60k miles at different dealers. For the 90k service, I decided to do some things myself to save money and avoid the stealership.

I decided to do the cabin air filter change myself today, and for those of you who haven't done it, you can tell if your filter has ever been replaced or not by looking at the plastic cut part. On my car, the plastic was never cut, and therefore the cabin filter was never replaced at 30k or 60k! WTF!

I want to call up both dealers and let them know, even tho it's been so long. Watch out for dealers who take shortcuts like not replacing this item b/c most ppl would never know!!!! Not only were the filters black, but they were caked with so much junk, you can't even see the ridges on the filter anymore.

For those of you wanting to do a quick maitenance item, here is the instructions I followed. It's so easy!
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/updated-diy-ac-cabin-filter-change-567712/

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

ya i did mine a few months ago. Had never been changed...it was black.

GreenMonster

That sucks... It make you wonder what else they skipped...

I'd tell 'em... maybe get a free oil change or something...

When I found out a dealer screwed up, I just stopped using them... In hindsight, I should have told them...

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

I replaced mine about 6 months ago...and

Couldn't believe how much crap was in it!!!

Good job with DIY...and yeah...you saved about $180!

I would tell the service manager...wouldn't hurt.

2Fast4you

iTrader: (1)

I was looking at that do it yourself and I see you need to use a dremel to get to the filter is there a better way to do this without cutting it up

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Never had to do that...

2Fast4you

iTrader: (1)

look at the do it yourself but I can probably find the proper way to do it in my service manual

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Yeah check that out...took 15 minutes to complete.

123

I couldn't find a dremel in my garage, so i used my swiss army pocket knife blade to cut the tabs, it was sharp enough to saw through. you can also try some heavy duty scissors.

2Fast4you

iTrader: (1)

I really don't wanna be cutting anything im sure theres a way not to cut everything up

123

If it's your first time getting at the cabin filters, you will have to cut the plastic tabs off. i don't know what kind of engineer designed it, but i think cutting down the manufactoring cost during the contruction of the car due to less parts.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

if its your first time, you have to cut or else you cant get the filter out. just do it, dont be afraid of cutting a little plastic, ive done much worse to my CL.

distortedolskool

iTrader: (1)

page 21-72 in the manual..."cut the plastic cross brace"

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Won't know until you open it up...

Don't be worried.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

You have to cut, It's no big deal. It's nothing hard. It's harder to cut your finger.

This thread reminded me it's time to change mine for the 2nd time. I have almost 30K since I changed them the last time. Bought the filters yesterday. Good thing once it was done once it takes like 5 minutes to do it again.

Moodist

iTrader: (2)

Which dealers in Philly were this?

SG81

iTrader: (1)

this is a good reminder that i should change mine this weekend. mine are probably horrible

2Fast4you

iTrader: (1)

who ever designed that is a retard

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

yes & no. It is a good indicator to know if they ever been changed before.
No cut plastic cover = never changed = very bad

SG81

iTrader: (1)

yup. that's why you can go back to the dealer and have proof if they "claim" to have changed it

GreenMonster

A 12 year old with some diagonal cutting pliers can cut the plastic "tabs" in a couple of minutes... Honda engineers designed it so that even a retard can change the filters, AND the car can be put together quickly (and therefore more cheaply).

Ken1997TL

This is why I either do it myself or have a dealer's Master Tech do all the work. He has a reputation to uphold.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

You can request a Master Tech?

How much does that run?

Joeram

I did this today also. Piece of cake. Mine had been changed sometime in the past, but were still black. Took 15 minutes. Thanks for the DIY, very helpful.

Ken1997TL

If the dealership even has one.. most don't.

I just got to know him and he does the work on all 3 of our cars.

He does a great job, gives honest advice and I give him perfect scores on his surveys. Everyone is happy.

nf3d0149ab

iTrader: (5)

Ahh...I see.

Again...comes down to who you know.

TheWeez

Werd. Nothing retarded about the design.

phipark

Dang, that does suck. I've always just change it myself. However, how would the common customer ever know? Very poor. I would first call them up and have them itemize their 30k, 60k services. If it does say the cabin filter, call them out on it. You shouldn't let this go. You never know too, maybe the tech was just lazy and the service department doesn't even know.

Bazla

I also did mine over the weekend with after 100k obviously it was not changed before. Apparently the previous owner didn't know as well. It was black and I had some twigs in there as well. Also it seem to have gotten wet at some point. I used a pair of diagonal pliers to cut the tabs.

thevikas87

iTrader: (2)

i just used a box cutter to cut the tabs, honestly wasnt a big deal...100k here also without it ever being changed...disgusted the hell out of me this past weekend when i changed it

TheWeez

Dealership changed mine a couple times before I owned it (paperwork shows it and the tabs were cut). Changed mine at the end of fall last year.

AnthraciteBeast

iTrader: (3)

Good point
cheap and effective

Cruz_msl

155K miles on a Second-gen CL-S:



From the TL Group: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=567712

Excellent DIY and it was very simple to do.

tnobori1

Jesus!!! First time?

PKIM

OMG!!! I never changed mine.... and after looking at that picture! I am going to the dealer today to get a new filter.... WOW.... o_0

nionio

that's how mine looked after i changed it a couple of days ago.

quick question for everyone...after i changed my cabin filter, i hear a louder noise coming from behind the glovebox. is this because the filter is new, or could it be because maybe i installed it wrong?? thanks for any help.

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

probably because something isn't seated right

Cruz_msl

It's nearly impossible to install them incorrectly. I would say that you may have a leaf or something still stuck in the fan area.

Cruz_msl

Yup, I had no idea that they were that filthy. We are talking wire hangers and Jimmy Hoffa remains here...

cu0ngsayz

iTrader: (1)

WOW..... i think i need to check mine see if it has every been changed out by the pervious owners... looks like a storm went through your filters cruz_msl haha