Hey everyone,
I wanted to open a new thread in the 3G TL section to share my experience but I am not sure where to put it, MODS if you know where this info. would be most useful please feel free to move it.

I managed to get change my cabin air filter today since I had a feeling it was going to need it since my A/C fan was very weak to get the car cooled down. So stopped by a local Autozone Store and purchase a regular cabin filter did not want to pay $25 bucks for an Acura one at the dealer. Paid $17 total w/tax.
Went through the process of taking panels off to gain access to the filter box, thanks to the DIY in the garage section. But ended up breaking a plastic tab on the right upper corner.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3g-tl-garage-faq-3g-tl-newbies-553554/

Under F section for those who are new. Be CAREFUL, trust me!

Here is the horrifying reason why its been so low.


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How bad was your cabin filter? Mine had bugs, leaves and tons of dirt to point that it looked black.

 

You can get an activated carbon version at Rock Auto for about the same as what you paid.

 

But I would need to order it since they don't have a store well at least not near me.

I don't have a musty smell, so I guess I could've bought one, they had a dust & odor one, but they would need to order it since it not in stock, but I can change it the next time around, I really want to prevent wearing down the tabs. When I go home to visit family(collage student in San Diego, CA), I live in Ventura County I will be sure to make the cut out Mod for the filter.

 

Whats the activated carbon version?

 

Haha. No kidding. When I did the 2G for the first time I cut myself with a utility knife while cutting the tabs out.

Bleeding all over the garage floor (didn't get any in the car - ), I pound on the door to the kitchen. No answer.

Open the door; wife is blissfully unaware. "Hey!! Get me a clean damp towel!" .... .... ....



"HEY!!! GET ME A TOWEL!! I'm bleedin' all over the garage here."

.... .... "Why are you yell .... OMG!!! What should I do?!?!? You gotta go the emergency room!!!"



"Get me a clean damp towel!"

Patched it up. Got a tetnus shot the next day. Deep cut. Would've taken 2 or 3 stitches if I would've gone to the ER/Urgent Care. Got a nice scar as a reminder.

 

atp ha5.

 

What he said ^

 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=902189

I believe it will help prevent that musty smell using its odor control, as well as prevent harmful mildew and spores from developing into the car's A/C vents. Someone who has used them, please clarify, just trying to help but not really knowledgeable on it.

 

holy shit man.. that's the worst one i've ever seen

 

True. Works out better if you're planning the service and maybe picking up a couple of other items (wiper blades or spark plugs, etc.)


https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...56&postcount=3

 

Now that's scary, glad I didn't use a knife, but I'm mad that I broke a tab. I tried pulling gently with small amount of pressure from the rightside where the panel is between the door and dash. But everything else was easy enough to do, so I am happy I could change it.
Now I need to figure out where that small squeaking sound is coming from the front suspension when I go over small speed bumps or any bumps. Others who have stated that its either the bushings or the sway bar link bushings. Grrr!

 

Well ever since I bought the car which was last April 2011 w/ 95k miles, now has 111k miles. I guess it was due for a change since changes should be made every 15,000 miles or something like that. I was disgusted by it, quickly threw it away and hope mildew or other bad stuff didn't make a new home in my vents.

 

I bought my TL like 5 months ago CPO at a dealer, do they change this out before selling the car?

 

How many miles have you driven over the course of 5 months.

 

I wouldn't count on any dealer doing anything except pencil-whipping the CPO checklist.

 

Wow that's bad! When I first got my tl, I had a rattle coming from the back mount of the glovebox handle. Without searching on az first (n00b), I went ahead and took the whole thing apart finding it.

Learned about 2 days later that's where the cabin filter is! Wooops. Would've liked to have changed that. And I definitely broke a tab or two

 

I know I felt horrible, this was 1 owner vehicle too, and she had all records by the Acura dealer though I was lazy to see if she ever got thefilter changed. Seems like it never was changed since all sides were dirty, and bit greasy on certain sections.
I kept putting it off since I was too chicken s*$% to remove any part of my car especially the dash area. But once I tackled my steering wheel light bulbs and successful changed them, I had more confidence in something so simple. Usually I will just get my uncle to do all maintenance work done since he runs his own mechanic shop, but now I am starting to replace things on my own with the help of Acurazine.

 

this^

 

=\ will probably check and replace then haha

oh and i've driven like 6k in 5 months

 

Let me know how bad yours is, I feel like mine was the worst out there in the Azine community.

 

teh fuck.

 

hahaha are you equally shocked at how dirty it was?

 

Yours is nothing compared to others.

Even mine was worse but I never took a picture. I had like shit in mine no joke lol.

 

Well I've gone through other cabin filter threads that had photos and they were not as equally dirty as mine, but idk why their was like greasy areas
But I am sure someone has theirs so much worse but the ones I've seen were no where near mine's. lol
But glad it has a new one, my A/C seems to be low still so may need an A/C booster.

 

Nope. Yours is the worst. EVAR!!!

 

WOW!! That's dirty. I just replaced mine this weekend too, but it was no where near what that looked like. 42k on the car, and I have no idea if it was every done by the PO.

As for the dealer doing it before a CPO, I wouldn't count on it. The only thing the CPO is really worth is the warranty IMO.

 

Yay, wait ......



lol

 

Damn now I feel even worse lol, seems like other community members have never seen one so dirty before.

 

^^LOL, the main thing is that you replaced it. I think the manual says every 30K miles.

 

No. I bought my TL from a dealer a month ago and assumed the cabin air filter was never changed. I was right. It was definitely the original filter from 2007. It was nasty.

 

Well seems like it hasnt been changed in over 40k-50k miles. hahaa

 

Mine was about that black after 50k miles. Pretty disgusting.

 

Was it oily on the edges because mine was and I thought that was weird.

 

Anyone know the UPC code for the ATP rebate? I threw the box away before I knew I needed it. Thanks!

 

I'm about to do this tonight. If anyone is interested, here are the scans from the Acura manual (for the 07 and 08 models, not sure if it is the same on all 3Gs or not).

Hope this helps:

 

holy shizzzz the old filter was dirty....

since you dont have the carbon activated one, you can do the following:

1> turn car on
2> ac blower on full with air circulation turned off
3> close all doors
4> spray some lysol in the vents under the wiper....

this will take care of all the mold/etc...

 

mine was even worse, there were dead bugs and leaves it has a small hole in it too

 

I'll have to pick up my next set from Rock Auto.

 

+2 LOL.

When I first replaced mine it was pretty much white still lol, just some debris and stuff here and there, but it looked brand new compared to yours


Reminds me, I might as well replace mine later this week since I last replaced it 20k miles ago. But I'm sure it will look nothing like yours lol. And while I'm doing that I might as well replace my air box filter too.