Chas2

Here is a 2G RL Cabin Air Filter DIY. Being not very mechanical, it took me awhile to figure this out. Previous threads talked about the three tabs, but not how to it related to the air filter, which they do not! There are probably way more pictures than necessary.

Anyway, the gist is that to get at the cabin air filter, you must remove the drop down tray that holds the Owners Manual. Once that tray is removed, the rest is easy.

1. Open the glove box
2. Fold down the piece of felt like material behind the glove box. It is held in place by velcro, and will reveal three tabs which hold the Owners Manual tray in place. The velcro is on the bottom rear of the Owners Manual tray.

3. Open the Owners Manual tray

4. Remove the Owners Manual

5. Grasp the Owners Manual tray and pull it straight out. I used two hands, but the photo was taken showing one hand since I did not have a third hand to hold the camera.

6. The cabin air filter holder is revealed. There are two tabs, one on either end of the cabin air filter holder. This picture is of the filter pulled out about an inch. You can see one of the tabs on the right side. Note the arrows on the cabin air filter holder indicating air flow direction.

7. Grasp the holder on either end, push the tabs in the direction of the arrows to release, and pull out the filter. Again, I used two hands, but I needed to take the picture. Once the filter is removed, check the cabin air filter compartment for leaves and other debris which you may have to pick out.

8. Push out the old filter by applying pressure to the bottom of the filter, it will lift out. Note the printed directions on the filter for air flow, arrows pointing down. The air filter holder also has arrows on it indicating the direction of air flow (See image for step 6).

9. Put in a new filter, Honda Part No. 80292-SDA-A01.

10. Now reverse the steps, 7, 6, 5, 4, and re attach the felt fabric to the velcro and you are done. Oh, and don't forget to put the owners manual back.

sleepinxlionhart

oh wow, thanks. just wondering, how many miles do you have in the RL to prompt you to change the cabin air filter?

neuronbob

Nice DIY. Moving to the main forum. I can do this myself, doesn't look hard at all.

Chas2

1 year old about 15K miles. I was changing my furnace filter, and thought what the heck...

dwboston

I did it on my 05 and I'm waiting for the filter to be delivered on Tuesday to do it on my 06. It's really easy. Less than 5 minutes. Acura wised up on this generation of cars with the cabin air filter changes (I'm sure the dealers aren't thrilled). I did it on my 03 TL-S a couple of times and it was much more involved (especially the 1st time since you have to cut some hard plastic). Same with my wife's 06 MDX - you have to remove the glove box. The new MDX is pretty similar to this RL in terms of ease of changing.

Mike_TX

It's worth mentioning that the cabin filter is available at Walmart (and probably many auto supply stores) in Fram brand. I think it's about $19 if I recall correctly.

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TampaRLX-SH

Champion CAF 1781 @ Autozone is $17.91

I found searching on that part number brought up various vendors <$20. The $40+ price motivated me to do some shopping myself!

Chas, thanks for the pictorial. Not ONLY did I find even I could do it (with one arm still in a sling!) but I also discovered my Owners Manual kit would fit in the upper tray!

Now I can keep the lower tray filled with cheezy poofs!

mr_allenp

I believe that I replaced mine with one that is made by Bosch with part number P3875. And it matches perfectly. Cost was under $20.00 can't remember exactly.

GoHawks

Have any of you ever used the ones that have charcoal in them? I don't know if there's a version for the RL, but I do remember them when I replaced the filters in my 2nd gen TL.

Isn't the charcoal supposed to neutralize odors?

TampaRLX-SH

Hawks, just stay away from the Mexican food!

GoHawks

Trust me, it's not just the Mexican food.

[Is that too much information?]

AsianTL

CHAS2,

Thank you for DIY pics.

Good job bro.

kkimjames

And can someone do DIY on air filter w/ pics?
I've just changed canbin filter, but have no idea on changing air filter.
Bty, I was due on A2 maintenance (oil change, cabin filter and air filter) and dealer was going to charge $350. So I just had oil change for $35 and bought air filter and cabin filter for less than $40 from an auto shop.
Changing cabin filter took me just 2 min and now I need to change air filter.
I understand the dealer has to make money thru maintenance, but it's too much.

neuronbob

Ewwwww.

GoHawks

Talk about markup.

I took the Land Cruiser in for an oil change today. Their inspection noted that the air filter was dirty and one of the marker lamps was burnt out.

They asked me if I wanted those two items replaced

Air Filter: $35
Bulb replacement: $28!!!!!!!! This one was the biggest shocker as it's one of those bayonet bulbs that is easily accessible. Just open the hood, reach, twist and remove. I balked.

I want to my local auto parts.

Bulb: $1.50
Filter: $10

I guess I could understand the markup on the filter to some extent. After all, I purchased a "lowly" Fram filter, not a "Genuine Toyota" air filter [sarcasm light brightly lit], but what they were going to charge me to replace the bulb was downright insulting. It was a 30 second job.... LITERALLY!

This is Toyota mind you, not even Lexus.

470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

I only recently got into my RL. Though I changed the oil religiously I noticed decreased air volume coming from the vents. I was waiting to perhaps get a nice Blitz filter as I run those my other cars but decided I could wait no further.

Here is what my cabin filter looked like.
Now that I have a new one installed setting 4 is blowing as hard as setting 7 before, just without the noise. Anyhow I picked up a few of these @ only $12 each. Odd as I change our 4 home filters every 2 months.

fatty

Howd you get it for 12 bucks?? Where and what kind?

drolds72

Fram: cf 10134
Wix: 24815
Champion: caf 1781
Bosch: 3875

470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

I get a pretty hefty discount, just about cost on my auto parts. Sorry, should have stated so.
Anyhow, another part number to add

Purolator
Part Number: C35519

fatty

are they all bout the same quality?

drolds72

The fram filter seems to be a bit fancier with the addition of baking soda. I just put in a purolator, and it seems to be about the same quality as the factory one I just removed. Advance Auto had it for 13.78

470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

Some of the more expensive units have coatings that claim to filter more more bacteria,etc. The Blitz units I have cost around $70.00 or so and to be honest, I breath about the same. But one of the Lexus's is a convertible so the clean air filter is mute half the time. Any filter is better than my old one pictured above.

afjock21

This is effin awesome! Thanks Chas!! RL filter is so unbelievably easy I can't believe it! I'm surprised it IS so easy, considering service wants the service haha! No more wasting money for me..

Acurazine FTW!

gcook

I get 2 for like 20 bucks on ebay, they are just fine... I can change them more frequently...

TampaRLX-SH

I just changed mine again and was surpised how much yuck it had.

My RL is just about 3 years old and just shy of 27K mikes. For my climate, once a year seems to be the changeout cycle. After spring / early summer pollen season is right on target for me.

mark1980

Wow right on time for me to change the filter. Really good demonstration of dexterity. Nice DIY.

b0n3

nice .. so easy .. thanks!

guss_90

WAO Thanks !! CHAS 2!!! It took me 2 minutes.. really easy.

guss_90

Fortgot to add Filter / Autozone : STP Cabin Air Filter - CAF1781.

triniexr

Great write up! Thanks. I also have one request, how do you change the air filter under the hood? I found the 4 screws that hold down the box, after that I can't get the box to lift up high enough to get the filter.

PortlandRL

Just did this on the RL...really easy to do but the pictures provide nice reassurance. I'm 99.99% sure the dealer never even touched the air filter in ours (is it even on the maintenance schedule?) so it had a bunch of debris and leaves in it. Start to finish, the swap took all of 90 seconds.

Just FYI, the part number provided at the top of this page is incorrect. The new part number 80292-SHJ-A41. Just thought I'd let you all know.

stevesrl

I'm jacked!

I will change soon as will also do air filter, oil, trans, diff, rear brakes, rotate tires, coolant, and 2 headlight inverters. Just warming up for my 100K service (still have a little more research to do on it). Luckily I have 20,000 more miles to go before I tackle these items. Should be ready by then.

Anybody ever changed the timing belt, water pump, or motor mounts?

cbrose

Very nice and much easier than my MDX, which requires taking out the glove box, removing some plastic support bars, and removing a metal cross-support.

jedinyte120

my dealership want $70 for parts and labor on the cabin filter haha!

highlymotivated

incredibly useful write up! bought the stp cabin filter (CAF1781) and installed it. took less than a minute and cost... $20. thanks!!

FN P90

The only thing I noticed on the above pictures is that the filter had some binding going on. When I replaced mine, I saw what caused the binding/creasing, it was because the ends of the filter have to go inside the filter holder LIP.


Bottom of filter holder:


Properly fit filter:



Before & after...260,000 miles worth of crap. I know, I should have changed it a long time ago...

BadMojo

Thank you for this DIY tip.. I just changed mine with a Purolator filter from Advance Auto ($13) and I'm glad that I did. My (likely OEM) filter looked as bad as the one in the last picture.

-Mojo

MaxAlexand

Let me add my thanks to the list.

Stealership quoted ~$320 for B12 Service (I get free regularly scheduled oil and filter changes).

The service writer mentioned that the engine and cabin air filter change was the expensive part of the deal at ~$170.

Fortunately I remembered seeing this threat and googled it.

Thanks Chas2!!

CowboyRL

THANK YOU! I greatly appreciate the time you took to do this for us!!!

Chas2

Glad to be of service! I documented this, but others on the board before me gave me hints on how to do it, so it is just one of those joint efforts by many.