F-130: DIY 2008 TL cabin air filter replacement with pics
#1
F-130: DIY 2008 TL cabin air filter replacement with pics
enough info but not enough pic so here it goes. this is on a 2008 TL so might be different from 04-06s
there are a lot of pic so please be patient
the glove box
glove box opened. remove your stuff
there are two foam hinges (circled) slotted into two holders on the side. you want to push the corner toward each other and pull out the glove box
there is a plastic hook on right side, unhook it and don't break it
make sure you have the plastic hook removed on right. then remove the 2 screws circled
glove box out. again the black plastic hook. becareful during the entire process and don't break it
two screws circled (cabin cover)
if you look under the cover on the right side you will see this white plastic tab (i took it out but absolutely unnecessary)
so please skip this and save time
again you see the white plastic tab removed (not necessary)
remove the 2 cabin cover screws
this is the sort scary part... the cover is held by many metal/plastic clips and you want to apply SLOW AND STEADY pressure.
do not yank. the right side came out first on my car. might be different on yours
cover detached, unplug the blue (trunk release), unplug white (glove box light, the white tab thing)
you want to suspend the cover in air while removing the plugs. don't let the cover HANG !
cover removed
air filter box
push in the black tabs on the side of the box then pull the box out toward you
old filter. make sure the orientation is right (air flow down and letters are facing the front of your car)
new filter on top (correct orientation)
old vs new
insert box back in slot. make sure the two side clips click to secure the filter box
red circle = metal/plastic clips yellow circle = trunk release and glove box light
plug trunk release and glove box light back WHILE suspend the cover (like hold them with your legs). don't let it hang !
now wiggle the cover starting on the left side first then work your way to the right... SLOW AND STEADY pressure.
do not hit the cover with your hammer. the circled plug is the hardest to put back in for me
cover back in, front view flush
side view flush
place cabin cover screws back in first
then place the glove box screws back in make sure you line these up carefully. suspend glove box with your legs
put the hook back in
depressed circled hinges and slide them into the slots
done
air is so fresh again ...
would i consider cutting a filter hole? yes and no
time 30 min, very careful
difficulty level 4/10
appreciations will be much appreciated !
there are a lot of pic so please be patient
the glove box
glove box opened. remove your stuff
there are two foam hinges (circled) slotted into two holders on the side. you want to push the corner toward each other and pull out the glove box
there is a plastic hook on right side, unhook it and don't break it
make sure you have the plastic hook removed on right. then remove the 2 screws circled
glove box out. again the black plastic hook. becareful during the entire process and don't break it
two screws circled (cabin cover)
if you look under the cover on the right side you will see this white plastic tab (i took it out but absolutely unnecessary)
so please skip this and save time
again you see the white plastic tab removed (not necessary)
remove the 2 cabin cover screws
this is the sort scary part... the cover is held by many metal/plastic clips and you want to apply SLOW AND STEADY pressure.
do not yank. the right side came out first on my car. might be different on yours
cover detached, unplug the blue (trunk release), unplug white (glove box light, the white tab thing)
you want to suspend the cover in air while removing the plugs. don't let the cover HANG !
cover removed
air filter box
push in the black tabs on the side of the box then pull the box out toward you
old filter. make sure the orientation is right (air flow down and letters are facing the front of your car)
new filter on top (correct orientation)
old vs new
insert box back in slot. make sure the two side clips click to secure the filter box
red circle = metal/plastic clips yellow circle = trunk release and glove box light
plug trunk release and glove box light back WHILE suspend the cover (like hold them with your legs). don't let it hang !
now wiggle the cover starting on the left side first then work your way to the right... SLOW AND STEADY pressure.
do not hit the cover with your hammer. the circled plug is the hardest to put back in for me
cover back in, front view flush
side view flush
place cabin cover screws back in first
then place the glove box screws back in make sure you line these up carefully. suspend glove box with your legs
put the hook back in
depressed circled hinges and slide them into the slots
done
air is so fresh again ...
would i consider cutting a filter hole? yes and no
time 30 min, very careful
difficulty level 4/10
appreciations will be much appreciated !
The following 8 users liked this post by ze2o:
demon-cleaner (04-30-2013),
dirtyspitshine (10-10-2013),
FamilyGuy (10-22-2012),
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KJ TL-S (11-11-2012),
and 3 others liked this post.
#3
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
Nice thorough & detailed DIY, oh.. and nice moccasin slippers btw...
#4
9live. all depends. i think it's suggested at 15,000 or so? I'm changing it every 10,000 along with the engine air filter. some people change it frequently (like me) and some changes at every 30-40k
majofo. i would kill for another pair
majofo. i would kill for another pair
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#10
#11
See the original DIY Cabin Filter thread. It's about 6 pages, but it's got lots of good info about moding the glove-box housing so you don't have to remove it to replace the filter...
#13
Senior Moderator
#16
#17
what if my filter doenst have the arrows at all? i got the one from Rock Auto, one with the charcoal filter or something like that. just installed it last night, one side was darker than the other so i use the darker side facing up....would it really a difference between the sides?
#18
#19
what if my filter doenst have the arrows at all? i got the one from Rock Auto, one with the charcoal filter or something like that. just installed it last night, one side was darker than the other so i use the darker side facing up....would it really a difference between the sides?
#21
Instructor
I broke my tab too : (
If IQ was based on mechanical skills I would be severely retarded. It took me 2 attempts in different days of opening and giving up, then finally just decided to pull the dang compartment towards me. It took a lot of force! And then it just POPS out.
I'm definitely considering taking the dremel to it, who knows how many tabs I will remove next time haha. .
At least my car doesnt smell like stinko anymore
If IQ was based on mechanical skills I would be severely retarded. It took me 2 attempts in different days of opening and giving up, then finally just decided to pull the dang compartment towards me. It took a lot of force! And then it just POPS out.
I'm definitely considering taking the dremel to it, who knows how many tabs I will remove next time haha. .
At least my car doesnt smell like stinko anymore
#22
1st Gear
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Southern California
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Phenomenal mod. The glove box came out quickly while the cover took about 10 minutes of massaging. My only suggestion is to line up the cover with the filter box to see exactly how far to the right to make the dremel cut. My filter box was a few inches fewer to the right than some of the other pictures.
The 35 minutes invested here will be well worth the 30 seconds it will take to change the filter in the future.
The 35 minutes invested here will be well worth the 30 seconds it will take to change the filter in the future.
#24
B A N N E D
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Westchester/NYC
Age: 40
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I did this service to my car 2 times. Saved over $200 that the dealership would have charged me. I would suggest getting the Charcoal Premium Filter from www.rockauto.com
#25
Ok I am stuck at work with very little to do so I went out and started taking my glove box out. Your diy is great except you didn't mention 2 little round black retaining clips. These are very similar to the retaining clips under the hood for the plastic cover over the radiator. I didn't notice them until they broke off. No biggie. I may just leave them out. Well my filter was about 1000X worse than yours. It is nearly completely black. I guess it has never been changed. Looks like I need to go shopping.
#27
#28
Instructor
Nice write-up and it helped greatly. Here's my additions:
Wix Cabin filter from Amazon.com = $9.87
2 broken tabs, but it doesn't matter.
Don't wait 30k miles before changing the filter. It'll look like this:
Also, I broke those two clips on the upper part of the glove box. In the original poster's picture (2nd & 3rd pic) he's missing them as well. It's the 2 plastic circles next to those 2 cones. Apparently, it doesn't matter if they're broke as long you push the glove box back into the other clips. No worries.
Wix Cabin filter from Amazon.com = $9.87
2 broken tabs, but it doesn't matter.
Don't wait 30k miles before changing the filter. It'll look like this:
Also, I broke those two clips on the upper part of the glove box. In the original poster's picture (2nd & 3rd pic) he's missing them as well. It's the 2 plastic circles next to those 2 cones. Apparently, it doesn't matter if they're broke as long you push the glove box back into the other clips. No worries.
#29
thank you so much for this tutorial!
and you were definitely right when you said you will be scared tugging on that final panel, every time a clip got loose, i nearly wet my pants haha.
everything went well though, thanks.
and another thing to add, i ordered the ADP filter that you recommended, and even though it didn't have a label for which side goes up, only one side really fits in to the groove of the cabin air filter casing.
and you were definitely right when you said you will be scared tugging on that final panel, every time a clip got loose, i nearly wet my pants haha.
everything went well though, thanks.
and another thing to add, i ordered the ADP filter that you recommended, and even though it didn't have a label for which side goes up, only one side really fits in to the groove of the cabin air filter casing.
#30
Drifting
Thanks for the tutorial!! Just completed mine including making the cut-out. Picked up a Charcoal filter from my local auto-parts store for about $15 a couple weeks ago and finally got around to installing it.
I did check some of the other cabin filter DIY threads to find out more about the two clips on top. You just have to push in on the center and they pop free.
I did check some of the other cabin filter DIY threads to find out more about the two clips on top. You just have to push in on the center and they pop free.
#31
As posted earlier, 2004 is very different. The guides that go in the slide tracks are actually removable (they're the black plastic tabs on the sides of the glovebox compartment). Gently pry them from the front, push the glove box in slightly to remove pressure and rotate the clips toward the center of the glovebox. The guides will come through the hole in the side of the glovebox.
Also, the 2004 doesn't have any screws holding the plastic facing to the frame...you just gently pull on the plastic starting at the right side.
I would strongly recommend detaching the trunk release and glovebox light prior to pulling on the plastic facing...wiring harnesses are very expensive.
I just did this last weekend. Total time including a review of the thread posted in the Garage was 10 minutes tops. I'm not cutting anything and risking a change in structure (rattles?).
Also, the 2004 doesn't have any screws holding the plastic facing to the frame...you just gently pull on the plastic starting at the right side.
I would strongly recommend detaching the trunk release and glovebox light prior to pulling on the plastic facing...wiring harnesses are very expensive.
I just did this last weekend. Total time including a review of the thread posted in the Garage was 10 minutes tops. I'm not cutting anything and risking a change in structure (rattles?).
#34
#36
I too broke a couple of clips while removing the glovebox assembly.
Does anyone know an effective means of reattaching the clips to that they will withstand future stresses and strains?
The material of the glovebox appears to be PP-T or polypropylene reinforced with talc. I understand that polypropylene is extremely resistant to chemicals including most glues.
Does anyone know an effective means of reattaching the clips to that they will withstand future stresses and strains?
The material of the glovebox appears to be PP-T or polypropylene reinforced with talc. I understand that polypropylene is extremely resistant to chemicals including most glues.
#37
Finally got around to doing this today. My old cabin filter wasn't as dirty as I had anticipated, but the smell is now gone! I got the OEM filter ($20 + tax), but I think next time I will try a Fram with the activated charcoal.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the post.
#38
Intermediate
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Canton/Massillon, Ohio
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That was 1 great instructional picture post with instructions. I thank you ..will save this till I have to do it my self.
This should be made into a Sticky For Sure.
This should be made into a Sticky For Sure.
#39
So, I just changed my filter a few minutes ago. Great instructions by the way. It really helped.
However, I just wanted to add a couple comments. I noticed in your picture, that you didn't have those two tabs at the top of the glove box. I also noticed somebody else mentioning they broke theirs off. All you have to do is push the center of that tab in and it immediately loosens. (Found this from one of the other guides). To put it back in, just push the tab so that the center locks into that groove between the two flared pieces. When you put it back in and push, it'll pop itself back into place and lock.
I didn't bother pulling off the harnesses because my fingers were slippery due to some residue somewhere. The dashboard plastic is pretty light so I just propped it up with my manual holder and made sure it stayed in place while I carefully worked the filter out.
After I realized what to do with the two push tabs, the whole process took me probably less than five minutes. I thought I shared this with everyone else with the 07 and 08 TLs and save you the trouble of ripping the skin off your fingers like I did or any pieces of the dashboard.
However, I just wanted to add a couple comments. I noticed in your picture, that you didn't have those two tabs at the top of the glove box. I also noticed somebody else mentioning they broke theirs off. All you have to do is push the center of that tab in and it immediately loosens. (Found this from one of the other guides). To put it back in, just push the tab so that the center locks into that groove between the two flared pieces. When you put it back in and push, it'll pop itself back into place and lock.
I didn't bother pulling off the harnesses because my fingers were slippery due to some residue somewhere. The dashboard plastic is pretty light so I just propped it up with my manual holder and made sure it stayed in place while I carefully worked the filter out.
After I realized what to do with the two push tabs, the whole process took me probably less than five minutes. I thought I shared this with everyone else with the 07 and 08 TLs and save you the trouble of ripping the skin off your fingers like I did or any pieces of the dashboard.