I think it's time to change the cabin air filter (~31,000mi) and was wondering if anyone else has done this yet. Seems straightforward. Pop the retaining pins from the cowl, remove cowl, replace filter, and reinstall. Having the wipers in the upright (on) position may help. Anyone know for certain it's not any harder than it looks? It appears to be directly under the D/S wiper.

 

If its similar to the previous model wide bodies then its as you described. Thats how I change mine in my 99 Grand Prix.

 

I have changed mine in my 06 impala. I think its on the passenger side. Remove the rubber trim and the push pins. Pretty easy once I figured out they were push pins. Thought I was damaging them when I first tried to get in there. It was pretty nasty also, wouldn't have thought it would have gotten that dirty that fast.

 

Thanks for the reminder ... are they still $30+ bucks for a HEPA one? Well worth it IMO!

Changed the one in my '98 GS, I thought I remember it was kind of a pain, not complicated but I think I crimped the filter or something. More clumsy than anything.

And yes - be gentle with the push pins, as they are an A surface item.

 

I changed mine at 13,000km and it was disgusting. I could not believe how much stuff got caught up in that filter in such little time. Once spring hits I am putting in a new one.

 

So I should expect some nastiness when I do this at 32,000mi, huh? lol Talked to my parts guy and it's gonna be $33 shipped from him. Anyone know what the dealers are charging? Is the OEM filter HEPA?

 

Your parts guy? Are you getting this from a website any of us can order from? I'm approaching 20k miles and its probably time to get this changed

 

I got a Bosch one at Autozone for around $12. It's the same filter for the 04+ GP's. I buy two at a time for both of the vehicles and change them out every 6-8 months or so. They get pretty funky fast but once I started changing them out often my car smells a lot nicer.
Tate

 

Buffalo,

Mine was greenish black. Does that answer your question? Gross! But like Compg says, you really notice an improvement in air quality inside the car after the change.

 

Maybe I should do this....is there anywhere where you can buy these filter replacements online?

 

Don't know where but I'm sure there is. I just bought mine at advance auto, it was around half the price of the one from my dealer.

 

not real sure how to get to the filter by the instructions given before. I'm afraid i'll break something anyone want to post pictures ??? is it the same on the IMSS as the MCSS ?

 

At www.NAIOA.com, ZSPOT works for a dealer and gets us fair prices on OEM equipment. Thats where I buy the majority of OEM parts from. Even if it's close to dealer price, I buy from him b/c (iirc) he gets a commission on it. So long as I'm not in a hurry, I'd rather buy from him and help him out.


Anyway...i popped the pins on the cowl the other day and cannot get to the filter. The passenger side cowl comes off completely, yet there is no filter to be found. The d/s is stuck down from the wipers. If you look at the cowl on the impala, the air intake is in front of the driver...isn't that where the filter would be??? I took a pic...lemme see if I can find it. Don't mind the filth...I had just gotten back from a horrible road trip...you should have seen the rest of the car that day:

 

I checked for you Buffalo, maybe this will help others also. Removal of the push pins is all that holds it all in place. It is on the passanger side. Remove the push pins first, you have to pop up the center plug, not the whole plug. The plug in the center expands in the outer portion of plug to secure it. Sure you guys know this but I didn't until I fought it. Then remove the passanger cowl cover. Leave the window washer lines intact, just set it aside. Then lift out the divider piece and there it is. See the pics. Hope this helps somebody.

 

Thanks man....that helps a TON. For some reason, and maybe it was the 10* i was attempting this in, it appeared that that little flap that exposed the filter was more securely fastened. It looked like it was a few nut/bolt combinations holding it in there.

Gonna check AZ online and see how much a replacement is. if yours was greenish-black, i can only imagine mine at 32,000. ewwwww.

I'll make sure to post pics for your enjoyment, though. I swear my car doesn't smell moldy or anything

EDIT: $12 at Autozone...going to pick one up later today or tomorrow on my lunch break.

 

Yeah, there are little raised circles on that flap, easily confusing. It does look secured. You were so close. I first thought I didn't have one either. I actually contacted the dealer about it but they were not much help since they wanted to do it for me.

Filter condition could be dependent on your local climate. I live in Georgia, it is warm here often. That may cause mold growth. In colder conditions, it may last for a long time. I think I changed mine around 25k. I've put about 7k on it since and it still looks new but it has been cold outside since I changed it mostly.

 

I went to AZ and after about 15min of the guy twiddling his thumbs trying to first find it in the computer and then on the shelf, the mgr came over and said "dumbass, they;re in the back where they always were!" $13 later it's sitting on my front seat. I'll try the swap tomorrow AM...shouldn't take too long, now that I've taken it apart once. Although, I should probably do it tonight so that if I come out all grimy I don't have to worry about finding something else to wear to work I gotta believe it's gonna be nasty...but the car doesn't smell bad, imo.

 

prob dosnt smell bad but will definatly smell better :X thx guys for the pics

 

OMG BUFF! what a dirty car.

 

Well, I swapped the filters this morning. Easy as hell. Used a multitool that I keep under the rear seat and used the pliers to pop the middle plugs on the side...then pulled the retainers out too (I found last time that putting them back in is easier if you preassemble the plug into the retainer).

The filter wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be after 31,xxx mi. Sorry for the crappy pics, but you get the idea:



New one installed:



Yeah, tell me about it. The following pics were taken the morning after I had to drive from Rochester to Buffalo without using I-90, as it was closed last Wednesday due to zero visability:











And I did this for the crew at NAIOA



And here's one for ***** and giggles: my headlight project is finally complete (although I still haven't found a permanent cure for the small amount of condensation that shows up from time to time)