In-Cabin Microfilter Replacement

[BBISHOPPCM]

I just replaced my Microfilter today, if anyone needs instructions or photos of the process, let me know! Takes about 5 minutes, and beats paying the dealer $90 to replace it. Mine was FILTHY after 16,000 miles.

[KimberKenobi]

do instructions and photos... I have a feeling mine will need to be changed... soon...

[Martini]

This would be great to know before I purchase my car and would be very helpful once I get it!

[BBISHOPPCM]

Ok, here's what I'd like to do... I'll write up the instructions, and send the photos to someone who can post it to the site. I do not want to sign up to a photo hosting service.

[Althalus]

I can host you're pictures and stuff if you'd like, shoot me an email.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Thanks! I'll send em tomorrow!

[The Edge]

[Jemdawg]

What is the price on the filter? Did you buy it direct from Nissan?

Mine definitely needs to be done, I'm nearly up to 19000 miles.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Well, my photos came out like crap, so I'll post the instructions.

1) Buy filter from your friendly Nissan Dealer (for around $20).

2) Remove glovebox: Screws are located around the upper lip of the box, and towards the bottom lip.

3) slide glovebox out of dash, be careful of the g/box light; disconnect wire before sliding out entirely.

4) The filter is located on the right/rear side of the HVAC box towards the firewall. Look for something that looks like the plastic part of the new filter, it's hidden, so it may take some time to locate.

5) The filter has to be popped out towards the top; slide upwards about 1/4", and straight out. The top of the filter media is loose and will get stuck, you will have to manipulate the media slightly to free it up.

6) Turn blower on full-blast on recirculate to blow out any particles trapped in the housing.

7) Install new filter, reverse of removal procedure.

Hope this helps!

[Juelze]

« Re: How to change in-cabin air filter? (Juelze) 11:57 AM 9/9/2007

Well I finally did this today. Not a complete PITA. The worst part was putting everything back together but I'll explain more on that later.

Here are the steps.

1. There are 8 screws holding the glove box compartment to the dash. 4 of the screws are on the bottom and are only accessible when the glove box is closed. The other 4 are on the top of the glove box compartment are only accessible when the glove box is opened.

2. Once all 8 screws are removed, you will be able to pull out the whole glove box assembly, but only pull it out part way as there is an electrical connection on top of the glove box which I'm assuming is for the glove box light. You might be thinking "Duh!" but I've never seen that light come on and thought it was an additional option. Anyway, just press down on the white part to unlatch this connection and you can remove the glove box completely.

3. Now to remove the in-cabin air cleaner. It's on the bottom middle of the dash right against the firewall. Removing it according to the service manual didn't make sense to me. "Compress the filter downward..." Huh? The plastic molding that holds the paper element isn't compressible, it's rather sturdy. There is no tab for the filter on the top, but there is a tab on the bottom of the filter, that doesn't help me. Ugh. I finally figured out what they mean by "Compress the filter downward." Imagine a deck of playing cards, now if you apply equal pressure to the top and bottom of the deck, nothing happens. However, if you apply downward pressure on the top of the deck at an angle, what happens? The deck bows or bends (i.e. compression). In this case, the the plastic the the air filter is attached will bow slightly to the passenger side when you apply downward pressure at a slight angle. You probably won't be able to visibly see the plastic bowing, but that is what they mean by "Compress the filter downward." Anyway, once you use that compressing/bowing action, pull the top part of the filter out.

4. Once you have the top part of the filter removed, just lift up the bottom of the filter to unlock it from the tab holder. Voila, the filter is out. (note: be mindful of a foam covered assembly that somewhat obstructs your view of the in-cabin air filter, it will get in the way of removing the filter unless you filter towards the firewall).

5. Putting the filter back in is a cinch, you just have to hold the paper element (accordian like) down and push it in being both mindful of the tab, and using some slight "compressing" technique.

6. Now for the fun part, Go grab the glove box assembly and slide it back in halfway. Attach the glove box light connector (only goes on way way) until it clicks into place. Shove the glove box in the rest of the way and put the 8 screws back in. Simple enough right? Wrong. This was the hardest part for me because you essentially have to keep pressure on the glove box so you can line up the screw holes so you can screw it back together. I normally expect this when taking things apart. The part that irritated me is that there are these little metal spacers between the plastic of the glove box and the actual screw holes that move around. I had to use a small nail to move them back into position and quickly get a screw started so they didn't fall back down.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. Also, if my glove box is supposed to be illuminated (not sure if it was standard or optional) I hope to god I don't have to remove the glove box again. While not difficult, it's something I'd only like to do once a year.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Thank you for posting... pretty much exactly what I posted above you! The glovebox light comes on (and stays on) when the parking lights are turned on.

[Scuba Steve]

Hey guys...hats off to you!!! That is a good write up on the instruction of the in cabin air filter. I do agree the service manual is not as thorough in detail.

Steve

[Juelze]

Thank you for posting... pretty much exactly what I posted above you! The glovebox light comes on (and stays on) when the parking lights are turned on.

<sarcasm /on>

Hey, no problem!

<sarcasm /off>

I actually posted my information before, you and didn't want it to go to waste as it seemed to be buried amongst posts. Nothing personal. :-)

[BBISHOPPCM]

hehehe... no problem.

[phikep]

Excellent! Got it done. Great instruction. My dealership wanted $90. I seems Nissan deliberately makes some of its repairs difficult for the owner to perform.

Thx again

[kam472]

i just replaced filter at the dealer last saturday...paid 90 bucks and change....if i only read this post before......ahhhhh $#@!

[br4dysays]

i had this done along with my great deal of a 15k/1yr service for 200$

[Santoro]

I just replaced my Microfilter today, if anyone needs instructions or photos of the process, let me know! Takes about 5 minutes, and beats paying the dealer $90 to replace it. Mine was FILTHY after 16,000 miles.

In case anyone else is curious I just did mine and I will be posting pix later tonight or in the morning.

[tata12001]

Thanks For Posting , Waiting for Pics and Instructions

[randyshemin@comcast.]

The instructions posted above are great. I checked ours at 11k miles last weekend and it was still clean. I'll replace it at 15k like I do on our Sentra and Mitsubshi.

Here's a place that sells the filters for many cars at a great price. $8.18 for the Versa filter plus shipping. https://www.logical-source.com/Default.html

[aquaman67]

Thanks for the site, you can get two for the price of one...almost!

[Scuba Steve]

Your glove box light only works if have your headlights on.

Steve
Modified by Scuba Steve at 1:48 AM 7/31/2008

[DrivingHabit]

Whats the microfilter do again for those don't know anything about it. the car should run fine if you never replace it??

[aquaman67]

It filters the air inside the car when you have the A/C control in recirculate. It's like that filter on a vacuum cleaner that no one ever changes.

Your A/C will work better with a clean filter. You might be able to stick a dryer sheet with it to make your car smell nice. That's what I do with the vacuum cleaner anyway. Otherwise it smells like dog.

[tata12001]

Could U Provide some Pics of the process ? I've read the instructions , but I need Some Pics.Thanx

[randyshemin@comcast.]

It filters the air inside the car when you have the A/C control in recirculate. It's like that filter on a vacuum cleaner that no one ever changes.

Your A/C will work better with a clean filter. You might be able to stick a dryer sheet with it to make your car smell nice. That's what I do with the vacuum cleaner anyway. Otherwise it smells like dog.

I believe it also filters the outside air when the system is not set on recirculate, as mine is always full of leaf parts, bugs, dirt, etc.

[07Vsdn]

Those were some great instructions! I ended up just forcing UP on the filter to try and release the bottom tab. I didn't understand the "compressing" method. I mean, in theory, yes, but in practice I couldn't get it to work. Finally I pushed up enough that the top tab of the filter broke thus releasing it.

I had no problem replacing the glovebox.

Got taken at the stealership for $22 after tax for the new filter. Here is what the old filter looked like after 22500 miles.

[amkg0001]

How did you replace it?Thank you!

[DejaWiz]

How did you replace it?Thank you!

Scroll up!

[Scuba Steve]

You will need to remove the glovebox... 5 phillips screws.

Disconnect the glovebox light

Then you will see the In-Cabin air filter



To remove the filter you have to push it up and pull out, it is a bit stiff but it will move, once you remove the old filter you can't reuse it. Take the new filter and squeeze it like an accordian in the middle and then slide it in the socket, and then snap it shut.

Putting back the glove box:When you removed the glovebox you have to take the metal clips and crimp it back together and then push it back to it's location, otherwise the clips will not stay and you willl have trouble putting the screws in.

And the clip should look like this after you crimp it to it's original state.

And then push or slide it back to it's original locations.It will not move away for the screws.


Modified by Scuba Steve at 3:04 PM 9/8/2008