Cabin air filter

[grip1968]

I know this is a dumb question but were it the cabin air filter located on the 1997 q45??

[tfvesquire]

I know this is a dumb question but were it the cabin air filter located on the 1997 q45??

There are no dumb questions, but there are questions that can be easily answered with a little research. If you have not already downloaded the factory service manual (FSM) then do so and it will save you a lot of time and headache. http://www.phatg20.com is the link. I heard the 97 fsm is incomplete, so just download the 98 and you will be fine.

The cabin air filters (there are two of them) are located behind the glovebox. You will need to remove several pieces before removing the glovebox screws: including the passenger carpeted kick panel and plastic panel directly underneath the glovebox. Be careful when removing these two pieces or you will break off the clips. Also, you have to unplug the passenger dash airbag, so make sure you unplug your negative lead on your battery terminal to prevent blowing the airbag when you plug in the wiring harness.

Once you get the glovebox out of the way, you will see the filters stacked one on top of the other held in place by metal spring clips. Hold a rag, etc over the clips to keep them from shooting out and hitting you in the eye -- anr/or to prevent loosing one and then slide out the filters. Hope you ate something or you will vomit when you see how black they are if they haven't been changed in years. Another tip if you have access to an air compressor, while the filters are out, take compressed air and blow out the cowl vent intakes (lower vents along the windshield) and you should get some leaves and other crap out of the venting before you install your new filters.

For members out there looking for reasonably priced replacements, there are a couple of sellers on Ebay selling a pair for about $10 instead of buying them from the dealer for about $30 each filter even at a discount. I bought a set and they are decent quality. Plus, the fsm recommends you change them once a year anyway, so for about $14 shipped, you can't go wrong.

Good luck.

Ted

[oldmako]

Spectacular response minus vitriol. Thanks.

[Q45tech]

When newish members provide a link it is always smart to check it for validity first so you don't look ______________.

The link you provided has been gone for months after they were sued [cease and desist] for copyright violations for stealing and posting for a free downloads the intellectual property of vehicle manufacturers.

Always best and most legal to pay for intellectual property that way your house doesn't get confiscated in the future by being the unlucky random guy the owners decide to make an example of

PDF files are just like MUSIC!

[Victor]

Unbelievable that Nissan has such inept design engineers as to make the replacement so difficult for what is a common maintenance item. Maybe I am spoiled having worked as a defense contractor for many years where all designs had to be tested and verified for maintainablility, and all tech manuals had to be verified for correctness of remove/replace procedures. I am tired of hearing the refrain see the FSM. In my opinion the FSM is the worst tech manual I ever saw except maybe for some stuff you get with Chinese products. There are very few step by step procedures. Waiting for the apologists for Nissan to say they were written for a skilled mechanic.
Modified by Victor at 9:37 AM 9/3/2009

[loystock]

The info provided by Ted is very useful. However, there are lots of precautions when dealing with air bag connectors. I have done multiple filter replacements on this car and there is no need to disconnect any connector, provided you DON'T STRETCH THEM.

Once you pulled out the the plastic panel below the glove box (use your fingers in the slots provided), you will see the 3 screws on the hinge pane. As for the plastic kick panel, all you have to do is stow them back slightly in without covering the 3 screws.

For the glove box, remove the mounting screws and the striker plate (2 screws) and then pull out the glove box. Make sure the cables to the glove box are not stretched.

The remainder of the procedure is just like what Ted has mentioned.

[lino]

Here is a link that works if you would like to download the Factory Service Manual:

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/

[goody90q45]

Unbelievable that Nissan has such inept design engineers as to make the replacement so difficult for what is a common maintenance item.......

You can add the inept Honda engineers to your list. I have to remove the glovebox on both the wife's and daughter's Accords to get to the cabin filter.

[loystock]

If you think FGY33 cabin filter replacement is complicated, that's nothing compared to F50. In the F50, you need to remove the wood trim, the kick panel and instead of screws in the hinge area, they have plastic rods. The glove box, has 3 straps, and has to come off separately before the glove box cover can be removed. At least there is no clip that can fly off.

In fairness to the design engineers, Nissan et al, they have very limited options regarding the placement of the filter access The filter has to be as close as possible to the blower. It's either behind the glove box or behind the kick panel. Placing access from the kick panel risk the possibility of water leakage into the passenger compartment due to condensation from the evaporator and air ducts. Placing the blower-filter-evaporator in the engine compartment would be unthinkable.

I have yet to see a simple and straightforward cabin air filter replacement, Nissan or otherwise. We cannot have a 'plug-in' glove box since aside from the owners manual, that's where we also place some valuable items.

[Infinitiguy19]

The PHG50 cabin air filter isn't too hard, It would be like replacing the darlington resistor. Or you can cut a hole big enough in the plastic plastic cover. that covers the intake and cooling unit so you would only have to drop the glove box to get to it. I would use a little latching mechanism so it doesn't look exposed.

I plan to get one of those cabin air filters implemented in the G50 later on.

[Cekkent]

Nissan and others have gotten better at placement of cabin air filters for ease of replacement.

On a 2007 Nissan Versa, you merely squeeze the sides of the glovebox inward and let it hang freely, and then flip two latches and pull the filter out. It's on a little tray that fits into the blower housing. Same system is applied to the engine air filter.