Replacing the cabin air filter - what I learned

[pombora]

Being a woman, I am not mechanically inclined. But I've been tried to save $ by doing whatever I can by myself. I've changed air filters in previous cars but this was a PITA, especially compared to changing out the air filters in the engine. This post is for the mechanically-challenged like myself.

First off, I was going to buy one of those foot long screwdrivers as indicated in the YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I5RL0VbYe8) , but it wasn't necessary. On my 2011 ex35, all I had to do was open the glove box an inch or two, then pull up, and the whole thing comes out - except the damper pin (the metal cord) is still attached. It took me forever to figure out how to get it off. Using a screwdriver to pry it off worked (by pushing it to the left from behind).

This site gives a nice diagram of what to do:
http://www.justanswer.com/nissan-infini ... place.html
http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/fixur ... emoval.pdf

I'm not sure if it was necessary to take off the right side panel (it's not a step in the above diagram). There's a rear screw that was really hard to unscrew and when I was able to finally pull out the rear panel after unscrewing everything, it didn't come all the way down to the floor like the YouTube video. So it was hard to get to the air filter unit in the back.

The air filter cover should be removed by pulling out the right side and then pull the entire cover to the right, instead of toward the rear; I almost broke it.

When I was able to finally put everything back together (putting the damper pin back on was tricky), I noticed the glove compartment had no light. But, come to think of it, I don't know if it ever did have a working light???

All in all, this was A LOT more work than I had anticipated, and I might consider just paying the dealer to do it in the future.

[ArcticBlue]

Nice post - thanks !

[XIS]

Yes, WELCOME and Thank you !!

[EXceptional]

Yes, WELCOME and Thank you !!

+1

[sashki2]

++

[sashki2]

Replaced mine a few days ago using the above instructions. Have to agree with pombora - too much hassle for what you get. The biggest pain was removing left lower screw - spent really a lot of time trying to reach it - there's simply no way. It''s possible I was not doing it right. The biggest disappointment, the filter didn't look dirty enough to justify the hassle. By the time I remember to replace my home hvac filter, it's usually 100 times dirtier with visible dust, etc. The car filter just had slightly dirty color and that's it. If I can leave with dirty filter at home without discomfort, I figure I'm not going to replace cabin filter in my car anymore - simply not worth spending or hassle. Again, that's just my opinion

[TomT]

Replaced mine a few days ago using the above instructions. Have to agree with pombora - too much hassle for what you get. The biggest pain was removing left lower screw - spent really a lot of time trying to reach it - there's simply no way. It''s possible I was not doing it right. The biggest disappointment, the filter didn't look dirty enough to justify the hassle. By the time I remember to replace my home hvac filter, it's usually 100 times dirtier with visible dust, etc. The car filter just had slightly dirty color and that's it. If I can leave with dirty filter at home without discomfort, I figure I'm not going to replace cabin filter in my car anymore - simply not worth spending or hassle. Again, that's just my opinion

I'm with you. I doubt the filter does that much good to begin with. Shame on Infinity for making something so hard to service. Had one in a previous Toyota that took me 30 seconds to change out.

[EXceptional]

My Dads was polluted... so I guess it matters what environment you drive through.

[dreamingat30fps]

Try doing that in a Z4 cabin on your back half in the car half out with blood rushing to your head. Now that's a pita!

[AWGD8]

Sorry to revived the thread. I did mine yesterday and it is very simple. I compared the old cabin filter vs the Nissan replacement and there is a big difference. The old one is much better. The new one probaby only cost 50 cents. There are hardly any filter material in it. Looks like a bathroom tissue thin ...

The next day, I happen to see one at Walmart and it is way better than the Nissan OEM .

Fram Freshbreeze. CF10743 part number. It cost about $27.57
It looks like there is charcoal material in it.

[meanie]

Since the originator of this thread did not find it simple, would you be willing to describe how you went about it for those of us brave or foolhearty enough to try it?

[AWGD8]

The actual glove compartment can be pulled out by opening the glove compartment door and grab under one side of the compartment door towards you . Gently wiggle the opposite side too until you hear a snap. There are 3 connection points at the base of the glove compartment that attach to the main passenger front lower dash area. These just snap in and out as I describe above.

Once the Glove compartment is out, there is a wire that is attached to the lower right front dash and hold the main glove compartment by a sliding bolt(whatever its called). To remove it, you need to lift the glove compartment to remove tension on the wire. Then just pull out that washer looking bolt connected to the wire from the male connecting stud attached to the Glove compartment. This will then free up or remove the whole glove box.

Next is to remove the cover infront of the Cabin filter housing.
There are 5 screws right at the top of the plastic cover ( upper left, 2 screws upper middle, 1 screw just lower to the 2 upper middle screw, upper right ) and 2 screws on the bottom side (lower left and lower right)
Just look around if there are more screws somewhere around that area.
Pretty easy to see! You do not really need to remove the side panel as shown on the video below.

Once you remove that cover, you"ll have access to the cabin filter. The cabin filter cover can be removed by unsnapping the right side first then once the right side is free, push it out towards the left to free it up. The filter element arrow should be pointing down for my 2008 EX35. I am not sure why the arrow was up on the video below.

That is it!

This video will help you a lot, but you do not need that long extension screw for the EX35.

http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2008_ ... in/replace

[pombora]

^that video is the best. I didn't know how to unplug the wiring connecting the the bulbs. Thanks for posting. I'm going to attempt this for a second time.

[meanie]

Thank you! That is very helpful. It really doesn't look that difficult to do.

The actual glove compartment can be pulled out by opening the glove compartment door and grab under one side of the compartment door towards you . Gently wiggle the opposite side too until you hear a snap. There are 3 connection points at the base of the glove compartment that attach to the main passenger front lower dash area. These just snap in and out as I describe above.

Once the Glove compartment is out, there is a wire that is attached to the lower right front dash and hold the main glove compartment by a sliding bolt(whatever its called). To remove it, you need to lift the glove compartment to remove tension on the wire. Then just pull out that washer looking bolt connected to the wire from the male connecting stud attached to the Glove compartment. This will then free up or remove the whole glove box.

Next is to remove the cover infront of the Cabin filter housing.
There are 5 screws right at the top of the plastic cover ( upper left, 2 screws upper middle, 1 screw just lower to the 2 upper middle screw, upper right ) and 2 screws on the bottom side (lower left and lower right)
Just look around if there are more screws somewhere around that area.
Pretty easy to see! You do not really need to remove the side panel as shown on the video below.

Once you remove that cover, you"ll have access to the cabin filter. The cabin filter cover can be removed by unsnapping the right side first then once the right side is free, push it out towards the left to free it up. The filter element arrow should be pointing down for my 2008 EX35. I am not sure why the arrow was up on the video below.

That is it!

This video will help you a lot, but you do not need that long extension screw for the EX35.

http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2008_ ... in/replace

[pombora]

I just did a 2nd replacement and it's definitely easier the second time (I really had a hard time figuring out how to get the damper pin off on my previous attempt). Although, the filter I bought had no arrows, so I have no idea if it's upside down or not. For some reason, I thought the cabin air filter needed to be changed at 30K but it looked only slightly grayish. Oh well.

[syshs]

I have a 2013 ex37... does anybody know the part number for the in-cabin filter?
Is it the same as the one for ex35 below?
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/Activat ... 2-ex35.htm

Thanks!