Cabin Filter Locations

In modern vehicles with new fully electronic heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, the cabin air filter is one of their most important components. In these systems, the air is drawn from outside and then released into the cabin. The cabin filter’s job is to filter the air before being then passed through to the occupants of your vehicle, keeping harmful pollutants such as pollen and dust at bay. Cabin filters are often overlooked during regular servicing and if left for too long, can create a place for mould to grow and dust and pollen to build up creating an unhealthy environment in your vehicle.

Vehicle manufacturers generally recommend that a cabin filter should be replaced once a year or every 15,000 km. When it comes time to replace your vehicle’s cabin filter, you’ll need to know where it’s fitted within your vehicle. There are three general locations the manufacturer will utilise for the cabin filter.

Most cars will have their cabin filter somewhere behind the glovebox. Gaining access to the cabin filter is usually a case of dropping the glovebox down and out of the way. From there, there may be a small plastic panel that needs to be removed before the cabin filter can be replaced. Once that panel is out of the way, be sure to clear out any dirt or debris from the location before the filter is refitted. When fitting your new cabin filter, make sure that it’s fitted the right way up and with the part number facing towards you.

Another common location for the cabin air filter is underneath the dashboard. For this location, there is usually an access door in the passenger or driver-side footwell that can be opened to access the filter. To service this location, you’ll need to remove any of the necessary interior trims and then undo the access door screw. Once those components are out of the way, you’ll be able to reach in and remove the old cabin filter. Be sure to pay attention to which way the old filter comes out so that you can refit the new cabin air filter the same way. Once the replacement filter’s been fitted, reinstall your interior trims to complete the service.

The next cabin filter location is underneath the engine cowl in the engine bay, which is fairly common in older European cars. To service this location, you’ll first need to pop the bonnet. From there, remove the sealing strip and the scuttle panel, which will then grant you access to the cabin filter. The filter usually sits within a frame that is reused when you refit the new cabin filter. This location is particularly prone to debris such as sticks and dried leaves, so you’ll need to give it a good clean-out before refitting the new cabin filter.

No matter the location, always remember that the arrow direction of the filter indicates which way up the filter goes. When it comes time for your next cabin filter service, opt for the best with a Ryco N99 MicroShield Cabin Air Filter. They contain activated carbon media layers that neutralise odours and block harmful airborne chemicals such as ozone and exhaust gasses. These filters are equipped with a layer of N99 medical grade media which is rated to remove up to 99.7% of airborne bacteria and viruses along with filtering contaminants down to <0.3 micron.