Can we assume this vehicle was new when you joined the site (2017).
That is by far the most gross filtration system I've ever seen. Sorry.

 

Can we assume this vehicle was new when you joined the site (2017).
That is by far the most gross filtration system I've ever seen. Sorry.

This is a 1999 CRV.

No apologies necessary. I agree it was super disgusting. Embarrassing to post but there it is.

 

I'm with you there. I just did this replacement on my 2001 CR-V, and I'm guessing that that filter hadn't been touched since it left the factory because that thing was loaded up with 24 years of leaves and other random debris. I cleaned out that cavity with a vacuum and a small grabbing tool to get all of that junk out of there. The two 8mm bolts on the console side of the glovebox were such a pain to get out. It's laughable how much easier it is to switch out the engine air filter. But the new cabin air filter made a world of a difference with the AC's strength.

 

Thanks! Makes me feel better about being so delinquent. I also consider it as a PSA to other RD1 owners. If you haven’t changed the air filter expect it’s full of crap because it’s such a PItA to do.

 

Love it. Did the same on mine last fall - when I marveled to the previous owner that the AC still worked, his response was "Sure, but it doesn't blow at all!".

No need for embarrassment @craig baconator - you've accomplished something that most of the world - for one reason or another - won't/can't do. Relatedly, it's criminal what dealerships/auto repair places charge for cabin air filter replacement...has to be the highest margin service they have.

 

A month ago I had my wifes Odyssey in for service - the work order noted she needed a cabin air filter. They published on the same order it was a $100 service (and a fuel cleaner service for $200).

Trusting them I Amazon ordered both a cabin air filter and an engine air filter, maybe $40???

Turns out the cabin filter was fine while the engine filter was approaching needy. As I already had them in hand I replaced both. Total time perhaps 15-20 min.

 

Best time to do this imo is when doing a headunit, my car strangely was missing both the frame and the filter so I at that time I had to make the frame out of cardboard.

Ordered a new one, dreading doing it again.

 

Whoever replaced the cabin air filter before me DID NOT replace the frame. Luckily the filter, frame, and foam surround were all available, but separately, not combined.

 

Job description:


Remove glove box


Remove lower part of dash assembly


Unscrew six bolts which are hard to reach


Move wiring out of the way


Remove filter and find 25 years of crap


Clean it out with brushes


Blow it out with compressed air shooting crud into your cabin


Install new filter


Reassemble everything


Do all this while bending down like you’re in a plane crash and your headlamp won’t stay on

Curse at the Honda engineers who never had to chsnge a light bulb in their life


Go to throw away old filter and realize it sits in a plastic housing which you didn’t reinstall


Say fuck it and save that part for next year


Take car to car wash snd give it a quick wash so you can use the free vacuum


Clean out under the back seats where your kids have left ten years of crap


Wonder whether this sticky resin is gum or something growing there


Tweak your back when lifting the crap in the hatch area to vacuum


Hobble around to finish

Realize your air conditioning actually may work and your heat will be a lot better and you should have done this long ago in priority of back flushing the heater core.

don’t tell your wife who is a germophobe.

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My 07 takes about 2 minutes to change

 

I bet it was on a lessons learned list after the first generation of things to fix.

 

IIRC, mid 90s accord had 2 separate filter elements in the same box. Had to pull one out, then slide the second over to the opening to remove. In order to get to that stage, you had to remove 1 screw from the end of a support rod which very efficiently blocked to door to those filter elements.

Only a dream, I suppose, but each head of vehicle manufacturing ought to have the engineer who designed things in that manner to actually do the prescribed maintenance at random times of the year during vehicle development. Not sure how many of those engineers could do that without having second / third / fourth thoughts about their original design.

 

1999 CRV made in Thailand, spent ages looking for cabin filter and then found out it didn't have one !!!!

 

I recall the first time I changed the cabin filter on my '99 I cut the metal strap that was in the way and put it back together with two short connectors and sheet metal screws. Also put a hardware cloth screen over the giant opening underneath the windshield cowl. No more skeletons, just leaves and dirt.

 

i daydreamed about something similar lol. I will sell it in a few years so I doubt I’ll change the filter again.

 

My '99 is long gone but I take care of a couple '04s and they made it easier in the second gen.