After a winter of salt dust clogging the air filters, both you and your vehicle could stand a breath of fresh air, which means changing your air filters. Depending upon your vehicle, you should be able to replace both of your air filters yourself.

This is one of the auto repair services that are generally suggested by a service facility when you go in for a different service. Many people balk at allowing the facility to replace the filters because of the cost. However, much of the cost is for the filters themselves, because the labor is often minimal.

Each of the two filters in your filters could cost upwards of fifty dollars or more, depending on the model of your vehicle.

What are the two types of filters and why is it important to replace them?

Cabin filter

The filter cleanses the sir in the cabin, or interior of your vehicle. If you've even driven down a road covered with road salt and turned on the heat, you can sometimes taste the salt that has made its way past a dirty filter.

Salt is only one of many impurities and allergens that are removed by your cabin filter. While replacing your cabin filter won't affect your vehicle's performance, it will certainly make the ride more pleasant for it's occupants.

Engine air filter

This is the filter that removes impurities from the air that your engine uses for combustion. If the air intake is diminished, your vehicle must burn more fuel to maintain the same speed. If your engine air filter becomes sufficiently clogged, your engine can also cease to run.

Changing your cabin filter

The cabin filter is the easiest to change, because it is the most accessible. It can be found in a plastic box beside your engine. When purchasing a new cabin filter, you must provide the year, manufacturer, and model of the vehicle. Most auto part stores have manufacturer's catalogs in which you can look up the correct filter for your vehicle.

To replace the old filter, simply pull the two metal clips away from the top of the filter tray, remove the old filter, place the new filter inside the tray, restore the top, and pull the metal clips up around the top to hold it in place.

Changing your engine air filter

This task is slightly more difficult, because access to the engine air filter can be challenging. It may be placed in different locations , according to vehicle model, and may be hard to reach when you do find it.

For example, the engine air filter is located behind the glove box in many vehicles, which means the glove box will need to be removed first. To remove a glove box, you will need to empty it of its contents. 

When that is done, open the glove box fully. You will see that the glove box is held in place by a curved bracket on the side that slides up and down on a stationary pin. If you simply pull the bracket away from the pin, the glove box will disengage (and fall if you don't hold it).

When the glove box is set aside, you will see a small narrow door with sliding cam locks. If you turn the lock switch, the door can be removed and the flat rectangular filter pulled out. You can then slide in the new filter, replace the door and the glove box, and you're finished.

If this sounds like too much of a hassle, or you can't access your engine air filter, ask for this service the next time your service provider offers it.

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