Replacing a cabin filter

The cabin filter in your vehicle helps to trap pollen and dirt that passes through into the inside vents.

This is the same setup that your home furnace filter does to help your breathing. Today’s vehicles try to incorporate some of the technology used in your everyday life, (like furnace filters), into your vehicle, (cabin filters).

Just like any other type of maintenance item, the cabin filter is usually tucked into the heater box somewhere. Repair manuals and owner’s manuals can show the locations and recommended intervals to replace these filters.

This vehicle is a 2000 Mercury Villager, with a step by step guide to replacing the cabin filter.

The cabin filter on this vehicle is located under the wiper cover.

Open the hood and locate the screws to remove the cover.

There should be at least 8 screws holding this plastic cover on.

Turn on the wipers and park them in the up position.

This will allow you to access the lock tab that holds the wiper arm in place. Pry the tab out ¼ inch.

Grab the passenger arm and pry up to remove from the pivot.

Be careful when removing the arm not to lose the keyway that holds the arm in place.

Then remove the driver’s side arm making sure not to hit the windshield.

Lift up the cover to access the cabin filter.

Remove or pull out of the way enough to get to the filter.
There is one more cover to remove.

Take out the 4 screws that attach the cover onto the filter.

Remove the cover and filter.

A closer look will allow you to see how dirty this filter can get.

A good guide line to follow would be to replace every year or 15,000 miles.

Install the new filter and cover.

Install the cover and wipers.

Make sure to check the blower motor operation and wipers after everything is reassembled.

Comparison pricing

Just to give you an Idea of how much you can save on replacing the cabin filter for this vehicle, here’s a comparison on the two.

If you have a repair shop install it, add 100% mark-up to the part and 1 hour shop labor to replace it at a shop labor rate of $80.00 per hour.

Cabin filter repair by doing it yourself: $40.00 for this filter.

Cabin filter repair at a repair shop: $160.00 for this repair.