Cleaning Cabin Air Filter

TitanTech659 · Jan 17, 2007

Gusecu said:
So.... not to ask a dumb question, but.....

how do you get to it? I assume just remove the glove box?

Yes, it's behind the glove box.

larry528 · Mar 4, 2007

The filter in the pic looks like its only a paper filter, maybe foam, but if its got a charcoal element in it, water will NOT clean it. The way a charcoal filter (actually activated charcoal) works is that organic parrticles attach to the carbon (activated charcoal). There is only so much organic loading that each filter can take before its loaded up. The onlky way activated charcoal filters are cleaned is by burning the organics off in a hot oven, read INDUSTRIAL oven. So, its just like thgose filters above your stove, they get loaded up, they dont work anymore. So if your incabin filter is charcoal/activated charcoal, replace it.

My wife just had her Titan CC replaced this week, $85 parts and labor ala carte with an oil change for $19, and a full truck wash and tire cleaning.

Maybe next time I will see how dificult it is, but if I screw it up, I am dead, doomed I tell ya. LOL

rbogie · Mar 9, 2007

There is another thread on this forum that gives detailed instructions of how to remove the glove box (no screw removals) to expose the filter box, and then after removing one screw from that cover you can access the filters.

So far I've seen conflicting reports about whether there is an activated charcoal filter in the filter holders or not.

I would suspect that of the two filters, the outer one would be paper and the second one (downstream) would be charcoal--that way you use the paper filter to screen the basic particulates and the charcoal one to filter fine, odor causing micro particles.

There are kits that you can find at Lowes, Home Depot, or Walmart that contain for home use a filter set for the home A/C. It contains a plastic grid on which you attach a synthetic fiber outer filter with a black charcoal inner filter. Item is 20 x 24 inch and costs $9. Since the charcoal layer is fairly thin (about 1/16 inch) could you lay (appropriately cut to size) that on one of the paper filters to get the benefits of charcoal filtering? Oh, and you might not need to get the full kit (plastic grid unnecessary), you can sometimes find the "Refill Only" kit without plastic grid and that is 24 x 36 inch for about $8.

baseballfanz · Mar 9, 2007

Gusecu said:
So.... not to ask a dumb question, but.....

how do you get to it? I assume just remove the glove box?

Under the glove box is two locking pins, flip it up and pull it out, that will allow you to pull the glove box out to access the filters. No need to remove all tehm screws.

Armada · Mar 10, 2007

Yep, pull the two black plastic pins out of the bottom, remove the plastic clip on the left side of the golve box that connects the black string (keeps the box from opening too far). Then the box is out of the way.

The single capscrew holding the cover on the filter is 8mm.

Even though the filter seems to be mostly paper, it turns out to be pretty sturdy when you wash it. Force the water from the clean side to the dirty (reverse of the air flow) and this will push most of the debris out. You can also, after the soapy water wash and rinse, slap the dirty side of the filter against a hard flat object a few times and get more of the stuff out. It does not seem to hurt the filter at all to do this.

Then rinse it one more time in clean water and set out in the sun and let it competely dry. Whole process (except for the drying) might take 15-20 minutes, including the removal and install.

Reading this thread reminded me I needed to do this again (third time at 43,000 miles). Or you can spend $30 bucks and about 5 minutes of your time and put in a new filter. Nothing to it. There are actually two filters side by side in the Armada. I don't know if the Titan has one or two, but the process is the same either way.

dmc601 · Mar 12, 2007

scr38 said:
I didn't get a good picture of the label on the Murano, but I think you can read it.
It states:

"This vehicle is equipted with a washable ventilation air filter that collects dirt, pollen, dust.

Wash the filter every year or 12000KM driving.

Change the filter if the filter is noticeablely dirty.

How to wash

Dip and stir the filter in soapy water and rinse with clean water, then leave to dry."

Also attached is a photo of the original filter that I washed.

Well I was inspired to clean my filters today too....I went outside to start the removal procedure. I read the posts and looked in my shop manual etc. I couldn't believe nissan would want you to disassemble the dash to get at the filters.. My old 95 Ford and my car both have glove boxes that you can squeeze together to get behind them... After first emptying out the contents I saw that the elastic shock cord that cushions the opening of the compartment, was designed to be disconnected by simply sliding it forward. I then looked at the stop bumpers on the glove compartment and found you just have to push the compartment to the left then they will clear.. The glove box tilted right forward out of the way.Low and behold there was the access point of the filters, no screw driver, in 5 seconds. After taking them out I noticed that they appeared to be made of the identicle material as hot tub cartridge filter.. I had just read about the soap so I figured to be different I would try som cartridge cleaner and take pics. This is my first time I tried this so I will try to attach these pics to show everyone... I had 2 sets of filters so I let one soak for just under an hour and the other for 5 hours as recommended on the $5 a bottle cleaner... After an hour the filter rinsed out very well and you could see daylight through it well..

dmc601 · Mar 12, 2007

After quickly drying my first set with a hair dryer I had them reinstalled and was back on the road in an hour :clap:
I know I have cleaned my spa filters at least 20 times and they keep on working. I hope this will be of some help.

Aquaholic · Mar 12, 2007

I have never heard this before.

Wings · Apr 4, 2007

Thanks for the info guys, pretty cool. Just pooped the glove box out and am washing the filters now, the dealer wants 58 bucks for the filter-I'd much rather wash them until they fall apart and then buy a new one on-line for less than half.

Diablo · Aug 7, 2008

Wings said:
Thanks for the info guys, pretty cool. Just pooped the glove box out and am washing the filters now, the dealer wants 58 bucks for the filter-I'd much rather wash them until they fall apart and then buy a new one on-line for less than half.

The dealership I go to wanted $42.00 for the filters, which I think is crazy. I'll be washing mine. Thanks for the posts.

Walrus · Aug 7, 2008

I just removed the filter from the wife's Altima today and blew it out with compressed air.
Now the A/C has a bite to it again.
The filter is about 2 years old with 15000 miles on it.
Titan gets it next.

dogstar · Aug 7, 2008

I was just thinking for those of you who were worried about the odor from more humid areas, you could put a cap full of bleach in with your soapy water, this should kill the little micro organisms that are living in your filters.

ygbsm · Aug 7, 2008

Diablo said:
The dealership I go to wanted $42.00 for the filters, which I think is crazy. I'll be washing mine. Thanks for the posts.

That is bad... I found a set on ebay which came to about $20 delivered and they look to be equal or better quality over the originals.

Diablo · Aug 13, 2008

Diablo said:
The dealership I go to wanted $42.00 for the filters, which I think is crazy. I'll be washing mine. Thanks for the posts.

I pulled both filters out and washed them in hot tap water with a bit of dish detergent. I then rinsed them in a mild solution of bleach and water. After one more quick water rinsing, I blew them out with an air hose and then dried them with a hair dryer. I did this all in about 15-20 minutes. They now look and operate like brand new and the air is much stronger and clean. Well worth my time. And if you don't want to clean yours you can spend money and get new ones! Or you can leave them out!! Your choice!!

bigkurt666 · Aug 26, 2008

sounds like tomorrow project lol

texastitanman · Sep 3, 2008

I gotta tell you guys. I thought I was reasonably truck savvy. But I never had a clue there was an internal air filter. After three hunting seasons, I wondered why my cabin air always smelled musty,and AC didn't blow very hard. Was just looking through the other day for info on headlights. Found your posting. I took out the air filters. They were way nasty. I look foward to a fresh beginning.

I'll bet most owners don't even know these filters are there.

Thanks fellas!!!

:redblob"

54warrior · Sep 3, 2008

Yeah, mine were pretty sick too after 50k miles!!!

Diablo · Sep 4, 2008

54warrior said:
Yeah, mine were pretty sick too after 50k miles!!!

Dood!!! I think I wouldn't even try washing those..........lol

razorvines · Sep 26, 2008

Holy crap warrior, have you been riding around with Chewbacca??

rickys2020 · Sep 26, 2008

Diablo said:
Dood!!! I think I wouldn't even try washing those..........lol

razorvines said:
Holy crap warrior, have you been riding around with Chewbacca??

i see roadkill all over it.

Cleaning Cabin Air Filter

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