Forester cabin air filter

[Frank Logullo]

Dealer wants over $50. Terrible rip off. Injection molded plastic housing and pleated paper. I said forget it. I'll clean the old one.
Frank

 

[Edward Hayes]

I gave up trying to find an aftermarket. Subaru factory units have a special hermetic filtering action so it is not just a paper like your house filter. I ended up buying a micronic house filter and cutting one to fit and seems to work fine. I doubt that a house filter will not trap pollen though like the factory filter.

 

[Frank Logullo]

I gave up trying to find an aftermarket. Subaru factory units have a special hermetic filtering action so it is not just a paper like your house filter. I ended up buying a micronic house filter and cutting one to fit and seems to work fine. I doubt that a house filter will not trap pollen though like the factory filter.

I just touched the filter and it looked just like a non-woven type. There is no way in my thinking that there is more than $1 worth of stuff in it. No stickiness like the one in my '98. Good idea though to just replace with home made if too dirty to reuse. Reminds me of time with '98 where hardware store could not find blanks for extra keys and dealer charged me about $17 for two keys.
Frank

 

[CompUser]

news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,
says...

I gave up trying to find an aftermarket. Subaru factory units have a special hermetic filtering action

Yes, it specially-hermetically filters money out
of your wallet!

Just cut up a $4 20x20" home filter with tin
snips.

 

[Paul B]

Dealer wants over $50. Terrible rip off. Injection molded plastic housing and pleated paper. I said forget it. I'll clean the old one.
Frank

I agree with you 100% Frank. Subaru corporate
must have inflated the price of that $9.00 filter
several hundred percent. I told my subaru dealer
to go pound sand if he thought I would pay $49.00
plus tax for a "genuine" replacement.

Instead I carefully cut out the filter media and made
my own from a HEPA Certified filter with activated
charcoal impregnation, and slipped it into place using
a hot glue gun to secure it.

Works fine. My cost: $11.00 plus 1/2 hour work
on a weeknight and a very happy camper.

 

[BRH]

Dealer wants over $50. Terrible rip off. Injection molded plastic housing and pleated paper. I said forget it. I'll clean the old one.
Frank

Why does this even have to be replaced at all? What does the filter do? I've never heard of the need to replace cabin air filters in any car but the Forester.

 

[Edward Hayes]

I too cut my own but, if you have a serious problem with micro size bacteria or pollen then the OEM is best. Over prices YES

 

[Dave - Dave.net.nz]

I told my subaru dealer
to go pound sand if he thought I would pay $49.00
plus tax for a "genuine" replacement.

Works fine. My cost: $11.00 plus 1/2 hour work
on a weeknight and a very happy camper.

heh, at ~$80 an hour for a subaru service, it just cost you an extra $2

 

[CompUser]

Why does this even have to be replaced at all? What does the filter do? I've never heard of the need to replace cabin air filters in any car but the Forester.

You don't have to keep a filter in there.

However, if you do have a filter in there, once
you look at it, you'll see why it needs to be
replaced. You'll also have the answer to "what
does the filter do".

 

[BRH]

You don't have to keep a filter in there.

However, if you do have a filter in there, once
you look at it, you'll see why it needs to be
replaced. You'll also have the answer to "what
does the filter do".

The reason I asked the question is that my 2001 Forester came with this cabin filtration system (although I didn't want it). The car now has 60K miles on it and the filter has only been changed once (by the dealer). Needless to say, I don't want to pay dealer prices to have it done again.

So, what ill effects, if any, can I expect if the filter never gets changed again?

What do I need to do to take a look at it on my own?

Finally, if the filter is filthy, what's worse in terms of cabin air quality? -- Leaving it as is, or removing it altogether? I wouldn't have thought that this filtration system really accomplishes anything, since other cars I've had didn't have one. But if the filter does trap all sorts of junk, maybe it really is important to change it.

 

[mulder]

The reason I asked the question is that my 2001 Forester came with this cabin filtration system (although I didn't want it). The car now has 60K miles on it and the filter has only been changed once (by the dealer). Needless to say, I don't want to pay dealer prices to have it done again.

So, what ill effects, if any, can I expect if the filter never gets changed again?

What do I need to do to take a look at it on my own?

Finally, if the filter is filthy, what's worse in terms of cabin air quality? -- Leaving it as is, or removing it altogether? I wouldn't have thought that this filtration system really accomplishes anything, since other cars I've had didn't have one. But if the filter does trap all sorts of junk, maybe it really is important to change it.

If you have the cabin filter, it needs to be checked and replaced periodically or it will eventually clog and seriously reduce the airflow through the vents. The owners manual should have the maintenance interval and procedure for removing/replacing the filter. If you live and drive in areas with high amounts of dust and pollution the filter will need more frequent service. In the event you do not wish to deal with the filter as a service item, it's best to remove it completely rather than leave it in place and ignore it.

 

[CompUser]

The reason I asked the question is that my 2001 Forester came with this cabin filtration system (although I didn't want it). The car now has 60K miles on it and the filter has only been changed once (by the dealer). Needless to say, I don't want to pay dealer prices to have it done again.

So, what ill effects, if any, can I expect if the filter never gets changed again?

Hmmm...if it's been in there for 60K miles, it
should be...**nasty**. Loaded up with dirt,
dust, black-sooty looking stuff, and all manner
of organic plant material (much of which looks
way to large to fit into the vent
system)...probably enough crap to absorb moisture
and support mold & mildew growth on the filter
itself, definitely enough to reduce air flow thru
your vents.

Eventually the accumulation will probably cause
the filter media to collapse into the fan
housing, stalling the fan or making a lot of
noise.

What do I need to do to take a look at it on my own?

Read the section in your owners manual that tells
you how to get to it.

Finally, if the filter is filthy, what's worse in terms of cabin air quality? -- Leaving it as is, or removing it altogether?

Worse to leave it in.

I wouldn't
have thought that this filtration system really accomplishes anything, since other cars I've had didn't have one. But if the filter does trap all sorts of junk, maybe it really is important to change it.

Well, why don't you check yours out, then come
back here and tell us what you think? ;-)

 

[calhoun]

All the air for the AC/heat and defrost go though the filter. If you don't change it there performance will gradually decrease. You probably would not notice this gradual decline until you change/remove the filters then you will suddenly realize how much heat/AC you have.

 

[BRH]

All the air for the AC/heat and defrost go though the filter. If you don't change it there performance will gradually decrease. You probably would not notice this gradual decline until you change/remove the filters then you will suddenly realize how much heat/AC you have.

OK. Thanks. I'll take a look at it this weekend.

 

[BRH]

OK. I pulled out the filter. It wasn't dark black (totally clogged) but it was pretty grey. Apparently it has been changed once by the dealer and was due for a 2nd change a year ago.

So, at the moment, I have no filter installed. I assume that I can leave it like this without suffering any ill effects? (Note: I don't have allergies, etc).

Or am I better off replacing it? (www.subaruparts.com has it available for $32.98)

Thanks!

 

[Steve Bukosky]

For you tinkerers or entrepreneurial types out there, here is an idea. I'm an HVAC guy certified in air distribution so I know much about moving air whether in a building or in a car. When the air filter loads up with material, two things will happen. First, the blower motor for any given speed will actually speed up! The amperage will also be reduced. It's like taking your vacuum cleaner hose and holding your hand on it. You hear the motor speed up not because it is working harder, but you've removed the load from the motor. Nice to know but not much for checking the air filter, though this principle is how the compression is tested on an engine via starter amperage.

The second thing that happens is that the airflow decreases. This can be tested. In the building trades we use a device called a flow hood. It measures the velocity of the air and calculates the volume of the flow. A simple device can be fabricated to measure the airflow with a clean filter and used to visualize the decrease in airflow until it is determined that the filter should be changed.

You can make a very simple device by using a small box the size of one of the dash vents. At one end of the box is a foam gasket and at the other end a piece of material that blows out a certain distance. The distance is measure and compared to future readings. Or you can just go to an HVAC distributor and buy a velometer such as one made by Supco.

 

[Mike Lloyd]

I used a 3M home filter with a high MIRV rating to keep the Florida dust and pollen to a minimum. All sizes (smallest to largest) were 14.99 at Home Depot -- so I bought the biggest one I could and used some tin snips to cut the metal mesh and scissors on the filter itself and made about 6 new ones of the original dimensions and stuffed that bad boy back in. Now, every other oil change I spend an extra 10 minutes to do and undo the 9 (not 7) screws to get behind the glove box and replace the sucker. Fabrication took about an hour for all six (I was extra careful and safe) and total cost was $15 ($2.50 a piece). Now that's economy! And it works. The old filters come out very gray and full of small hairs and tiny particles and shiz.

I figure if I am going to spend any length in my car why not breath clean air? I wouldn't neglect my home's A/C or heater filter, why do it to my beloved car?

Mike

 

[popeye22202]

On the topic of Soob cabin air filters: I'm in the market for a new Soob (I have a great '92 Loyale now... my 3rd Soob), so I want one with a cabin air filter (and PZEV, but that's another topic). Can someone tell me what models and years had cabin air filters? I like the Forester or Outback wagons. Also, is there a quite way to verify that it has a cabin air filter?

Thanks in advance.

 

[BRH]

On the topic of Soob cabin air filters: I'm in the market for a new Soob (I have a great '92 Loyale now... my 3rd Soob), so I want one with a cabin air filter (and PZEV, but that's another topic). Can someone tell me what models and years had cabin air filters? I like the Forester or Outback wagons. Also, is there a quite way to verify that it has a cabin air filter?

Thanks in advance.

One way would be to checkout www.subaruparts.com and see for which models/years they offer replacement filters.

 

[Ray (4)]

But after you add on their $8.95 shipping charge you're up to $41.93.
Is it worth it?