Idea to make changing cabin air filter take much less time

[mfisher1967]

I am thinking that the support bar which is removed in order to replace the cabin air filter can be modified into a three part assembly.

Two sections would bolt up to the present locations on either side of the glove box frame, but a removable section would be used for the center portion of the support bar. The removable center section could be bolted into place to provide extra support.

If this works, all that would have to be done to replace the cabin air filter is to remove the glove box, unbolt the center section of the support bar and then remove/replace the air filter.

I wonder why Honda didn't do it this way?

[jestmaty]

Been mentioned b4 that the 'bar' is part of the plastic molding process, maybe used to hang the piece as it revolves around some plant.

Once it is cut out, it is meant to be thrown away.

As far as cutting it loose.... I did it with a serrated steak knife that I'd stolen from Outback. It cut through that plastic piece like lobster

[Layspeed]

I think the person is referring to the metal support bar behind/below the glove box. With that being said, I'm not sure it would be a wise idea to cut the bar up and turn it into a 3 piece bar...I don't think it would save that much time. But I could be wrong. The last time I changed one (which happened to also be the 1st time for our Pilot) the whole process took me 15min. and I actually took a vacuum a to suck out all of the debris from the evaporator box along with cutting the plastic bar.

[Rotorheader]

I did mine this morning, pretty much like HondaMan2 showed, except that I didn't have to remove my door sill or right-side bottom trim. I removed the two retainers from the inside of the glovebox, let it tip all the way back ( down) and then removed the two screws and the two 8mm bolts. I then looked underneath the box with my mirror and saw the left 8mm bolt on the left hinge and removed it. As for cutting the plastic piece, I just scored it with my utility knife and it pulled off easily.

I made my replacement filter from a full-sized furnace filter by 3M. It came with a sheet of black plastic grids ( 1" squares), so I sandwiched my filter media between two sections of plastic, and just for neatness and compression, I sewed a running stitch with a big needle and nylon thread along the edges.

This entire operation took me about an hour, and this was my first attempt at this filter. I believe now I could do a replacement in 20 minutes. This is not a hard mod to do.

[Jjack5]

I just purchased an 04. I have done all the 30k maint. stuff except the cabin filter. After reading your responses it doesnt sound too bad to DIYS. But is there a way to quickly determine if it has been done before?

[ED27]

Originally posted by Jjack5
I just purchased an 04. I have done all the 30k maint. stuff except the cabin filter. After reading your responses it doesnt sound too bad to DIYS. But is there a way to quickly determine if it has been done before?

If you drop down the glove box via the release tabs on both sides, you should be able to see if the temporary plastic bar has been cut. Otherwise if the car was bought from the same dealer it was serviced at, they should be able to look up the service records.