2008 Cabin Air Filter Replacment Help

Can anyone give some help on how to access the in cabin air filer on a 2008 Legacy? I heard the 2008 is suppose to be the more updated / easiest access design. I read thru the searches and they were mostly about retrofits on the 2005's but I couldn't find specific instructions on what I need to still take apart on a 2008 to get to this thing. Does the whole glove box still need to come out?

I just changed my cabin air filter and it took about 20 minutes. Here are the pictures for a walk-through. NOTE I had to omit some pictures because I can only post 20 at a time.

 

On your front passenger side open your door all the way.

 

 

open your glove box.

 

 

Remove the side access panel.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVBN7REiCI/AAAAAAAABrM/NfjUNucZyEM/s800/DSC00059.JPG

 

Lift up on your glove box and unloop the retraction string.

 

 

After unlooping you let the glovebox down all the way.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU9igNsCWI/AAAAAAAABnU/vpyXnlEyFXs/s800/DSC00031.JPG

 

Push in the tabs on the left and the right like so.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU9jbRcjCI/AAAAAAAABnc/2fELDhIBd5w/s800/DSC00032.JPG

 

It will then hang all the open like so.

 

 

Take out the Owners Manual holder bin.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU-Lv4JUTI/AAAAAAAABnw/FAkR_KkIujs/s800/DSC00034.JPG

 

Now you can see the access door for your cabin air filter back there! But that's just teasing you...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU-MJaw1tI/AAAAAAAABn4/kMCLe7OeSBQ/s800/DSC00035.JPG

 

Remove the screw with the white chalk line across it (in picture). NOTE: its easies to get a flathead and lift up on the outer ring of the "screw" and apply tension to the flanges keeping the screw in place so you can actually remove these retarded screws. Once you get the screw head out a little bit try to just pull the screw out with your fingers and then pull the rest of it out once that is removed. FYI, I hate the engineer that made these things. Hate.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU-M-bypXI/AAAAAAAABoI/uqgWhTdAubY/s800/DSC00037.JPG

 

Removed.

 

 

Now you can pull off the glow box. Pull out towards you on the right side first and then pull the left side out. The left side looks like this:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVA2PV-4CI/AAAAAAAABqg/mEriM8WqKmc/s800/DSC00054.JPG

 

No Glove Box! NOTE: If you want to be ghetto you can drive around like this, but I don't recommend it. Respect the B!

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU-yUtisZI/AAAAAAAABok/p-JiF0YwCiA/s800/DSC00040.JPG

 

Start removing these 5 retarded plastic screws.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU-yoZcVbI/AAAAAAAABos/iUL-ES3F8Wc/s800/DSC00041.JPG

 

Pull the cover off and remove it like so:

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU_ase9tfI/AAAAAAAABpA/Ara6OTOwBdQ/s800/DSC00043.JPG

 

Removed! You can now see and get access to the Cabin Air Filter.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU_bmH8j0I/AAAAAAAABpI/-HC0VEmejZo/s800/DSC00044.JPG

 

Squeeze the 2 tabs on either side (both hands) and pull the filter tray out through the access pannel.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScU_cH-7laI/AAAAAAAABpQ/9U9ioMAkLvo/s800/DSC00045.JPG

 

 

Should be filthy, like mine.

 

 

Replace it just like the one that it is in there. Here is a comparison of clean/dirty:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVABD-nbSI/AAAAAAAABps/a0M30q9ShR8/s800/DSC00048.JPG

 

Reinsert the filter and tray back into the access pannel.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVAB031YVI/AAAAAAAABp0/XnlR9S3CL4c/s800/DSC00049.JPG

 

Clip the left and right squeeze tabs back into place. A little push should do it.

 

 

Put the access panel back on. NOTE: The right side of mine needed a little more attention to get it to snap in so the holes will line up for the retarded screws to go back in.

 

 

Put the screws back in and put your owners manual bin back in as well.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVA1NHPukI/AAAAAAAABqY/UNoEEYjUU-w/s800/DSC00053.JPG

 

Put you glove box back on starting with the left and then the right.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVA2PV-4CI/AAAAAAAABqg/mEriM8WqKmc/s800/DSC00054.JPG

 

Put the screw back in witht he chalk line across it.

 

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVA3C7rC9I/AAAAAAAABq4/p4pJC8e0U-o/s800/DSC00057.JPG

 

Push the glove box up like you are going to close it so the tabs on the right and left will snap back in place.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVA2UPhz7I/AAAAAAAABqo/U_Ons7fIPEM/s800/DSC00055.JPG

 

Reattach the retractor string to witht he loop on the right side.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVBNDI9H2I/AAAAAAAABrE/44q3SDX6f-Q/s800/DSC00058.JPG

 

Put your right side dash access panel back on.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-8hONLK7puw/ScVBN7REiCI/AAAAAAAABrM/NfjUNucZyEM/s800/DSC00059.JPG

 

Close your glove box and your done. Enjoy your fresh clean air for another 9500 miles.

 

 

-Rogue77`

Wow, and that was the '08 "easier to replace" version? I'll breathe dirty air. lol.

Thanks for the walkthrough and pics. It'll come in handy when I do mine sometime soon.

Nice writeup. Couple of comments.

 

Not sure what your car is, but on mine you skip the "5 retarded

screws and remove cover" step, and instead remove three

non-retarded screws and then a beefy metal bracket, and then you

can pull away a fabric flap secured by velcro. I'm guessing your

car is newer than mine (2006) and the plastic cover is a less

retarded version of the velcro flap on mine.

 

Also, instead of paying $20-30 for a retarded paper filter, many folks

go to building supply store, buy furnace filters of various sorts, and

trim 'em to fit. Much cheaper and better filtration. (There's another

thread somehwere that talks about options people use).

how often are we supposed to replace the filter?

Wow, and that was the '08 "easier to replace" version? I'll breathe dirty air. lol.

 

Meh, took 20 minutes to do WITH taking pictures. Actually writing this write up took longer. It's your lungs.

 

how often are we supposed to replace the filter?

 

The end of my post says every 9,500 miles. But if you are driving around a dry climate with a lot of dust in the air or in places with a lot of bugs or zombies you might want to change it more often. I just got around to changing mine at 20K so....

 

Not sure what your car is

 

The post you are replying to is for an 08...I have a 2008 Legacy Spec.B.

 

-Rogue77`

^ ahh, thanks. I missed that.

 

Guess it's time to replace mine

Good write-up, thanks. I need to replace mine I'm sure, bought the car last summer and who knows if it was ever done...

I used that write-up (thanks a mill!) and seriously it is easy-peesy....20 minutes including me cutting a new filter from some quality 3m stuff too

Good write-up, thanks. I need to replace mine I'm sure, bought the car last summer and who knows if it was ever done...

 

Since yours in an '05 there is a chance that your car does not have the access door behind the glove box and you'll have to do it the hard way. Here are the instructions: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1626.

FYI Guys, I found this filter online for $19. I got ripped at the dealer for mine but next time I may just try this place:

 

https://www.am-autoparts.com/AM/Cabin-Air-Filters/Subaru/Legacy/-/AM-11483931/

Looks so easy I could prob do it in the parking lot at work. Nice writeup!!!

^ I think most people have been buying air handler filters and cutting them to size. I bet that would be even cheaper since you get a few filters out of it.

 

^ I think most people have been buying air handler filters and cutting them to size. I bet that would be even cheaper since you get a few filters out of it.

 

 

More to the point, you'll get better filtrattion than with a simple

paper filter. For example, mine has an activated charcoal layer

and an electrostatic layer. And you won't be encouraging Subaru

to charge $20-30 for a piece of folded paper ...

You can get this at your local Target.

http://www.webproducts.com/stores/w/webproducts/catalog/wabsrbr-300.jpg

 

You'll get 6 filters out of it for just over $10. Plus it's got activated charcoal.

Thank you Rouge77 for the nice write up and pictures in response to my OP.

 

My Subie dealer quoted me $27.50 + Tax for a replacement filter Part# 72880XA00A

 

I picked up WIX Part# 4875 from Napa today for $18.89 + Tax and plan to put it in this weekend. This one from Napa looks idential to the OEM one.

I replaced mine today, picked up a WEB Odor Control Carbon (furnace filter,) at lowes today for 9.97, cut it to size and installed.

I cant believe what the dealer charges to do this . It took me 20 minutes. anyone can do this. I also bought the filtre 3m filter for 9.97. It actually works great with the metel wire on it. It allows you to cut it bigger and bend it to fit nice and tight. 6 filters for the 1/3 of one dealer filter.

Hmmm...my car smells when I use the vent without the A/C turned on. My car has 17,000 miles on it now and never had the cabin air filter replaced, but I asked the service rep at the dealer and he said it would cost a lot and said that it isn't worth doing and seeing that the filter doesn't need replacing yet, due to the labor involved. He also said it probably wasn't the cause of the smell. He said that you should change it every 30,000 miles or so, and I was somewhat skeptical of that.

 

My car is garaged every night but when I'm at work, the car gets pretty dusty (it almost makes washing my car a waste of time). I am pretty sure that filter is getting pretty filthy by now.

 

Maybe I'll give this a shot myself.

 

(edit: I just checked the owner's manual and it says to replace the cabin air filter every 12 months of 9,300 miles, so I'm definitely overdue. I guess the service rep doesn't know what he's talking about.)

My dealer said it is a pain to change and that it should be changed every 10000. It took me 5 minutes the second time when I relized I put my filter it upside down. I cut 6 filters out of a filtre 3m filter. Now Im not worried about paying someone to do it. Its a piece of cake.

So what's the difference in location from this to older (let's say 05) models?

 

 

 

Flavio Zanetti

Boston, MA

FYI Guys, I found this filter online for $19. I got ripped at the dealer for mine but next time I may just try this place:

 

https://www.am-autoparts.com/AM/Cabin-Air-Filters/Subaru/Legacy/-/AM-11483931/

 

What does the dealer charge to do it? It looks like the 2008 is a lot easier to replace than the 2005's.

 

I tried buying one from that site and tried paying with Paypal but it said my card was declined, even though I wasn't using a card. The site has some rendering issues as well, and mixed content (http and https). I don't know if I'm comfortable trying to use a credit card on their site.

 

(edit: Just found it here for $6.63: http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/subarulegacy20052008replacementt4201041.html, but the shipping is $11.25 and handling is 2.70 for a total of $20.58)

In case anyone didn't know, the cabin filter for a Toyota FJ Cruiser is identical to ours if you'd like to look at more options: http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96226. I just changed out the filter in my car today with one of the WEB furnace filters posted above. 6 filters for $10 is tough to beat.

I just went through and did this as well. Worked perfectly, gotta love getting 6 changes for the price of 1 at the dealer. Great walkthrough. Thanks!