Most cars and trucks today have air filters that clean the outside air before it gets drawn into your car. What they clean, specifically, is fine particles such as dust and pollen. This may not seem like a major thing for many people but for those that suffer from asthma and allergies, having clean air inside a car can be very important.
The filters that clean the air inside your car are generally referred to as “cabin air filters.” They do a great job of keeping the air in your car clean but they do get dirty over time and should be changed. Most automotive manufacturers suggest that you change your cabin air filter every 10,000 to 15,000 miles in standard environments. If you drive in dusty environments, you may want to change your air filter more often.
Do-It-Yourself
Cabin air filters can sometimes be changed by the car owner. Obviously this can save you some money but often they can be very difficult to get at. For example, many cabin air filters are located behind the glove box and to get at them, you need to drop the glove box from its support fasteners and dig deep. We advise that you look online to see how to change the filter in your car and decide if you want to take it on.
Professional Help
If you find that replacing a cabin air filter is a major operation, take it from Palmer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram (Roswell, GA), it may be best to let a factory-trained mechanic do it for you. They will know exactly how to do it without breaking anything under the dash. In addition, they may have some tricks to make the process easier. Best news is that since they do it all the time, its a quick job for a dealer.
More expensive than engine filters
By the way, you may be surprised at how expensive replacement cabin air filters are. Its primarily because of the filter paper is somewhat exotic with very fine pores. This isn’t a cheaper filter like the engine air filter. In general, cabin air filters are typically twice the price of common engine air filters.
Take a look
If you elect to have your dealership, replace your filter, ask to see it before they toss it. You might be surprised to see that stuff that it has caught. It may have insects, leaves, dirt and all sorts of stuff attached to its surface. If you see a lot of junk on the surface, you may want to replace it more often than the factory recommends. You dealer can certainly give you advice on this.
