Replacing Your Cabin Air Filter (Or How To Install One...)

I recently read a thread here on the forums about cabin air filters in the Intrigue. Someone said all Intrigues have a spot for a cabin air filter regardless of whether they shipped with one or not. This piqued my interest because I mostly drive on dirt roads, so dust in the air (and on my dash) can be a big problem. Since I have a GX, I assumed I had no filter--so I wanted to put one in.

I noticed a lot of people were having a hard time figuring out how to access the filter, so here's how it's done...

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300439.jpg
The cover is located just below the passenger side wiper.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300442.jpg
You'll have to move the wipers out of the way by turning the key on, turning the wipers on, then quickly shutting the key off.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/screws.jpg
There are 3 fasteners holding the cover on. One is basically a plastic nut and simply requires a flat head screwdriver to unscrew. The other two are expansion fasteners, and can be a big pain in the a$$ to remove.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300443.jpg
You'll need a phillips and flat head screwdriver to remove these. Stick the flat head under the base to keep it from spinning. Now unscrew the phillips head. Once the phillips head screw is out as far as it'll go, you should be able to pull the whole retainer out.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300444.jpg
The cover will be stuck on pretty good if it's never been removed.
You might need to remove some of the weather striping from below the
cover and pry the cover up with a screwdriver. Be sure to un-clip the washer line before removing the cover...

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300448.jpg
Ahh, success. Wait, what is that?? I was shocked to find an extremely dirty filter sitting on top of my blower... I thought for sure I didn't have one.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300452.jpg
Slip your hand in and pull that sucker out. It's a pretty tight space, but it can be done.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300457.jpg
There be the squirrel cage...

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300458.jpg
You may have noticed I didn't get that first expansion screw out. It started stripping, but thankfully I didn't need to remove it to get the cover out of the way.

http://aufo.s3.amazonaws.com/Intrigue%20Cabin%20Filter/S6300462.jpg
Well, this would explain why my air always smelled like dirt...

Hopefully you know what to do from here. Put the new filter in and button it up. Enjoy your clean air and dust-free dash!

Great write up, thanks.

Thanks Tobey. The pictures definitely help. I have replaced my air filter twice. The second time was much easier since i knew how to deal with those plastic fasteners.

Great job. Nice pics as well.

The only thing I would add is that it's a good idea to remove the washer fluid lines that run along that plastic piece. They are just held in place by clips and easy to remove. They can get brittle over time like any plastic stuff and easy to break if you pulled on them too much.


Those fasteners are terrible the first time around, much easier later in life after you get to see how they work.


On another note, the rubber piece you see in the second to last picture that is right above the old filter is where a lot of Intrigues leak water into the passenger side floorboard. In fact it looks like yours is messed up in that pic Tobey! I hope you fixed it before it rains again:iceslolan

Thanks. Yeah, it fell down when I pulled the cover off. I put it back on and I'm hoping it's sealed now...only one way to find out I guess.

By the way...
Be sure to un-clip the washer line before removing the cover... :wink:

Note to Self: stop skim-reading posts to avoid further embarrassment.


It would seem I dont have anything to add haha.

As for that seal I glued the heck out of mine with a hot glue gun. I call it "fix a-la ghetto".