GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

So while visiting my dealer today to get a weatherstip replaced (under warranty of course), I thought to stop in and see how much the air filters for the car were.Engine filter - not too bad - $26.25 - though the Fram CA9482 is only $20 at Wal-Mart....Cabin filter - this is the scarey part... Others have said they're around $30 - $35 US so I was expecting around $50 CAN. Wrong - $88! +15% tax of course..... DAMN - and you wonder why others have talked about getting furnace filters and cutting them up! That's what I'm planning on doing now... though I may try washing it once just to see how it survives.For reference sake - the dealer filter is an AC Delco - part # CF123.The only other place I've seen it for sale online was selling them for $37 US.

Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? out of all the cars I've had i've never had a "cabin filter" and I'm still alive. just roll down the windows and go 70 that will change the air in the "cabin"

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? I'd have to agree. Our cars aren't exactly a "clean room" anyways. If our doors and windows were always up and closed, I think that filter may keep some dust out, but that's about it. It was probably designed into our cars for a marketing kick anyways. I'm not going to put replacing the filter on the top of my "to do" list.

My cabin filter was incredibly dirty after the first 6 months of ownership. I was the one who suggested furnace filters. They work great. I get the 20x20x1 Dirt Demon 3 pack from Lowes. I replace them quite often, and they are full of leaves, mold/mildew and dirt every 6 months. Please don't waste your time with OEM ripoffs.

Quote, originally posted by Altus »Cabin filter - this is the scarey part... Others have said they're around $30 - $35 US so I was expecting around $50 CAN. Wrong - $88! +15% tax of course..... DAMN - and you wonder why others have talked about getting furnace filters and cutting them up! That's what I'm planning on doing now... though I may try washing it once just to see how it survives.For reference sake - the dealer filter is an AC Delco - part # CF123.The only other place I've seen it for sale online was selling them for $37 US.$16.20 (plus shipping) from GMPartsDirect.com. Enter part number 88970273.

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? out of all the cars I've had i've never had a "cabin filter" and I'm still alive. just roll down the windows and go 70 that will change the air in the "cabin" The cabin filter does get extremely dirty. I change the one in my '99 GMC once a year and it is black with dirt and full of leaves, butterflies, wasps and other assorted flora and fauna. If you don't believe in them you had better remove it before it plugs up and blocks your HVAC system.

Quote, originally posted by cohocarl »If our doors and windows were always up and closed, I think that filter may keep some dust out, but that's about it.Describes about 90% of my driving, so the filter should help keep my interior dust levels down. From late fall till mid-spring, it's usually too cold to ride around with the widows down. The rest of the time, it is often too hot. Once it starts to hit about 75 degrees outside, I run the A/C. I HATE the heat.

Quote, originally posted by Sunny » If you don't believe in them you had better remove it before it plugs up and blocks your HVAC system.that won't happen.

Hey Scott/Nova, is that you?Welcome back, we've missed your tech torque and acerbic wit!Hope you've been keeping up on events on the site.

Yeah those filters are up there price wise... for some GM models they can run into the $90+ range. Depends on your driving conditions, some don't need changing before 40,000km or more. I have seen some very dirty ones though. It looked worse then the dust you find behind the couch when it hasn't been moved for several 1000 years.

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »that won't happen. Oh I beg to differ on this one.... back in the summer I noticed that the airflow out of our system wasn't exactly 'stunning' - it was pretty anemic to say the best in fact. So I had a look at the cabin filter. Sure enough - clogged with dirt, leaves, etc.Blasted it with compressed air to get all the crap out, and it's been holding up ever since - but I do take it out for a quick cleaning every couple of months.Our manuals even say that you can remove it entirely and run without it -- though after seeing what it's catching, I most certainly will NOT be doing that.....

I think what scherry2 meant is the system won't completely clog and fail. Airflow will obviously be reduced, but it won't completely stop the system. Same thing with engine filters. Left unchanged, eventually, power will be lost, but the likelihood of the engine seizing or something from lack of air is more or less not existent...

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? out of all the cars I've had i've never had a "cabin filter" and I'm still alive. just roll down the windows and go 70 that will change the air in the "cabin" Well it' been 13 months since I bought my Vibe, and I haven't worked up the courage to take a look at the filter. I'm sure it's pretty bad because my workplace is directly accross the street from a wood chip processing plant. Let me tell you my car gets a fine coat of wood dust by the end of the day.My co-worker who I sometimes go for lunch with comments on how much dust is kicked up in the cabin of his car when he starts the blowers, and noticed that my car is minimal when compared to his.

Quote, originally posted by maxx4me »I was the one who suggested furnace filters. They work great. I get the 20x20x1 Dirt Demon 3 pack from Lowes. I replace them quite often, and they are full of leaves, mold/mildew and dirt every 6 months. Please don't waste your time with OEM ripoffs.Actually, retiredfields beat ya to it by about 4 months. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=5345#60630But a good idea nonetheless! I gotta remembr to pick them up tomorrow..

Doooooh!!! (8 ^ (l)I just checked my engine air filter, and it was awful. At 33k, it is time to get that dust magnet out of there as well.

Hmmm...good call...I can't remember the last time I checked my engine filter!

Quote, originally posted by NovaResource2 »$16.20 (plus shipping) from GMPartsDirect.com. Enter part number 88970273.I'm told that this is the wrong one -- this one is actually mounted on the A/C evaporator.Anyone know for sure?

Quote, originally posted by Altus »I'm told that this is the wrong one -- this one is actually mounted on the A/C evaporator.Anyone know for sure?Yes, I know for sure because I purchased one. It is the cabin air filter that installs behind the glove box.

Cool - that's a good deal then!Thanks Nova!

I took pics of my cabin filter in my Xterra when I last changed it.The pics can be viewed here:http://community.webshots.com/...xTBqwThe side by side comparison between a new one and used one are very dramatic. Just imagine, you are breathing that crap!

WOW proved me wrong. thanks any 4x4ing with it?

Some 4x4ing. (two or three times per year) The vast majority of the time it spends on the highways of California.

Try this go out and buy at CanTire spray it on the filterand rinse off with water it works great" i"ved tried this a few times andthe filter still holds up don"t worry the filter will not deteriorate.

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? | Doesn't get dirty? What the heck are you smoking??!??!?!??! - Oh yeah, you are smoking dust, bugs, leaves, and other crud.I just changed out my filter and I found misc leaves, twigs, and one dead moth stuck in the filter. The air is now fresher, and that ugly smell no longer exists when I run the AC.Do you want to breath in this crap? (link to pics: http://community.webshots.com/...WfGxa)

How easy is it to remove and check the Vibe's cabin filter? Are there instructions in the manual for this? Thanks

No, but I will now.

be sure to read Nick's warning about the error in the owners manual at http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=982

Thanks a bunch, I likely would have broken the tabs!

I just checked and cleaned the filter, I also took a good look around for anything loose that could explain my rattle. Two of the screws in the glove box near the latch were pretty loose, maybe I'll be lucky and that'll fix it...

Hey Altus. Just in case you didn't know, Canadian Tire carries the MicroAir brand which is used in the vibe. The carry it for 39CND plus tax. If you haven't bought one yet go to Crappy Tire and get it...it is worth the purchase price.Spyder

Don't waste your money buying an entirely new filter. If you have a hose on your vacuum, take it outside and suck all the junk out of the filter. The only time you really need to replace it is if it's stained with mold, water, etc or stinks.I've cleaned mine twice so far in my car's 17,000mi life. Saved me about $40.

Hey guys, Thanks for all shouting about this. I guess I missed this page in the manual (heh heh!). The filter comes out easy, cleans up easy and, if you remember to rinse the bleach out BEFORE putting the filter back in (ask me how I came to know this...), is a tidy little home project that does seem to help the air flow. There's about 27k miles on mine and no one had every changed the filter before (No, not my fault! I bought it used). Good tip. Thanks.

I took mine out today and it absolutely filthy...the ventilation system had about 25% more air when I replaced it. Air is pretty bad out there these days...worse than when we were kids. Allergies and asthma are becoming one of the top reasons people visit doctors and hospitals as compared to a small percentage 20 years ago.Bruce

The manual says to lift up on the tabs to remove the filter...DON"T do that. Push them down to remove the plastic cover...I did what the manual said and broke off one of the tabs...stupid manual.

Quote, originally posted by bigfurry »The manual says to lift up on the tabs to remove the filter...DON"T do that. Push them down to remove the plastic cover...I did what the manual said and broke off one of the tabs...stupid manual.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=982

It is frustrating that Nick reported that error years ago, and GM supposedly monitors this site, yet the 2005 owners manual still has the same error.Any bets on whether or not the 06 version will continue the same error?

I'm glad this thread came back up as I was going to be changing my cabin filter in the next week. I probably would have broken of a tab otherwise.

I did the smart thing, didn't look at the directions

Well, after about a month of driving my 'new' vibe around, I decided to check the in cabin filter. Holy S$#t. First of all, I think it was installed wrong, it wouldn't come out intact, more like unraveled. Then, it looked like it was original (2003 with 34,000 miles) I was surprised any air was getting through it at all. Figured, I've had several cars over the years that didn't have an in-cabin filter, why start now. Chuck it, and save myself some $$$

Several people are cutting up house air filters and putting in there. That should save you some $$$ and still get some filtration.

Quote, originally posted by AZViking » I decided to check the in cabin filter. Holy S$#t. I was surprised any air was getting through it at all. Figured, I've had several cars over the years that didn't have an in-cabin filter, why start now. Chuck it, and save myself some $$$I don't see how you can make both of those statements, if the filter wasn't there all that crap would have been in the fan/vents/hoses or interior. I'm not a big fan of in cabin filters but after seeing the crap mine had in it after a few months i cut up a house a/c filter and stuck it in there to help keep the junk out of the blower mower and everything else.

Quote, originally posted by Pick »I don't see how you can make both of those statements, no one ever said I was all that bright. I guess I'll wait and see if running without the filter bothers me. If I do decide to put a filter back in, it'll probably be one of those cut up household filters. I haven't noticed an increase in dust/debris in the cabin after taking the filter out (yet).

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »Does anyone really think that the "cabin filter" really gets that dirty and that it will need changing? out of all the cars I've had i've never had a "cabin filter" and I'm still alive. just roll down the windows and go 70 that will change the air in the "cabin" Funny. I grew up riding in my Father's '72 Impala and '82 Chevy Citation...seriously doubt they had cabin filters and I'm still here, 34 years later.