With lots of travel on dusty backroads and trails our Ford F-150’s in cabin air filter gets dirty pretty often. We’ve found it needs replacing about very three months when we do a fair amount of off-road travel. Our Ford dealer wanted $60 plus the cost of the filter to replace it, so we decided to do it ourselves. Here’s how to replace your Ford F-150 in-cabin air filter and even clean and reuse it if you’re really cheap like us.
How to Tell if Your Ford Truck’s Cabin Air Filter is Dirty
If there is a musty smell when you turn on the AC, chances are good that your Ford F-150’s in-cabin air filter is dirty. Sometimes it still may need changing, even if there is no smell. Reduced airflow from your AC or heater is another indication a vehicle’s cabin air filter needs replacing.
Step 1 – Start By Lowering The Glove Box Door
The first step is to empty everything out of your glove box and then locate the two pliable tabs on each side of the box, as seen in the photo above. It may take a bit of effort to squeeze the sides of the glove box in enough for the tab to clear the side.
Step 2 – Remove The Tray Above the Main Glove Box
Using a 7mm driver, (your model may be different) remove the two screws securing the smaller glove box tray. Next you can firmly pull backwards on it to remove it. If may take some effort, and be careful of any wiring harnesses connected to it.
The video below is not ours, but is very helpful in showing how to reach the cabin air filter.
Step 3 – Remove The Ford F-150 Cabin Air Filter Cover
After you’ve set the upper tray aside, reach in and depress the tabs on each side of the cabin air filter cover as shown above. Remove the cover and then you can pull out the dirty filter. There
Step – 4 Cleaning or Replacing the Ford F-150 In-Cabin Air Filter
If you’re extremely cheap like us you may be wondering if it’s OK to clean a Ford F-150 in-cabin air filter by washing it? Your Ford dealer will tell you absolutely not, but they’re made of a cloth like material and yes, you can clean your Ford truck’s cabin air filter with soap and water. For best results, soak it for a half-hour in the sink with Dawn soap, then rinse and let it air dry. A spray wand is helpful to remove dirt as you gently open the filter folds and rinse.
Start by rinsing against the direction of air flow, then rinse both sides using a gentle sprayer and warm water. The filter media is fragile, so careful not to overdo it. This does work once or twice, but a much better solution is a washable cabin air filter like those by K&N (the only washable one that we know of.)
No Hair Dryers! – We’ve washed ours a couple times already, but got impatient this time and tried a hair dryer – bad idea! The material does not hold up to heat, and we ruined the filter.
Step – 5 Replacing The Ford F-150 In-cabin Air Filter
Using a new or washed and completely dried filter, repeat steps one and two above in reverse. In our case we opted to throw away our old stock filter and replace it with a K&N washable one, which is guaranteed to last the life of our vehicle. At less than $40 and with disposable ones costing about $20, it should pay for itself pretty quick.
- INCREASED AIRFLOW IMPROVES HEATING/COOLING EFFICIENCY
- HELPS CONTROL ODORS: Treated to help capture contaminants that cause odors....
- SAVE MONEY: Washable product that lasts
- EASY TO INSTALL: Pre-treated and ready to drop into your factory air box....
- WASHABLE AND REUSABLE: Engineered to last for the life of your vehicle
Below: We finally replaced the filter, after the second round of washing the old one, with a K&N washable cabin air filter.
You’ll notice a difference in air quality right away after changing your Ford’s in-cabin air filter and it will also help your AC work more efficiently on hot days.
Related Article – How to Disable Keyfob Panic Button and Seatbelt Chimes on a Ford F-150
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