This is the procedure as written in the GM service online manual. I got a print out courtesy of a local GM dealership.

Note: If it's been a while since the filter has been replaced, you may want to wear some disposable rubber gloves. Incase of mold.


Passenger Compartment Air Filter Replacement

Removal Procedure

1. Position the windshield wipers in the UP position, by keying the ignition OFF when the wipers reach the desired position.

2. Raise the hood.

3. Remove the rear hood seal.

4. Remove the washer hose from the right air inlet grill and position aside.



5. Remove the two push pin retainers from the right air inlet grill panel.
Important: Do not remove the third push pin retainer from the right air inlet grill panel.

6. Position the left side of the right air inlet grill panel on to the windshield.



7. Remove the passenger compartment air filter.


Installation Procedure



1. Install the passenger compartment air filter.



2. Install the left side of the right air inlet grill panel into position.

3. Install the push pin retainers to the right air inlet grill panel.

4. Position the washer hose in to the right air inlet grill panel clips.

5. Install the rear hood seal.

6. Close the hood.

7. Return the windshield wipers to the PARK position.

 

Thanks for the thread, great info. Everyone needs to do this, I took mine apart and found tones of bugs and dust.

 

Cabin air filters are the most commonly "forgotten" or neglected maintenance on late model vehicles. This is predominantly due to the fact that they are a relatively new thing that did not exist on older vehicles. So many older drivers just "don't know" about their existence.

Thanks for the write-up, Taz! I'll need to poke my head in there and see if its ever been changed. That's more or less the same location of the fresh air vent on most GMs, including my Beretta (albeit they were never equipped with a filter).

 

Very neglected! The one in my car hadn't been changed since the car had came out of the production plant. It was super nasty, and gave me the sniffles for about 3 days.

 

So. How often should these be changed?

Thanks a lot for this informative post. It needs to be stickied!

 

I take it like a normal air filter. Do it as part of a tune-up (~every other year)

 

Taz,
Thanks for the writeup and pics. I'm going to check mine soon.

Wayne

 

Excellent comparison! As with standard air filters, they should be changed more frequently in dusty areas or when driving a lot. After all, they function the same way, sucking in outside air. One bring it into the engine for combustion; the other brings it into the car for circulation.

And montyss02 brings up another good point! Anyone with outdoor allergies to mold, dust, etc., should really consider looking into changing it about once a year. Make it an annual springtime habit.

 

i changed mine to a K & N high flow cabin filter, it added about 10 HP to my immune system

 

I changed mine today. I had some problems figuring out how to take the push pins out. The pin closest to the fender was not all there and its not even really held down. I think they just used the middle of the push pin. Mine has a really big round plastic hold down between the two push pins which is not shown in the picture. I didn't try to take it out. I'm going to go buy two new push pins.

The filter in my car had been changed before and really wasn't very dirty but I used the new AC-Delco filter I had bought since it seemed to be constructed a lot better than the one in it.

Wayne