For more information or a written out step by step you can stop by www.thediyguy.n... . A video on how to replace a cabin air filter on your Subaru Legacy. The car in the video is a 2005 Legacy GT.
My husband and I have 2 pre-owned 08 Legacies without a complete history of maintenance done, so we are a bit frightened as to what we will find in here. This would have taken hours for my stubborn as s*** husband to insist on figuring out on his own, appreciate you sharing your knowledge so the rest of us can suffer a bit less! Thank you!
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Good luck with getting the filters replaced. You may find that there are no filters in there. A lot of people or garages removed them because they were such a PITA to change. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like if you haven't already. Thanks
this was the same as my 2007 legacy outback. Way more complicated than I thought it would be. Would not have been able to do it without this video. Thanks!
Thank you for this excellent tutorial and step-by-step process for replacing the cabin air filter. Of the dozen or so other videos I've viewed on this subject, others are lacking in the details. Others don't provide the camera's View, nor do they show every step. The majority of them make assumptions about what drivers know under the dash.. Again thank you so much for this excellent tutorial.
@@TheDIYGuyDOTnet Cabin filters weren't that common in mid range vehicles 13 years ago. Today they are across the board so manufacturers make them more accessible so as to maximize dealer profit if you have them do it. Honda wanted $75 to change my cabin air filter and all I had to do was drop down the glove box and snap a plastic panel out.
Wow. I thought my 2008 Outback was a pain to do. I wish the guy that did the video I watched to get started was as thorough as you are with the steps. Excellent video!
+vanderticked Yes the early models were a pain. Thanks. Getting a 2010 forester in soon to do a cabin air filter will hopefully get time to do a video on it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Wow, that's a ton of effort to do a simple cabin air filter. Good thing I need to tear my car apart for a car audio job. I'll do this along with it. Thanks!! :)
Thanks man, my friends subaru didn't have the filter when we went to change it, and the blower motor wasn't working properly, so we fixed both things and now is going really nice
You're welcome, Glad we could help and that its back up and working good. Many people and small garages just removed the filter as it was such a pain to replace it in this year and model Subaru. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like if you haven't already. Thanks
What an overcomplicated thing, but totally worth it! Thanks a lot for the step by step process. It took mee two hours taking the chance to clean the whole thing. I even recovered $2 in quarters that the previous owner had left fall next to the stick!
Yes this year is a bear to change. The newer ones keep getting easier to change. You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up. Thanks
I did this and didn't even need to remove the shifter's bezel or take apart the passenger side dash either Don't know if anyone will see this but: -Remove the cubby for the manual, it can be wiggled out without unscrewing anything near it -Start with the side panel to the right of the glove box and remove that first -Proceed to remove the string and the screw/fastener located behind the panel -Undo the hinges and remove the glovebox -Once you remove the glove box, there is an L-shaped piece of metal that is located to the right of the glove box light bulb assembly (Where the Manual Cubby was). -Unscrew the 3 screws that are attached to the L-shaped piece of metal, then you can pull it out. -You can reach your hands in and now open the cabin filter door(May need a little wiggling around to loosen it, but it will come out) -Take out the cabin filter housing thru the bottom hole that the L-Shaped mental was blocking (There will be a second open directly underneath the cut out for the cubby) -Replace cabin filter and now follow these steps in reverse order Hope this helped someone!
This is great.I went on a 10 week trip and when I got back my car's ventilation system smelled like something died in there. With this video and liberal use of a citrus scented sanit I totally eliminated the smell in my 2007. There were a couple of minor differences but this was awesome; I don't think the filter had been changed in over100,00 miles. Yikes! The hair and dirt! Thanks! Great tutorial!
Thank you very much for the video! I just changed the cabin air filter in our 2006 Subaru Outback wagon for the first time and in about 45 minutes. The only thing that was different was an additional screw near the radio that supports the upper panel behind the glove compartment. That panel did not come out easily since the clips just below the dash were stuck. One of them broke, maybe because it was 35 degrees. It is great that people like you take the time to post clear and methodical videos. Great job!
You're welcome.That's not bad for the first time. It happens.. Cold temperatures don't go well with plastic. Thanks for watching and taking the time to drop us a comment. Its nice when someone appreciates the work that goes into making a decent video and takes the time to write a nice comment/ like the video unlike some that dislike a video because it has nothing to do with there car..
I just finished the mod on my 2005 Outback 3.0R with minimal blood letting, where you remove the piece behind the glove box and cut out the section that is cut out as shown in this video. It took me about 2 hours but I am slower than most. I measured the cuts I made based on some pictures posted from a forum where somebody did it as well. Judging by his pictures I measured my cuts to be slightly over 2 1/4" from the bend when measured from the outside. I was able to use a sturdy box knife to make the cuts, carefully do about 3 or 4 firm passes. Put the piece on a sheet of cardboard so it won't get marred up like mine (slightly). To block the hole with fabric, I cut a piece of microfiber cloth about 7 to 8" in width, and the length to slightly over at each end. I used some denatured alcohol to clean the top side above the cut and used some velcro (the hook sides) stickers which stuck very nicely very close to the opening on the back upper side. I then reached the microfiber up into the hole and let it stick to each velcro sticker. The rest I let hang down and it isn't visible under the glove box. Getting the cabin air filter out still requires some effort but there's no longer any need to remove the transmission and oxygen sensors.
We have a 2005 3.0 H6 Outback here, in the UK. It's also '05, but there's no need to remove so much to access the filter. Just drop the glove box down, pull out the upper glove compartment shelf (next to satnav in mine) and there it is. Remove white cover and pull the filter housing out. 5 min job. It was either redesigned in 2005 or RHD models are different to LHD. Thanks for the tutorial anyway!
+superm0nster Less steps on 2006 Outback in USA also, drop glove box out the same, unscrew 3 screws above white insulation /below owners manual box, pull out metal bracket, pull out owners manual box( no screws) and you can reach the filter and pull it out under the insulation.
My 06 legacy in USA is like the one in the video. However my 08 outback is like you described. I’m guessing by either 07 or 08 USA Subaru’s had switched over
This is a great video!!! Step by step and very thorough....I followed it exactly and it worked like a charm...replaced filter in about half hour...To my surprise there was no filter there...Installed it and everything went back in reverse...Thanks for such a detailed and accurate video...
Hi mate, I've just finished doing mine and it was a lot easier than the left hand drive cars, the only thing I had to do was lower the glove box door and remove the tray and the filter holder slid straight out through the gap from behind the tray, hope this helps anybody with a right hand drive 04 outback. Cheers Tony.
Nice. Sounds like the little bit newer version over here. Where you do about the same lower the glove box remove the filter door and replace. They have definitely made it more easier on the newer models.
Three gold stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I doubt I could have figured out the circuitous route required to get to this filter. But wasn't going to spend $170 at dealership to have it done. As for the commenter who says there's an easier way, it couldn't have been 2005 legacy. Living in forested mountains I expected my filter to be as crazy dirty and debris-filled as the one in this video. It was disappointing to pull out .... an EMPTY tray. The explanation would seem to be that the three times I've had to drop the fan to dig out dead mice and their nests, they obviously 1) had to chew through the filter to even make it to the fan, and 2) found convenient nesting material from the filter. I'll send you a bottle of Jameson if you tell me how to get the back door panel off when the door won't open. :-) I think it starts with pulling the back seat and possible some panel damage thereafter... thanks again for the video. so very useful.
actually, would love to hear from Jim C if his easier way did apply to this year and model subaru. I attempted to just drop the glove box door then got spooked before pulling the owners manual tray, worried about the airbag blowing in my face. I did look for that other video but didn't find.
This has to be the best step by step tutorial out there. Not only for the Cabin air filter...Just in general. thanks again. (🔰2006 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited)
Thank you so much for the great video! I just used your video to change my 2005 Outback cabin air filter. I appreciate your attention to detail and pointing out how to fit the tabs back on each piece.
For anyone watching, some newer models have a little trap door behind the glove box, no need to remove the interior trim anymore. My 2009 legacy has the updated trap door.
Great Video but as some others have mentioned Subaru must have made improvements to the access. In my 2008 Legacy SE I had to remove the Rightmost Side panel, drop the glove box and then there was a secondary panel that could be removed with those stupid plastic screws to access the filter. None of the center console or glove box structure needed to be removed. Still thanks for the video, gave me the right place to start looking and pull the glove box!
Thanks for that video, well made, got straight on to it no excess dialogue, Mine is a 2007 Outback RH drive but should be the same but on the other side of the car.
Thanks for the video. I had a bunch of trouble getting the drivers side hinge to come loose on the glove box, because there was no access to that clip like there was on the right side after the small side panel is popped off. Also there was a piece of metal in the way of the tray when I pulled it out, I could not get it out all the way as gracefully as you did in the video. Ended up breaking one of those four tabs off the 'drawer' because of the tight angle. All back together just fine though. Thanks again for the video!
Excellent video, I used guidance to replace cabin air-filter on my Subaru 2005 Legacy wagon, went exactly as demonstrated. I like how you explain each step. Thanks!
Having mine done when they do the airbag recall in a couple weeks since it'll already be apart...200k miles and never been changed can't wait to see what it looks like :) Gonna ask them to show me when I pick the car up.
This was very helpful! Thank you. Had a couple of additional screws to take care of in my 2005 outback 2.5. Thanks also for covering the reassembly, saved me the trouble of taking pictures along the way.
Great, Glad we could help. They just started using the cabin air filter in some 03's so the early years a a pain to replace they got much easier in the newer models as you just need to flip the glove box down and replace.
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up if you haven't already. Thanks
Thanks for a informative video, I'm replacing mine tomorrow and this has been really helpful, my car is right hand drive and I'm hoping nothing is different compared to the left hand drive.
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Someone commented not to long ago that it was pretty much the same just on the opposite side of the car. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment and good luck with getting it replaced.
At 3:56 it shows removing a push pin, well my US model 2005 legacy GT did not have one, but at the point around 4:35 where he shows pulling out the unit I noticed a screw at the lower left hand corner that has to come out instead. Some models are slightly different apparently from other videos and comments, but if you don't have an access cover I don't see any other way. It seems the engineers were not all communicating because the owners manual slot just pulls out, which had they aligned the filter tray with that slot would have made changing the filter easy like most other cars.
Maybe the 2005 is different to the 06 model that I have, I didn’t have to remove any of these panels just the glove box 6 screws plus 2 plastic push pins and that’s it, took me a few minutes and no other trims were taken off , that notch where the owners manual goes comes out after you take the 6 screws
Well done. Worked just like this for my 2005 outback. Would you know if I can get to the evaporator by removing the fan? Once I got everything apart, there wasn't a filter in the removable carrier. Now, I'm suspecting that my evaporator is clogged up with all the crud the filter would have caught, if it had been there.
I just recently bought a 05 Legacy GT and noticed on the groups and forums that this is a PITA to change. But it actually looks simple enough to do just time consuming. I dont get why people think this is hard lol.
Its not hard its just time consuming. Compared to the newer Subaru's it seems like a PITA to replace as there are a few more steps. Good luck with getting your cabin air filter replaced. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up /like if you haven't already. Thanks
my 06 has 125k and it was unbelievably filthy. Now, as soon as the A/C gets turned on it's instant coolness whereas before it took quite a while. btw, there is another philips screw that gets exposed and needs to be taken out when you "loosen" the large left knee panel(it holds the black" piece that gets popped out right after this part in the video)
I just got my first Subaru after my '97.5 Explorer V8 died. Its a 2005 Legacy 2.5i Limited Sedan and this process to change a filter is ridiculous, lol. My wife has a Hybrid Saturn and it just requires removal of the glovebox door and a couple screws. I would have not figured this out on my own.
Yes it is, some 2003's had the filter but 2004 was really the first year. They have gotten easier to change in the newer models. The newest one I believe all you have do is open the glove box and then open the filter door and replace. A lot of garages and even the dealers were just taking them out and leaving the filter out because it was a pain to replace. Thanks for watching.
As some one else stated, yours was the only one showing this particular design(mine's an 06 Legacy Outback), and I could not have done it without your excellent video. One small point: the large left knee panel exposes another Philips screw that needs to be removed to get the black "subframe" piece to "pop" out. Maybe yours was/is missing?
I also encountered this left side screw on our '06 Outback, LL Bean edn. It comes at 4:33 into the video, just before removal of the four pins across the top (which our car doesn't have) and is the complement to the right side plastic pushpin removed first. I also found that the NAPA brand replacement filter was about 1/16 too wide in one dimension which forced a wrinkle, easily fixed by trimming the filter flange with a scissors. Fine video, one of the best - never would have figured this out on my own. Thanks
I have a Taco and take about 10% of this whole time to replace. Subaru needs to do better for owner. Now I have a 2008 Legacy 2.5 i GT. This video helps a lot. Thanks for the sharing.
Yes I agree that was way to involved for changing a cabin air filter. Since then they have changed it to be much easier just lower glove box and reach over the top of it and remove door then change filter. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Great video, thanks! I will admit that I got all the centre console things off and then started on the outer bits and then thought "bugger... this is a RHD car and that video is of LHD..." so had to start again! whoops... Also, I found that the Legacy B-Sport (common in NZ) has a slightly different arrangement of screws at the top of the glove-box, but it's similar enough to not be a hassle.
Oh my god, what a pain in the ass! Thanks for this video otherwise it would have taken me ages to figure out. My other car is a toyota yaris, and the cabin filter is accessible simply by opening up the glove box! why cant they all be that simple
+Ken Nguyen Ya on these few years it is a PITA. The newer Subaru's are much easier as all you have to do is open the glove box and open the filter housing door. Your welcome, Glad we could save you some time.
Hi, once I've finished I'll let you know if anything is different, it would be good for your reference as there is a lot of outbacks and liberty's here in Australia , so thanks again your video's. Cheers, 👍👍
+Clifford Pearson You're welcome, Glad we could give you the confidence to tackle this yourself. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment.
Question: I didn't hear you explain a critical piece of this puzzle: How to keep track of all the screws that came out and how NOT to lose them and how NOT to mix them up in the RE-assembly process. Could you please throw some pointers on how to organize the screws? Thank you.
Most people put the screws back in where they removed them or with the part that they removed. You could also get a large piece of cardboard and push the screws into it or make a circle and place them within it and label them. Can arrange the screws on the cardboard in the order you removed them or number them so you know what screws are for what step.
Great video. Just changed the cabin filter on my 2009 legacy.. Thanks! I have a question though. When I was putting back my glove box, I noticed two wires with green HEADs that fit each other. I thought I had accidentally unplugged them during the process, so I decided to plug them back. After I started my car, my CHECK ENGINE light got illuminated. It went off again when I unplugged these wires. Any ideas what are those wires, what is their function, and why are they unplugged?
They are diagnostics plug connectors. They should be left unplugged, only time I've plugged together or its been plugged together has been for ECUTek re-flashing.
Pretty sure mine has probably never been done. 2006 legacy 2.5i wagon with 117k. Had 98,200 when I bought it. I can’t imagine what mine is going to look like if that’s yours after 9500 miles. Really hoping to feel a difference, especially in this heat we are having. I am certain the volume of air coming from the dash is nowhere near what it is supposed to be.
It all depends on where its driven. If your going down dirt roads/ driveways it can get dirty pretty quick. Another thing is mice like to make a nest in there as well. We see that with cars that aren't driven all the time such as a third car. Mice bring pine needles, chew up paper towels or napkins from within the car and drag them in there for their nest. If its been that long I bet you notice a pretty good change once its replaced and it can move more volume of air though the system. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment and hopefully getting it replaced goes smoothly for you. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like if you haven't already. Thanks
TheDIYGuyDOTnet Got it done. I would have to say mine had yours beat. I didn’t think it was possible but the filter was totally full of fine debris and there was about three handfuls of leaves and even sticks on top. SO MUCH better now! I went ahead and did my 08 outback as well. It was blowing much better that the 06 but it was also very much like the one in your video. However, about halfway through your steps I realized that by 08 they put a smaller access panel within the larger lower panel. With that all that’s required is required is removing the glovebox door and then the owners manual compartment clicks out. Then there are five plastic pushpins holding the smaller access panel in place to access the filter door. Thanks for the video👍🏼
@@homeimprovementsubaruguy2556 Glad to hear you got them both done. Ya the newer generations are much easier. I think the 2012 you can just lower the glove box and the cabin air filter door is right above the edge of the glove box much easier to replace. You're welcome, Glad we could help you get them both replaced. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don''t forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like if you haven't already. Thanks
You're welcome, Glad we could help. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up/ like if you haven't already. Thanks
B Moon Yes the older models where more involved. The newer models you just lower the glove box and remove the cabin air filter door and replace. Your welcome, at least you know what goes into changing the cabin air filter on your car.
That is the hard way. You can take the three scewws out to remove the metal tab/plate and lift the fabric up and pull it out that way. No need to tear apart the dash.
Michael Kwapisz I want to say of the top of my head Subaru recommends replacing it once a year or 20,000 miles. But It really depends on how much you drive it and the environment you drive it in.
this is extremely wrong way! you just have to pull the glove box out of the rail and then there is a plastic cover that comes off and there is the rail with the filter
+relaxed won Hello, No it is easier on the 2009. You will need to remove the glove box dampener and then let the glove box hinge down and the cabin air filter door will be right there. I will replacing a 2010 forester in the next couple of days and putting the video up.
You're welcome, Glad we could help save you some money. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave us a comment. Don't forget to give the video a thumbs up / like Thanks.
TheDIYGuyDOTnet Oh frac! I have a screw left over after doing it, and I don't feel like going back in. One of the four push tabs across the top broke and another cracked. I didn't think I was being too rough. Thanks again!
