cabin air filter

[sideup66]

With summer around the corner I thought id ask this...

I am thinking of checking out my cabin air filter in my 03 vue. Looks simple enough with location and such, but how the heck do I get the cowl off the stupid thing? It does not have the newer design with the holes for the screws to extract them. Its just like a plastic tab. To be honest Im afraid of just muscling the thing as I dont want to break those tabs that hold the cowl down so...how does this thing come off?

[emsvitil]

It's been awhile........

All I remember is that it wasn't too hard.


I think it has the plastic pop rivets (pull out the center).

[Tom92SCm]

Originally Posted by emsvitil

I think it has the plastic pop rivets (pull out the center).

That's the key.

[sideup66]

Originally Posted by emsvitil

It's been awhile........

All I remember is that it wasn't too hard.


I think it has the plastic pop rivets (pull out the center).

Pull out the center? Like wedge somthing underneath them like a screwdriver and pop them up? Its just a domed tab, no handles or anything, unless im misunderstanding...sorry for the stupid remark .

[Tom92SCm]

Can you post a pic of the fastener?

[Chev_Ron]

When I checked mine, I used a screwdriver to lift up the center tab and once the tab was lifted up, I used the screwdriver on the outer tab to pull the whole thing out. It was super easy.

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by Tom92SCm

Can you post a pic of the fastener?

Here ya go . . .

[sideup66]

Originally Posted by Chazberry

Here ya go . . .

That the one that takes the screw? Ill take a picture when I get outside and post back.

[Tom92SCm]

^^that's what we are all expecting to find there, but from sideup66's description, his sound like they are different.

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by sideup66

That the one that takes the screw?

There's no screw. You pry the center button up which then allows you to pull out the whole rivet. When you re-install, you push the center button back down, which makes the rivet expand outward so it stays in.

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by Tom92SCm

^^that's what we are all expecting to find there, but from sideup66's description, his sound like they are different.

Hmmm (?). That's what I have on my '03 and '07.
Maybe a PO put a screw in there?

[sideup66]

I am attaching a picture of mine, you will see it in the attachment. Come to look at it, looks like what Chazberry has actually. You guys will be able to tell

I know my car is messy hah, it recently turned green (stupid pollen) and its just plain dirty from back and forth trips to the school, its getting a bath once the weather clears up...

[Chazberry]

Originally Posted by sideup66

I am attaching a picture of mine, you will see it in the attachment. Come to look at it, looks like what Chazberry has actually. You guys will be able to tell

Yep - dats what we all got. There is a proper tool for these things, but you can usually pry up that center pin with a small screwdriver.

[Tom92SCm]

Yep- small screw driver or even pliers to pull up or remove that center pin. Remove a couple of those, remove that whole black shroud thing.

And then I think you need to take note of the filter orientation when you pull it out.

[sideup66]

Ok, thanks! will do and report back.

[sideup66]

5 minutes later and its done... . Thanks guys only thing is I lost one of the small black inserts that go into the tab. I dont think itll get into any trouble though as the rest are in....the one flew off somewhere when I pried and I couldnt track it down. It has to be around the car, maybe ill move it later and look for it. Very easy job. I found the filter half off the tube . So I promptly reattached that and it looks fine, filters kinda cruddy but I think im due at 90,000 to check and replace if necessary and with 87 on the clock it can wait until then and Ill just throw a new cabin filter on.