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Given the fact that this two piece filter costs at least $40 online, and who knows what when purchased from a dealer, and the fairly awkward way it has to be replaced (by removing the glove box) every 15,000 miles if you live in a metropolitan area, is this filter really necessary? I have never had, needed or wanted a replacable filter for a car air conditioner before. Is this just another thing from Honda, to keep having you come back for more after you buy the car?

 
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The air conditioning filter should be replaced every 30,000mi under severe conditions, according to our manuals.

I think what you read by mistake was the engine air filter, which is every 15,000mi for severe conditions.

And yes, I would replace mine. I just like knowing that I'm not breathing all that dirt and dust and crap from outside. My allergies are pretty bad in the spring and fall. And it's not just a Honda thing. Most other car companies have this now too.

 
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ok I will go with that. I thought the maintenance schedule said 30,000 under severe conditions, but then I thought I found an exception to that on another page. I will check it again an if there is an exception I will post the information here.

 
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Plus the filters keep the A/C ducts clean, if you don't use your fan for a few days and then turn it on you won't get a face full of dust.

 
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Hey, you were right about that 15,000 mi replacement under VERY severe special conditions... "... in urban areas with high concentrations of soot in the air from industries and diesel-powered vehicles."

The thing is, I'm not sure how many people in North America actually live under these kind of conditions. You practically have to live right next to a factory . I can see this in poorer countries though.

 
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Have you ever removed the clips in glove compartment to examine the filters? I started to do it, but they snapped in pretty tight and I didn't want to break anything. So I decided to wait until I can look it over more carefully. I did inspect the air filter and there is some soot buildup on the high ridges after 7,000 miles. It is a strange looking air filter.

 
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I think the manual says to replace the AC filters in pairs, since there are 2 of them, side-by-side. But don't buy them from the dealer cuz handa-accessories.com sells them cheaper.

After 7000 miles, I really don't think you need to be replacing these filters... don't waste your money. Unless of course, you live right next to a soot factory.

Where the heck do you live anyways?

 
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Yes they need to be replaced in pairs, I read some where that you can put a charcoal filter in between them and it removes the outside smells like diesel smoke smell and others as well as soot. I think you use a charcoal filter for a kitchen exhaust hood that you can buy from Home Depot for about $2. I don't know if it works, but it sounds like it would.

 
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Hey, that sounds like a great idea... would charcoal also remove manure smells when you drive through farming areas? Man, that's one thing I can never get used to... it just hits me like a ton of bricks when that smell enters the car.

But is there actually a gap in between the 2 filters to put this charcoal? And I suppose you need to cut it into the right shape first, too.


EDIT: actually, now I'm wondering whether that extra charcoal filter would block the air flow too much?

 
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the charcoal would help with the manure smell, as far as air flow goes I don't think it would be a factor because they're pretty thin and designed for air to move though them. I haven't seen how the filters are installed so i don't know what you'd need to do, I remember now where I got this idea. My friend has a Lexus with the filter with the charcoal packet already installed in the filter, when he went to replace it it was about $100, but the more he looked at it he just made his own from a Hepa filter from a vacuum cleaner and the charcoal filter from a Kithen Exhaust Hood replacment filter. He said it works great and cost about $15 from Home Depot.

You'd think that if you can afford a Lexus he'd spring for a OME filter, he's cheap but smart.

 
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There are a lot of diesel buses and trucks and I always seem to wind up right behind them.

I wasn't planning on replacing the a/c filters yet, I just wanted to see how they are installed and how much soot they have picked up.

The air filter will probably have to be replaced by 10,000 miles. AutoZone doesn't have it yet so I will probably have to get that from Handa-Accessories too. I am familiar with HA, I got my splash guards from there. I would recommend getting the splash guards if you don't have them, they are a little costly, but custom made for the fenders, and easy to install.

 
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I still think that's waaay too early, but it hey, it's your money.

 
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It's way too early according to the manual, but the filter is starting to get dirty. They only cost around 10 bucks, so for the sake of the 10 bucks I would just rather change it sooner than later. We have all these stringent emissions laws here, but they only apply to CARS. SUVs, Trucks, buses, trains are all exempt, and now, cars are a minority of all vehicle sales, yet even the smallest of cars are held to these standards. The rich liberals impose all these laws, and then they drive off in their polluting SUVs back to their rich suburbs. Nothing is accomplished.

 
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No, not $10... you must have been looking at the engine air filter again. On handa-accessories, they are $40 (look for pollen filters - set of 2).
I totally agree with you. Man, I hate those land-yacht SUV's ... But what does this have to do with changing your AC filter early?

 
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Not too much I guess. So have you tried taking out the plastic clips from the glove compartment yet?

 
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Didnt really understand why the vents werent blowing as well as they did when I got my car. Makes alot of sense because I now have 16.5k miles on my ride and alot of it cause of 2 trips to SoCal and back from Seattle. Think its about time to change the filter and if you say its only like 10 bucks or so to replace then it would totally be worth it.

Anyhow I think that filter really does work. I got my car in August and where I live i need to keep my windows closed most of the time since it rains alot that time of year so instead I just use the outside air option. When I started opening my windows alot when driving around in spring I noticed my dash started to pick up way more dust than before, seeming more like the way it built up when I had my old Accord without the filter.

 
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Like I said above, the AC filter is NOT $10. It's around $40 from handa-accessories.com.

 
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I took a look at the air conditioner filters today. The glove box stops were easy to remove, after pushing the clips the hole the box has to be pushed inward a little to bring the rubber stops through the holes. There is a plastic plate in front of the filter compartment, this has a notch on the right and and is secured by clips on the left. Inside are the filters, as you said side by side. There is an opening for one filter. The left filter is pulled out first, then the right is slid over to left and removed.

The filters resemble air filters. They are rectangular plastic, with the accordion material. The intake is from top downwards. I found the spaces between the accordion folds to have a fair amount of leaves, debris, and particles, so I cleaned this material out. The color was not too bad, starting to get grayish, but a lot of life left to the filters. I'll check them again around 15,000 miles.

So considering the debris that I found, I will probably be doing this kind of self-service every few thousand miles.

 
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those air filters are supposed to get changed around 25k or less depending if your area is dusty or if your doing alot of city driving might be faster if you do alot of highway driving then it will last longer ....if you dont change them when recomended it can burn out the AC fan that is located behind it because the flow gets restricted and can also reallly mess with somebody with alergies or ASMAH (however you spell it i dont got it ) because it traps bacteria also and if left in long enough can start growing fungus on it so it would be a good idea to get checked at least every 20 + km.....dont know the miles conversion but it is recommended......all the new 2002's got them so were not the only ones with the 50$ filters.....FORD and GM's got them too

i work at a lube shop so i had to watch the damn boring video about them so be prepared to spend tha loot dont bother getting it from a dealership they are rip offs

 
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I live in NYC and I do a lot of driving (already got 50K miles), so I know I need to change mine, but I can't find a DIY on how to get past the glove box or anything. I'd prefer pictures if somebody can point me in the right direction. Thanks.

 
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I know these posts are a lil old, but...

I feel your pain guys, so I've developed this emergency procedure to counteract "stink overload."

In case of stink, press here:

 
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I got ripped a new one on the AC filters at my dealer's parts counter... get them from autozone, where you can be out the door for $20 (yes, with both).

 
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So, do you have to give the fella at Autozone the measurements for the filter, or can they look them up (are the filters that fit the Honda HVAC also filters that fit some other CAR as the engine air filter?)

Just curious...

Or is there some part number?