Honda Accord 98-02: Pollen/Dust Filter

[jschmid]

Hey fellas (and maybe gals). This is a real easy DIY, but I just thought I'd give some heads up to those without the Helms manual and want to do it. The filters are reccomended to be changed every 30K miles. I'm at 60K, and this is my first change, so probably not a big deal, but if you get low flow or an odor, might as well give it a go. It consists of two filters, they were $36 for both ($16 each) at local Honda Parts. This write up is basically pics of Helms manual and some photos I took doing it. Dinky flathead fits just right: The upper bar in this pic stays...I guess that's why the filter is two pieces, so it'll come out easy. The lower bar must be removed: Stick a flat head in the top notch and pry downward to release the filter cover: Old and new filter comparison: Putting new filters in: Hope someone can use this.

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[Samson]

could you tell the difference in anything, i.e smell etc....?

sean

[e3NiNe]

rock on dude. i'm gonna do that this weekend.

[94AccordSedanEX]

5th gens too, or just 6th gens?

[F23A4_AcCoRdude]

hey john, i have talked to you about this before, but im interested in doing the DIN plate like yours. I have looked around but i came up with no luck. Is there anyway your in-law can make another one? im willing to pay you for the DIN plate....Thanks.

[Samson]

Originally posted by 94AccordSedanEX
5th gens too, or just 6th gens?

us 5th gen's dont have air filtration. :crying:

[REbornHONDAneer]

Originally posted by Samson
us 5th gen's dont have air filtration. :crying:

anybody know if all the air brought into the 5th gen cabin comes through ONE passage? Maybe its possible to "make" a filter for it.

Dave

[RKV]

very good info jschmid... i think i need to do this, airflow is not the same as when purchased new, very weak actually even

[jschmid]

Originally posted by F23A4_AcCoRdude
hey john, i have talked to you about this before, but im interested in doing the DIN plate like yours. I have looked around but i came up with no luck. Is there anyway your in-law can make another one? im willing to pay you for the DIN plate....Thanks.

check your pm.

[wilsel]

Anyone know if civics have a dust filter in them? Cause my gf's civic smells everytime you turn the heat on.

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by wilsel
Anyone know if civics have a dust filter in them? Cause my gf's civic smells everytime you turn the heat on.

What year, bro?

[wilsel]

Her's is a 2000, I have a 95. As far as I know mine doesn't.

[98CoupeV6]

Originally posted by wilsel
Her's is a 2000, I have a 95. As far as I know mine doesn't.

I'm pretty sure hers does. Look in the owners manual or the original window sticker, it will say on there. "Micron Air Filtration System".

[NightRider79]

ight i have a 5th gen..
when i turn the ac on it smells funky for a sec. and spits a little dust out.
How can i get that damn dust to stop comin out?

[gradas]

I have the helm inc manual. It really helped to replace the micron filters. however I still have the gust of unpleasant smell when I start the car (with or without AC). the smell goes away after a couple seconds. anyone have any idea where this smell is coming from? I have a 99 accord EX couple.

[fastball]

That's the same procedure for 99-01 Preludes as well. I wonder if you use the same filters and Honda just has different part#s, since mine were 30.00 each and that was the cheapest I could find anywhere . That would suck if I could have bought the Accord filters for half the price and they're the same ones.

[kaliraver69]

Good info Jschmid, bought the two filters will try to install this weekend.

[kaliraver69]

I finally did it, pretty good tip on that Jschmid I never knew about that. I can diffently tell more air is coming into my car and it smells like clean air . Took about 45 min. to do.

[sleepyfloyd]

I have a problem guys. I did everything above which was simple enough. But when I got to the step where I had to remove the lower bar, I kinda got stuck. The 2 screws holding the bar were on tight. So what happened was I ended up stipping the 2 screws. Now I can't get the two screws out to take off the filter cover. Is there anyone who can help me out before I take it to a mechanic and get charged for this.

I was looking online and found that craftsman sell a damaged screw driver set called screw-out. If anyone has heard of this, can you tell me if it works. Someone also said that if I heat it with a torch, it will loosen the screw. Is that true?

[chrisexv6]

This is exactly what happend to me. But I figured out that if you fudge the lower bar a little, you can get the air filters to fit. My advice would be to try a Vise-Grips if you have one to clamp onto the screw head and get it (them) out. Then go to Home Depot and get a decent replacement screw with the same thread size (anyone know what it is?) but with a HEX head, instead of just a philips. Then reinstall the new screws.

I wish I had taken the time to do this on mine. Maybe in another 30K miles.

By the way - Pep Boys had no-name micron air filters for 11.00.......I thought it was 11.00 each and bought two, but it actually turned out to be 11.00 for two. Not even close to Honda price, and they looked exactly the same as stock.

-Chris

[warez308]

My filter box was loaded with tree leaf debries which the Honda tech missed cleaning out when he changed the filters recently. I bought new ones and changed them out with the assistance of the teriffic pictures posted above, thanks. I had to vacuum out the tree leaves debries with a piece of 3/4" copper pipe taped to a vacuum cleaner hose, since the filter slot is narrow and deep. Small amounts of the dirt were bypassing the filter which was binding on the leaves and dirt.

[granite]

Thanks too for the pictures and step-by-step instructions posted above, I was able to change the A/C filters today. Mine is 2001 Accord.

[honda40]

Can some body explain with more detail, how I can pull the center dash (step 1)
and the right fuse panel (step 2). I am afraid I might break. Seems very tight.
Do I need to access them from inside? to release the tabs or simple tug hard on the fuse panel cover?

Thanks

[blacknight07601]

Great info. I definitely have to do this. I just turned 90K miles

[REbornHONDAneer]

I just did this today on my 2k AV6 with 70k on her. Wasn't the easiest job in the world but not too bad. My filters were almost black. VERY good write-up friend!

[honda40]

Finally, figured out how to pull those panels. Basically, I had to pull hard enough on the fuse panel and the center panel below the radio.
Actually, I did not have to pull the center panel all the way. Just enough to expose the screw on the right side there.
For me the hardest part, was pulling the glove box out. Had to do lot of wiggling. The light assembly was getting stuck behind on the metal tabs.
Also, I did not remove the metal bar completely. I loosened the right side screw so the ground wire was not disturbed and removed the left one completely, so I could swing it out of the way (down).
Finally, the door housing the filters did not need a screwdriver to pry it off. Put you under the door, pull a small tab and swing it up and remove it from there.

I replaced with Bosch air filter that I bought at my freindly neighborhood Autozone.
Inside I found that they were made by Micron Air. The one that came out of my Accor d by made by Micron Air too!! But a lot cheaper.
After 26000 miles in 2 1/2 years the filters were not as bad the one shown in the picture above. I could have gone all the way to 30K I think.

[ntv1980]

I have no problem with the fuse panel. But I don't know where to grab the center panel to pull it out. Do I pry it off using the flat head at the corners? Could someone please give some instruction? Thanks.

[ohhonda98]

I would not mind having a plate like yours either for my Accord... How did you make/get yours?

[LowAccord]

JSchmid, thanks for the DIY. Changing the cabin air filter did make a big difference in air quality for me, and I also have better airflow.

2 years later from the original post, and it's still helping people out!

[hoyoung02]

^yup