What's a Cabin Air Filter and When Should You Replace It? The cabin air filter, a feature found on most late-model vehicles, cleans the air that comes into the interior through the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. It catches dust, pollen and other airborne material that can make riding in a car unpleasant, particularly if you have allergies or other respiratory problems. Recommendations on when it should be replaced vary by manufacturer — some say every 12,000 or 15,000 miles, others longer — and how often can depend on how much you drive and where. Check the maintenance schedule in your owner's manual. If you drive in heavy traffic in an urban area that has poor air quality, you could need to replace the filter annually or even more often. However, that also could be true in a desert climate where there is a lot of dust. Some signs that you need a new cabin air filter are reduced air flow through your HVAC system, such as when you crank up the fan too high and you get more noise than results.

Another is persistent bad odors. Even if you don't have these warnings, you should have the filter checked at least once a year, and you may be able to do that yourself. Many cabin air filters are located behind the glove box and are easily accessible by freeing the glove box from its fasteners (instructions should be in the owner's manual). air purifier central air conditionerOthers are located under the dashboard and may not be easy to reach, or under the hood where fresh air enters the HVAC system. air purifier average priceSome of these filters are expensive, as in $50 or more at dealerships, so you could save money by buying a replacement at a parts store and doing it yourself.air cleaner for cat odor If a dealership service department or repair shop recommends you get a new cabin air filter, ask to see the current one.

Depending on how long the filter has been in service, you might be shocked at what you see: leaves, twigs, insects, soot and grime that literally cover the entire surface that comes in contact with incoming air. You'll know it's time for a new cabin air filter. What's the musty smell coming from my A/C vents? Air-Conditioner Condenser: What You Need to Know Air Conditioning: What You Need to Know Air-Conditioning Compressor: What You Need to KnowTo Help Honda Owners know when Scheduled Maintenance is due; Honda  has introduced the Maintenance Minder System. Below are some commonly  asked Questions and the Answers for how your Maintenance works.Q: How does the Honda Maintenance Minder work?A: Honda no longer has a  'recommended maintenance time/mileage schedule'. To save you, the  customer, time and money Honda created the Maintenance Minder system to  show the engine oil life in the information display, letting the  vehicles owner know when the engine oil needs replacing and maintenance  is due.

Your vehicle shows engine oil life as a percentage. Your vehicle  will start with 100% oil life and over time as you put miles on the  vehicle it will wind down to 0% signaling the oil life is over.Q: How does the Honda Maintenance Minder know when the 0% trigger Occurs?A:  The onboard computer system in your vehicle continuously monitors the  engine operating conditions such as speed, engine and ambient  temperature, time and the vehicle use. The system will count down the  vehicles oil life based on these conditions to determine when an engine  oil change and maintenance is necessary.Q: How do I Operate the Maintenance Minder System?A: As the on-board computer  continuously monitors the vehicle, your Maintenance Minder provides  continuous information regarding the remaining oil life in the vehicle.  You can simply press the Select/Reset knob on the information display to  view your oil use progression. To return to the odometer just press the  Select/Reset knob. Also, each time your vehicle is turned on the  information center will automatically display the percentage of  remaining oil life.

When the on-board computer determines the vehicle  has reached 15% remaining oil life it will turn the Maintenance Minder  Light and codes on for you.                                                                                                             Q: What happens to the Maintenance Minder if I do not perform Maintenance when the remaining life gets to 0%?A: Once your vehicle reaches  0% the maintenance minder will begin to show negative mileage. This  indicates how many miles your vehicle service is past due.Q:  Along with the Wrench Symbol and the Percentage of remaining life,  there is sometimes a letter and/or a number displayed-what do they mean?A: All maintenance items will  be displayed in code. There is a main-code and a sub-code. When your  Maintenance Minder comes on there will always be a main-code, and at  times there will be a sub-code. Please refer to your owner's manual,  Honda service History booklet and the following chart to interpret the  code:                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Q: Why will there always be a Main-Code?

A: The system has been  designed to maximize customer convenience. The main-codes are specific  to each user and are triggered based on the vehicles operating condition.Q: Why is there only sometimes a Sub-Code?A: The sub-code items are  similar to the maintenance schedules of the past, based on a time and  mileage schedule. The Maintenance Minder calculates time as it factors  vehicle usage and will either move up or delay the sub-code so these  services are done at the same time as the maincodes. For example, if the  tire rotation is normally done at 7,500 miles but your oil life ends at  6,500, the system will move up the tire rotation; saving you from  having to come back in 1,000 miles or putting off for 5,500 miles.Q: How many Miles can I expect to go between oil changes when using the Maintenance Minder System?A: The maintenance minder  varies by driver because each drivers driving habit are unique. The  Honda Maintenance Minder adjusts the maintenance intervals based on  engine operating habits, driving habits and the climate where the  vehicle is operated in.

For most people who combine city and highway  driving will need maintenance at approximately 6,000 miles. If you  maintain constant driving habits you can expect your mileage between  services will stay consistent.Q: I change my oil every 3,000 miles. How will the Honda Maintenance Minder help me?A: Honda recommends that you  follow your Maintenance Minder. This system will not only help you but  the environment with the following benefits: Q: The Oil Change Station recommends that I change my oil every 3,000 miles. Why shouldn't I believe them?A: The 3,000 mile oil change  is a conservative approach that was developed back in 1968. Since 1968  there have been many developments not only in oil technology but also  engine design. These advancements allow you increase maintenance  intervals in you Honda without risking harm to your vehicle. In  addition, your Honda dealer technicians and advisors have been trained  to specialize in Honda maintenance, allowing him/her to know your  vehicle better than any non-Honda service facility.

Q:  Typically my Honda Maintenance Minder light comes on at 6,500 miles,  but I am only at 4,500 miles and I am going on vacation. I want to have  my service completed before I go. If you do choose to maintenance your  vehicle early, be sure that the Maintenance Minder light is reset,  keeping the main-codes and sub-codes synchronized.Q: The Honda Maintenance Minder is telling me I need a 'B' Service. Is there a problem if I choose to only do the 'A' Service?The Maintenance  Minder is not just an oil change indicator. The Maintenance Minder  recommends for the entire vehicle's maintenance. When proper maintenance  is followed you realize the following benefits: Q: What do I do if I had the improper/not recommended service completed?A: If the Maintenance Minder  light was reset the maintenance schedule has also been reset. By doing  this your Honda Maintenance Minder will no longer be able to properly  predict the required maintenance. Your Honda dealer is able to reset the  Honda Maintenance Minder.

Resetting the Maintenance Minder is not as  simple as Resetting the dash light and you may be charged. Your Honda  Technician will have to use the Honda Diagnostic System (HSD) Computer  to do a forced activation, allowing your vehicle to have proper time and  mileage set.Q: I do my own oil changes. Should I reset the Maintenance Minder?A: The Maintenance Minder is  not just an oil change indicator. The Maintenance Minder is designed to  remind us of all maintenance requirements. If your Maintenance Minder  indicates that service is due it is important that you complete the  recommended service and reset the Maintenance Minder light.Q: I use Synthetic Oil. Should I expect to get more miles before the Honda Maintenance Minder indicates that service is due?A: Synthetic oil is not  recommended by Honda. Your Honda has been designed and engineered to run  properly on the oil type recommended in your owner's manual. The  Maintenance Minder calculates your vehicles needs based on the  recommended oil by Honda engineers that designed your engine.

Using  synthetic oil will not extend your service interval.Q:  My husband and I equally share our Maintenance Minder Honda, does the  system average our driving styles to determine when the Maintenance is  needed?The Maintenance Minder is designed to be an intelligent system, monitoring every drive cycle.Q:  I have taken my vehicle to a non-Honda facility and had the oil  changed, the facility did not know how to reset the Honda Maintenance  Minder light. Will my Honda dealer reset this for me?A: It is important to  complete all work that is recommended by the Maintenance Minder. Your  Honda dealer would be doing you and your vehicle a disservice if all of  the recommended work has not been completed.Q: Should I be checking my oil level with the Honda Maintenance Minder System?The Maintenance  Minder DOES NOT sense oil level. Please reference your Honda owner's  manual recommendations for Service Station Procedures.Q:  I have driven 6,000 miles since my last maintenance and the light has  not come on.