So after reading the 2002 Cabin Air Filter replacement guide, I decided to do mine. However, mine was not easy as I thought it was going to be and ended up having to take apart the center console and right trim, trim panels to access the left side phillips screws that hold the left side of the glove box on.

I had also bought an air filter from NAPA but it did not show which way the air was supposed to flow through it, therefore I did what Hurt did and purchased a filter from Lowes that had maximum flow but also focused on allergens.

To make this easy follow these steps and ref the pics and I hope you can see them. This is my first attempt at posting.

1. The book (yep I bought a 72 hr subscription from Subaru techinfo) says in order to remove the glove box you need to disassemble the center console. I started out by taking the glove box insert out and removing the screws in the front and side screws and then pulling on it enough to allow me to slide out the filter tray. I then felt as if I might crack some plastic so into the manual.

Remove the shifter panel that holds the shifter boot. I removed the ash tray insert out. I then pried up on the back edge of the shifter console straight up very gently. Once the is up you can then pull down on the front edge and the hooks will free them selves. (ref pics ACC 18-21).

I then pulled off the cigarette lighter connector plug and then spun the console 90 degrees and pulled up over shifter to give me free space. This will expose the screws and hooks on the right garnish trim.

2. Undo the aft garnish trim screw. Pry straight up on the aft part of the garnish trim first which will then make it easier to pull aft and slightly up to release the three forward hooks on the garnish trim. (ref pics 22-23)

3. Now the top screw for the right kick side center console panel is visible. Undo this screw and gently pull aft and out ward to free the screw hole notch and the prongs of this panel also go into slots along the left edge of the glove box. You can kind of bend and pull to develop the clearance necessary to free the prongs. TAKE YOUR TIME!! You can break the prongs. (ref pics 24 and 25.)

4. Remove the glove box insert if you haven't done so already. Squeeze the top and bottom edges and pull out. You can then see the fan motor back there. If you have kit no. SOA342L500, you might be able to get to your filter. I don't know for sure as I will find out today. I couldn't as mine is below and behind the glove box compartment. (ref 3 and 13)

5. Remove glove box drawer. Remove the right outer panel that is alongside the door and is vertical. Gently pry outward to release three hooks. (ref pic 11). This will expose the drawer damper string. Remove that, the string will not completely retract. Next remove the drawer pivot pins. Remove the limiter pins (plastic) from inside the drawer on the left and right side. Pry the center out and then pry out the outer part to remove the square pins out. (ref pics 5 and 6).

To remove the drawer all that is left the right lower pin accessed from the right side that the outer cover hid. The right one is a pry out expansion plastic retainer. By prying pulling out the center part the whole housing can be removed. Then drop the right corner and pull out the left corner and the drawer is free. (ref pic 10).

6. To remove the glove box housing. Now you will see the left upper and lower phillips screws that retain the glove box to the dash frame. Remove them. Remove the front screws on the left and right side near the top (ref pics 7,8,9). Remove the plastic screw on the lower right side. Another plastic expansion screw (ref pic 11 and 12).

Also on the lower corner is a gang connecter. If you push in on the two tabs you can slide it downward and dont have to disconnect any wires. I also disconnected the glove box light connector. Now, Gently pull on the upper glove box starting with the right side as you can get your hand in behind to assist it. There are four hooks. It should be free now (ref pic 31).

7. Now the fan motor unit is completely accessible. ( ref pic 34.) The panel to access the filter has 4 tabs. Gently squeeze them together and it will release allowing one to slide out the tray. Mine did not have a filter. But I used the filter I bought at NAPA as a template to cut the filter I bought at Lowes. I put a dot on the bottom side of the filter to ensure I installed it correctly after cutting it as both sides look virtually the same.

So how did it all turn out? great. It's a real pain to take all that apart every 6 mos. I will try yearly and see how we do. I am also going to talk to the dealer about the kit.


I have attached the document with writeup from above and pics if they don't make it.

where can i get the document with writeup and pics from this post??? please help

 

I cut the hole without taking the trim apart. I used a sharp knife, some determination and some muscles. If you do this, you still need to remove the screws in the front, and then take the filter through the hole you cut. 30 mins job. Good luck!

 

Geez if this is the kind of trouble one has to go through I think I'll just pay the mechanic to do it.

 

So, where are the pics mentioned in this doc ?

I'm attempting this and could really do with some pics for the console removal. The idea of forcing some plastic and not knowing of it's the correct piece/direction isn't comforting

 

Alternate Cabin Air Filter removal procedure 2005 Outback

Evidently, there are several different variations in trim configurations for this model, because my 2005 model Outback, manual transmission manufactured 12/04 had a much easier access to the cabin air filter. On my vehicle, a hole through one section of the shroud behind the glove compartment door provided me direct access to the filter tray, without removing any other portions of the dash assembly other than the glove compartment door and bins. Unfortunately, I neglected to take photographs while doing it, but it can be described briefly as follows:

1) Carefully pry off the dash assembly end-cap from the right passenger side.

2) Remove glove compartment door & bin as follows:
a) Detach door suspension string from post now exposed from under the dash end cap.
b) Free door limit pins on both sides of the door bin by depressing the right and left sides of the plastic door bin.
c) Remove the hinge pivot pin (a plastic quick fastener) from the right side of the bin, accessed under the now removed dash end cap.
d) Remove the glove compartment door and bin from the vehicle.

3) Remove the upper compartment bin by pushing up at the inside rear of the bin and then pulling the bin toward you.

4) Remove the metal L-support bracket that was behind and behind the upper bin by unscrewing three machine screws from the underside of the glove box.

5) You should see a black fabric "curtain" covering the hole in the shroud visible through where the upper bin was. Raise open this curtain by detaching two velcro patches along the bottom edge of the curtain. Behind it, should be the face of a filter drawer that goes into the cabin air plenum.

6) Open filter drawer by pinching together the upper and lower plastic tabs protruding toward you on each side of the filter drawer and sliding the drawer toward you. You should see the filter lying horizontally in the drawer as it is opened.

7) Change or install a new filter element (I used an $11 Fram CF9846A) into the tray and replace everything in reverse order.

Total time to complete < 15 minutes.

So after reading the 2002 Cabin Air Filter replacement guide, I decided to do mine. However, mine was not easy as I thought it was going to be and ended up having to take apart the center console and right trim, trim panels to access the left side phillips screws that hold the left side of the glove box on.

I had also bought an air filter from NAPA but it did not show which way the air was supposed to flow through it, therefore I did what Hurt did and purchased a filter from Lowes that had maximum flow but also focused on allergens.

To make this easy follow these steps and ref the pics and I hope you can see them. This is my first attempt at posting.

1. The book (yep I bought a 72 hr subscription from Subaru techinfo) says in order to remove the glove box you need to disassemble the center console. I started out by taking the glove box insert out and removing the screws in the front and side screws and then pulling on it enough to allow me to slide out the filter tray. I then felt as if I might crack some plastic so into the manual.

Remove the shifter panel that holds the shifter boot. I removed the ash tray insert out. I then pried up on the back edge of the shifter console straight up very gently. Once the is up you can then pull down on the front edge and the hooks will free them selves. (ref pics ACC 18-21).

I then pulled off the cigarette lighter connector plug and then spun the console 90 degrees and pulled up over shifter to give me free space. This will expose the screws and hooks on the right garnish trim.

2. Undo the aft garnish trim screw. Pry straight up on the aft part of the garnish trim first which will then make it easier to pull aft and slightly up to release the three forward hooks on the garnish trim. (ref pics 22-23)

3. Now the top screw for the right kick side center console panel is visible. Undo this screw and gently pull aft and out ward to free the screw hole notch and the prongs of this panel also go into slots along the left edge of the glove box. You can kind of bend and pull to develop the clearance necessary to free the prongs. TAKE YOUR TIME!! You can break the prongs. (ref pics 24 and 25.)

4. Remove the glove box insert if you haven't done so already. Squeeze the top and bottom edges and pull out. You can then see the fan motor back there. If you have kit no. SOA342L500, you might be able to get to your filter. I don't know for sure as I will find out today. I couldn't as mine is below and behind the glove box compartment. (ref 3 and 13)

5. Remove glove box drawer. Remove the right outer panel that is alongside the door and is vertical. Gently pry outward to release three hooks. (ref pic 11). This will expose the drawer damper string. Remove that, the string will not completely retract. Next remove the drawer pivot pins. Remove the limiter pins (plastic) from inside the drawer on the left and right side. Pry the center out and then pry out the outer part to remove the square pins out. (ref pics 5 and 6).

To remove the drawer all that is left the right lower pin accessed from the right side that the outer cover hid. The right one is a pry out expansion plastic retainer. By prying pulling out the center part the whole housing can be removed. Then drop the right corner and pull out the left corner and the drawer is free. (ref pic 10).

6. To remove the glove box housing. Now you will see the left upper and lower phillips screws that retain the glove box to the dash frame. Remove them. Remove the front screws on the left and right side near the top (ref pics 7,8,9). Remove the plastic screw on the lower right side. Another plastic expansion screw (ref pic 11 and 12).

Also on the lower corner is a gang connecter. If you push in on the two tabs you can slide it downward and dont have to disconnect any wires. I also disconnected the glove box light connector. Now, Gently pull on the upper glove box starting with the right side as you can get your hand in behind to assist it. There are four hooks. It should be free now (ref pic 31).

7. Now the fan motor unit is completely accessible. ( ref pic 34.) The panel to access the filter has 4 tabs. Gently squeeze them together and it will release allowing one to slide out the tray. Mine did not have a filter. But I used the filter I bought at NAPA as a template to cut the filter I bought at Lowes. I put a dot on the bottom side of the filter to ensure I installed it correctly after cutting it as both sides look virtually the same.

So how did it all turn out? great. It's a real pain to take all that apart every 6 mos. I will try yearly and see how we do. I am also going to talk to the dealer about the kit.


I have attached the document with writeup from above and pics if they don't make it.

 

I believe dismantling of the entire center console trim isn't necessary.

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/06-cabin-air-filter-replacement-18263.html?p=827852

 

So reviving an old thread but I just looked and I have a manufactured date of 09/04 trying to get more information before I either try and take apart the center console.

Too many threads all over really on this subject. Is it worth just trying to go through the glovebox first?

Any other tips? I have been looking at the legacygt thread here too. '06 Cabin Air Filter Replacement - Subaru Legacy Forums

Lots of people chiming in that don't have 05's saying it's really easy come to find out they have 07's 08's etc and it really mucks up the information when trying to find specific stuff.

 

I changed my cabin filter in my 05 Outback yesterday evening. I didn't specifically use the steps listed in post #6, but that's how to do it.

 

When was yours manufactured and does it have the access panel or not?

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

Mine was manufactured in April, 2005.

Here's a video on how it's done as well:

Cabin Filter Replacement: 2005-2009 Subaru Legacy - 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Special Edition 2.5L 4 Cyl. Sedan

 

So I unfortunately found out mine does not have the access cutout. Time to order the retrofit kit.

Although has anyone had luck with the 2008 MY parts fitting properly for a 2005?

 

I just cut the hole it in myself. It's pretty easy, and there is even a raised area to make it clear where to cut. I remember a thread somewhere explain it, but it's pretty straight forward. I think it was on legacygt.com (maybe)

 

I've got an earlier 2005 MY, and ended up cutting a new hole in the glovebox so that the air filter could be removed similar to the proceedures outlined in the video posted. I didn't like cutting too much material out, so I created a hole just big enough to ease the filter tray out a two inches.

To my surprise, I found no air filter in the tray! When I bought the Outback two weeks ago, I also received a Carfax that showed the cabin air filter being replaced about two years ago. Based on the stripped screw that holds the glovebox in, I'm thinking that the Subaru dealer mechanic found that it was a PITA, and just yanked out the old filter without bothering to pull all of the console pieces to get to the tray to install a new filter. (You could probably pull the old filter through the half inch gap that is available without cutting a new hole or removing the entire glovebox assembly).

In any case, my new to me Outback now has a cabin air filter, and a nice hole through which I can fairly easily replace it.

 

More likely than anything, 05 Outbacks did not come with cabin air filters although there is a room and frame for it. When I opened mine, purchased few months ago (05 LLBeaner) there was no filter either. Same was on my 05 Baja - space for cabin air filter was there but none was installed. In Baja, it was a 2 piece cabin air filter. I've read somewhere that those were optional, when you bought the car, you would have to order it.

 

2005 Subaru Outback XT Limited, manual transmission

No easy access like in post 6 But managed without center console removal. Pictures attached. Disclaimer: some components were damaged from previous service, may or may not have made it easier on my car.

Start is same

1) Remove dash assembly end-cap from the right passenger side.
2) Remove glove compartment door & bin
3) Remove the upper compartment bin

Then remove panels overlapping the remaining glove compartment frame

4) Loosen bottom panel (mostly outside picture)
a) three obvious plastic pins
b) side slips out of door molding

5) Loosen left side panel - bottom and top slip out. Top side left a mark in the top of my dash. Can be easily protected by wedging a piece of cardboard in between.

6) Remove glove compart frame screw - second picture. Only room for a stubby screwdriver.

7) Air filter can be removed at this point flexing the frame out

Tips

1. Getting the glove box compartment out was the hardest. Left side was secured with a screw + expansion thread and there wasn't even room for a phillips bit. An opening in the hinge though allows depression of the expansion thread with a flathead.

2. Putting the glove box compartment back on I just pushed the screw past the expansion threads. If you still have proper thread you might have to figure out something else.

 

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