1996 850 GLT Cabin Air Filter

joe_pinehill · Post by **joe_pinehill** » 12 Oct 2014, 05:18

FCP sent an email with MANN filters on sale. I ordered engine, cabin and oil. The cabin filter does collect a lot of debris. The filter was only about 6 months old. I can see it protects the interior workings of the AC/Heating system more than cleaning the air for passengers.

Post by **jreed** » 12 Oct 2014, 06:22

I agree with that! I'm always surprised how filled up the cabin air filter gets after 3-6 months. It can plug really quickly in spring and fall here when the trees pollinate and shed seeds.
I've taken to buying large house-sized HVAC filters from the big box store and then cutting them down to make my own cabin filters. I cut long strips and then squeeze the pleats closer together than they are in a typical HVAC filter, to mimic the pleat density in the official cabin filter. You can make a lot of filters that way for a few dollars.

Post by **FLXC90** » 12 Oct 2014, 10:21

I need to do my XC90 soon. I just changed the one in my S70, it was last changed at 56k.... in Oct 2002

It was a paper filter, but looked like a carbon filter

these cars can survive just about anything.

Post by **erikv11** » 12 Oct 2014, 12:00

jreed wrote:... I've taken to buying large house-sized HVAC filters from the big box store and then cutting them down to make my own cabin filters...

I'm interested in this. What material are you talking about; maybe a link to a pic of one of those filters?

Post by **jreed** » 12 Oct 2014, 15:27

I have been buying the three packs of 20 inch x 30 inch air filters at Home Depot for about $8. I can generally get about 9 filters out of the three-pack.

: Screen Shot 2014-10-12 at 5.23.51 PM.png (241.22 KiB) Viewed 830 times

Post by **rspi** » 12 Oct 2014, 17:05

Great idea. You can probably take 2 old filters and build both, install one, have the other ready, swap them out every year.

Post by **jreed** » 15 Nov 2014, 14:26

You can remove the old filter media from a cabin filter. I strung some fine gauge copper wire through the frame to help support the filter media, but I don't know if it's necessary. You can probably skip it. Then get a big household HVAC filter:

: Frame and household HVAC filter; IMG_9090.jpg (124.36 KiB) Viewed 808 times

Strip off all the cardboard and then cut the filter to the width of the filter frame. Use the wire pattern to keep your cut straight:

: Strip off all the cardboard and cut the filter media; IMG_9092.jpg (110.09 KiB) Viewed 808 times

Fold up the media and place it inside the frame with the wire side down. I wrap the ends of the filter over the edge of the frame to make a good seal:

: Fold up the pleats and place inside the frame with the wire side down; IMG_9094.jpg (92.66 KiB) Viewed 808 times

Wrap the edges with tape to hold the media in place and reduce leaks around the edge:

: Wrap the edges with masking tape to prevent or reduce leaks; IMG_9096.jpg (79.8 KiB) Viewed 808 times

Reinstall the filter in the box. The frame has clips that fit into the box and hold it in place:

: Install into the cabin air filter box underneath the windshield cowling.; IMG_9098.jpg (81.9 KiB) Viewed 808 times

This could help save some money over time. I've been doing it for about 5 years, replacing the filter about every six months and it works well. Good luck!

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Nov 2014, 16:01

This is a great tip, thanks jreed. I picked up some filters just for this (we have hydronic, not hot air heat).

Post by **stephansvolvo** » 15 Nov 2014, 18:51

Very cool. I will give this a shot next change.