I was going to clean the old cabin air filter housing and just buy a good allergen room filter at Walmart or Home Depot and cut to size and replace the old one - should work great and cost much less than OEM. When I went to Subaru's online technical manual for installation instructions, I was shocked to find out they wanted, FROM OWNERS NOT PRO MECHANIDS, $35 to access it for 3 days, $299 for a month and $2500 for a year.

 

I figure it should be very straightforward - the cabin air filter is accessed from the driver's side of the dash against the door frame.

 

Thanks,

 

EJ

i did mine recently and just recall wrestling with a few things under the glove box. don't recall anything special about it.

 

i found some cheap ones on ebay and bought a couple of them at once.

there are 2 pieces : upper and lower. I would go the cheap ebay replacement. It might take a a bit of time to make them and have them fit and not make noise if there are air leaks.... i think they are like 30 at the dealer

Re eBay replacement, I'm only concerned with getting one that actually fits our model.

 

However, here's a good tutorial on using a Walmart air filter and cutting to size:

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99-do-yourself-illustrated-guides/14201-cabin-air-filter-diy-12-bucks.html

 

It's really not any different than replacing a HEPA filter for your vacuum or filter for your central heating and A/C - cutting to size should be pretty simple. And you can cut a few from a single larger piece of filter material.

 

Our cabin filter is apparently accessed from the driver's side of the dashboard - you have to open the driver's door to get at it. But there could be another filter behind the glove compartment. Anyone know?

 

Would you also bother with a duct-cleaning spray like this: A/C & Heater Duct Cleaner & Deodorizer (7.25 oz.) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003JO9GF4/ref=oss_product

Anyone know if there's another cabin air filter on our Outback 03 VDC 3.0L H6 under or behind the glove box in addition to the side of the dashboard against the driver's door? The side of the dash against the driver's door is marked "cabin air filter" but I see no such marking in the glove compartment.

 

Hate to pay Subaru $35 just to find this out. Also will ask our mechanic who would have access to their technical manual.

Looks like there are two.

 

Exactly where they go is beyond me. Usually there is one behind the glove box.

Two for the Outback 2003 VDC model? Where did you see this info?

 

I'll check again but only found a panel with a sticker indicating cabin air filter on the side of the dash against the driver's door.

 

Also when I ordered the cabin filter WIX part for our Outback model from Amazon it showed only a single filter.

Rockauto.com

They're pretty good about showing actual parts in their pictures.

 

Looks like the same as what's listed here: http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_partdetail.php?partid=1

 

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99-do-yourself-illustrated-guides/14201-cabin-air-filter-diy-12-bucks.html

 

 

I think there's the answer; both elements are located behind the glove box, one on top of the other.

This is the Amazon WIX Cabin Filter - shows only 1 filter. And as I mentioned there is a compartment on our model for a cabin filter on the driver's side of the dash against the door.

 

Wix 24857 Cabin Air Filter, Pack of 1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C9TAQY/ref=oss_product

 

I just shot the question to Subaru Parts For You as well. Thanks for pointing out the site and sharing the link.

Edited July 29, 201015 yr by mountainwalker

Wow, how important is this filter? I am new to Subaru, as of last night, to be exact; actually, new to ANYTHING newer than 1994. Only important to those w/ allergies?

When you are driving through smog and some of the thickest pollen concentrations on the planet anything helps.

Hear you there! You're in LA and NY? Only "cow" issues in WI.

Sorry, didn't mean to offensive in ANY way. I am, actually, ignorant to these "new" (post 1994) things. Sorry.

They mostly clean pollen and other dust from the air and catch leaves that make it into the vent opening. The activated carbon type are very good at removing pollution. But they're spendy. $$

 

 

I don't know where you got that part number, but Wix doesn't even show a Subaru of any kind on their application list for that particular filter.

http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/PartApplications.asp?Part=24857

And searching the Wix site, I don't see a listing for a 2003 outback cabin air filter at all.

http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/index.asp

 

I'm also inclined to ask, Have you removed the panel in question on the drivers side of the car and confirmed that there is in fact a filter somewhere behind it?

Edited July 29, 201015 yr by Fairtax4me

you take out the glove box and it right there: two or three clips and snap its out...

KaraK- as far as does it need to be changed....I'm with the mentality,"anything helps"

It gets dirty and restricts the amount of air going out the vents. A dirty one will also make the defroster work harder and leave more slime on the inside of the windshield.

The OEM Subaru sticker on the compartment on the side of the dash against the driver's side door just happens to be placed there and there isn't a filter there. That sticker should be placed in the glove box.

 

I'm 100% sure there are the 2 parts pictured in the link above and they both go behind/under the glove.

 

I also think it's very easy to cut a piece of allergen filter material to size. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99-do-yourself-illustrated-guides/14201-cabin-air-filter-diy-12-bucks.html

 

The Wix cabin filter I ordered I got from Amazon and it confirmed fit for our model but after it arrived today it's clear it's the wrong part so will return.

 

Subaru dealership charges $39 for this part. Subaru online parts charges $29 plus $12 shipping.

 

Walmart or Home Depot allergen filter cut to size - a few bucks. Going to go that route.