I had to YouTube a video on removing the glove compartment and all I found were how-to's for changing the cabin air filter and thought... I didn't know this car had a cabin air filter!

 

So sure enough I opened the cover where the filter should be and low and behold no filter. What I found was an empty compartment full of pine needles!!! I vacuumed out the debris as best as I could but I'm wondering if the filter was optional back then and can I simply drop one in?

 

There's rails in there that look like a filter would slide in.

I'll buy one if I know this is an option.

Yep, they were optional. So you can just add one

It does help to keep debris or nests out of the blower motors fan at the very least.

optional

Thanks.
I'll definitely pick one up.
17 years of accumulated debris inside where the filter should've been. I'm just glad the heater core is still breathing.

Hi,

I can't believe there wasn't a filter that a PO removed for whatever reason.

 

I can believe some models came WITH the cabin filter compartment and some w/out, but to have it w/out a filter installed? That doesn't compute.

 

Here's a DIY for replacing it.

 

Anyway...your HVAC system should be happier now. :-)

Edited February 24, 20179 yr by wtdash

All of them had the compartment, most of them didn't get the filter. The optional filter also has a big bypass notch for where the blower motor resistor goes, so it doesn't filter nearly as well as it could. It also is after the blower, before the a/c evaporator, so it doesn't keep anything out of the fan.

 

I wouldn't bother putting the filter in. They're pricey and ineffectual. I did it once and realized it wasn't worth it. At least the hatch for changing filters makes it easier to get in there and vacuum off the A/C evaporator. It's clear the filter option was an afterthought, and not well executed. Normally I'd recommend cabin filters because they do make a big difference, especially for people with allergies. But with a big bypass? What's the point?

 

All of them had the compartment, most of them didn't get the filter. The optional filter also has a big bypass notch for where the blower motor resistor goes, so it doesn't filter nearly as well as it could. It also is after the blower, before the a/c evaporator, so it doesn't keep anything out of the fan.

I wouldn't bother putting the filter in. They're pricey and ineffectual. I did it once and realized it wasn't worth it. At least the hatch for changing filters makes it easier to get in there and vacuum off the A/C evaporator. It's clear the filter option was an afterthought, and not well executed. Normally I'd recommend cabin filters because they do make a big difference, especially for people with allergies. But with a big bypass? What's the point?

You bring up a good point.

I noticed during my research that this "blower motor resistor" (thanks btw, I didnt know what that was) in most images I see stick into the duct about 2" and look like a heat sink with fins, whereas mine is flat like and looks more like the top of a PC's CPU. Similar to this image http://parts.subaruofpuyallup.com/images/uploads/SimplePart%20-%20Subaru/fullsize/a_20160803_1304529526.png
Is it possible this may allow for a deeper fitting (different year maybe) filter which would allow less bypass?
It seems odd to put a filter in there if its meant to leave room for that heat sink when mine doesn't have a heat sink. There would literally be a space between that resistor element and the back of the filter.

Edited February 24, 20179 yr by 211