DIY: How to change your interior Cabin Air Filter on your Fiesta ST

[romancommander]

So it's true...it exists...the unicorn that is the Fiesta ST Cabin Air filter! What's hilarious about it, is I bought my FiST in 2013 and tried to buy a spare cabin air filter at the dealer....they told me it didn't have one. Then I went back in 2014 and 2015....same story. Heck even the internet hadn't caught up yet, but thankfully it is true, the car DOES have one and you can change it with some simple tools, a few swear words, and about 20 min....and I'm gonna show you how.


Step 1 the tools:

* flash light
* phillips screw driver
* Torx bit
* trim panel removal tool



Step 2 The filter:

The Filter is a Motorcraft # FP-69



Step 3 Remove the panel

So the filter box is located on the passenger side for us 'Muricans, or the (right side). The long plastic panel on the side of the console, take out the one phillips trim panel fastener and pop the panel straight off.





Step 4 Pull out the air duct and undo the felt under panel

So in order to get the best access for this task you will need to pull the double barreled floor duct out of its home. Just pull. Also its best to undo the trim panel fastener that holds the felt piece under the glove box.





Step 5 Unlock the magic door

That gains you access to the magic door, which is securely bolted in place protecting against Armageddon with 5 torx bolts.



Undo the wire harness, then unscrew the bolts.



Look!!! There it is!! In all its 44,000 miles of glory!



Umm gross.....



Step 6 putting the new filter in

Pay attention to the filter, it has an airflow arrow, so does the box. You will have to squish the filter to get it in place.



Step 7 put back the magic door

Now put the door back on and hook the wiring harness back up.

Step 8 putting back the stupid double barrel thing

Yeah so that double barrel air duct connects to some nether region waay up inside the dash. You can not see it from under the dash. I got frustrated, smacked my head and finally tilted the glove box down to see where it went. I recommend tilting the glove box down, waaay easier. It goes here:



Step 9 finish line

Put your felt panel back on, put your trim piece back on and BAAAM! you're done.

 

[MKVIIST]

Great tutorial.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Great write up. Changing the cabin filter always gives me the must pride as I can stand back and say I fought and won against the the beast. Well its the little victories that count

 

[Racer83L]

funny how ford didnt know about it... or maybe they didnt want to admit it because of how difficult it is to change.

 

[TUX15ST]

Good write up, what a shit location lol

 

[CanadianGuy]

funny how ford didnt know about it... or maybe they didnt want to admit it because of how difficult it is to change.

I believe its the difficult part. My dealership will replace the engine air filter for free but charge $40 for the cabin filter (filter bought from the dealership). Yet on the Edge both are free install. Mind you the issue with the Edge one is all the content of the glove box gets spilled. So really there is no winning

 

[romancommander]

Thanks guys.

While this cabin filter isn't the easiest I have ever changed, it is not bad. The honor of the worst design I have ever seen in the history of cars, an honor worthy of castration, gets bestowed upon the engineer who designed the cabin filter location on the 2004-2009 Mazda 3. You must start by removing your dash trim, then the glove box, then the threshold, then the kick panel, then the FUSE BOX, and yes it needs to come out of the vehicle, Then pull the carpet back, then the fuse box bracket, then you can gain access to the little door buried in hell. It took hours, only happened once then the car was sold. Watch in horror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhCctcVZiWs

 

[Ronbo]

Great write-up, thanks!


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[TyphoonFiST]

I could've sworn this thread was done once or even twice already with pictures by both parties.

 

[M-Sport fan]

I believe its the difficult part. My dealership will replace the engine air filter for free but charge $40 for the cabin filter (filter bought from the dealership). Yet on the Edge both are free install. Mind you the issue with the Edge one is all the content of the glove box gets spilled. So really there is no winning

HA! $40.00, that's a BARGAIN AND A HALF!! (But YES, I would STILL do it myself. )

I guarantee that the stealerships around here get not less than $200.00 for that job, NOT including the filter!

 

[Benjammer]

I think I messed it up

So I managed to sort of get those double barrel vent disconnected, it's still hanging on to something but seems to rotate around like it's mostly disconnected.

I didn't remove the felt cover under the glovebox, I couldn't get those plastic tabs off, I guess you just pull them really hard and they'll come off?

The glovebox accidentally came totally off
I can see where the double barrel thing connects but not sure how to get it re-connected.

I didn't even install the filter yet, I managed to pull the old one out, but I didn't want to squish the filter and deform it, to get it in.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

You will need to compact /squish it back in....it will spring back into place. It's very resilient and will not be affected if you squish and push....just like with other things in life. Don't be afraid to give it alittle push...

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[sluggyjunx]

Nice write-up, most appreciated! I followed along and it worked like a champ. I would say that removing the glove box at the outset helps to get eyes on the filter and "walk" it out (and back in). I was surprised how much I had to squish it to get it to fit into the slot. The new filter really had to be carefully persuaded and massaged into its position to minimize damage/deformation. They really didn't design the car for this thing to come out too easily. It's baffling. Anyway, the filter was pretty grotty upon removal.

It had 79k miles on it and I'd say it was about to grow legs and run away. Blech!!

Again, thanks for the DIY. It worked a charm and I can breathe easier now.

 

[LILIKE16ST]

This is useful info mine has over 36k on it now and I need to replace it. My question is is there a k&n cabin filter upgrade available for this car? Quick search didn't really find any concrete info. Just wondering. If not motorcraft will do but it would be cool to have a reusable filter that lasts longer and can be cleaned and reused. Thanks in advance...

 

[TyphoonFiST]

This is useful info mine has over 36k on it now and I need to replace it. My question is is there a k&n cabin filter upgrade available for this car? Quick search didn't really find any concrete info. Just wondering. If not motorcraft will do but it would be cool to have a reusable filter that lasts longer and can be cleaned and reused. Thanks in advance...

K&n makes reusable cabin filters for some cars...not sure if they do for Fiestas...by I have seen them. I just change mine every 20k

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[KKaWing]

D'oh... I didn't pull out the "double barrel" duct. I just used electrical tape to secure my drive bit to a 1/4" wrench... oh my back hurts just remembering how contorted I was getting that panel open and closed. Watch me forget another 2 years down the road X_X

 

[jeff]

Thanks to OP for posting this.

D'oh... I didn't pull out the "double barrel" duct. I just used electrical tape to secure my drive bit to a 1/4" wrench... oh my back hurts just remembering how contorted I was getting that panel open and closed. Watch me forget another 2 years down the road X_X

Helpful video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YIuKQmWG0&t=1s

I just did this in about 25 minutes, I didn't remove the glove box or duct but that would have definitely made it easier. As long as you have a tiny ratchet that can receive bits into it's center (not sure what those are called, it has a hole in the middle so the bits go in and only stick out maybe 1/2" for tight places) you can do this without removing that stuff. But as above then you have to contort your body to see. Take a few extra minutes and remove the glove box, you'll be glad you did.

Before/after, 23,900 miles of use:

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

 

[KnockOff]

I really need to do this.

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[Uncle Fister]

Hi, does this apply towards my '17 FIST ? Thanks.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Hi, does this apply towards my '17 FIST ? Thanks.

Yes

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