Engine filter box latch

[RahTX]

So, I was poking around under the hood today to take a look at the condition of the engine filter - not really sure why, other than curiosity, since I wouldn't know if a filter needed to be replaced or not :P

Anyways, there are 3 latches on the box that are basically just snap open/closed. However, on the left side of the box is a metal wire latch with a plastic tab on it. I know this is a dumb question, but, does anyone know how to fasten it? For the life of me I can't seem to get it to snap back closed. In fact the more I look at it, I just can't figure out how the hell the thing even works, much less how to do it

Also, I have less than 10K miles on the car, but the filter seemed pretty dirty to me, especially towards the engine side (as opposed to the intake side). How often should this be replaced? Worth doing now? The manual talks a little bit about the cabin air filter, but I don't even know where that thing is...

Anyways, any advice is appreciated, and I deserve whatever ripping I get for getting bested by a stupid latch!

[Jayemtee]

Look at the plastic tab. One side is somewhat flat. On the other side of the wire, the plastic has a slight curve to it. The flat side should be towards the box and kinda sit into a groove on the box. Then put your finger under the curved side and pull it up. It will pull the box tight and will stay put due to an over center tension situation.

[RahTX]

Oh wow, lol, it was never going to work the way I was trying

Thanks!

[Jayemtee]

Now that you've mastered latch, it's time to move on.

You "seem" to be the kind of person that would be fine just sticking to Honda program from the dealer to take care of everything when the car says it's due. I have serious doubts that the filter is dirtier on the engine side than the intake side. If it REALLY is, then the Honda dealer might be interested to see that. If you got it backwards, then the Honda dealer might not be impressed with your underhood troubleshooting.

OTOH, if you want to replace the filter, go right ahead. If it looks dirty, it wouldn't hurt to change it. How much oil life do you have left? If you're about 30 or less, just let it ride and the filter changed when they do the oil.

If you REALLY want to find the cabin air filter, drop open the glove box on the passenger side. Then look for the little keepers so you can drop it even further. The cabin air filter is behind the glove box. You'll need to remove a panel about 1 inch by 10 inches to get to the filter. That panel just snaps on and off. That filter is probably dirty. Don't break any plastic parts getting the box dropped. It's not a difficult task, nor is it a user friendly task.

[RahTX]

There's no doubt I'm not a car person

I like to tinker and try to understand how things work. I've built-up computers from parts that seemed more intuitive than that stupid latch - well, maybe not necessarily intuitive...I'm a RTFM kind of guy, and the owner's manual in the car doesn't have a lot of the information I'm curious about - which is why I asked here. Although I suppose if I get the service manual, I can check that before going here, but then again, I'm likely to get myself in to trouble :P

That being said, I'm the kind of person that likes to try to do something to save some money instead of paying someone else to do it - that is, if I have the knowledge and tools.

An example would be: my brother (also not a "car guy") reversed the polarity on the cables when trying to jump his car recently and called me in a panic saying now the car wasn't doing ANYTHING. I headed over to take a look, even though I didn't know much more than him, I'm a troubleshooter at heart (work in I.T.). As I get there, he says he's called a tow truck which will be there in an hour. In that time, after a generic google search, I figured out that the main fuse blew, ran to the store, got the right one, swapped it out and jumped it (correctly). Got him back up and running for about $100 less than he was going to pay just for the tow. I'd never been under his hood before, or changed anything more than a simple light fuse in the cabin of one of my previous cars.

Anyways, back to the filter, I could swear it was dirtier towards the engine side, but I'll check it again later...it's not impossible that I was looking at it wrong.

Thanks for jogging my memory on the cabin air filter - I remember now that someone already detailed how to get to it somewhere else on the forums. I'll probably not mess with it for now, but I do have allergies, so was going to ask if it's worth replacing it earlier than recommended to help with that sort of thing.

[Hitech]

Rule of filters "The dirtier they get the better they filter" However they eventually get to the point where they filter out the air as well (become blocked)

[Jayemtee]

There's nothing wrong with doing it yourself if you can do it. If I talked down you too much, I apologize. On the other hand there is absolutely nothing wrong with sticking to the Honda schedule. From what someone posted on the 20,000 mile inspection, the average car guy can keep the I2 up to specs pretty easily and save some bucks.

I think a lot of us, including myself, are just kinda anal about oil changes, oil filters, etc. Truth be told, many of us are judging our schedule for these items based on experience from older technology tires, engines, and filters.

Personally, I don't like dirty fluids or dirty filters. The filters take out stuff I can't see. By the time I can see it starting to build up, that's too much for me. I've never heard the "rule of filters", but I kinda know where he's coming from.

I have allergies too and bought a lot of 10 cabin air filters on eBay. I changed one and put the date on it. I'm gonna recheck it after 4 months and see what it looks like. I might even find a vacuum cleaner overlay filter sheet to put over the next one. Keeping this filter clean helps me and also protects all the equipment and ducts downline.

[RahTX]

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably go ahead and try to check the cabin filter soon. I know the dealership did not do that at my last oil change, which means it's never been done, so it's been in there about 16 months.

Just to clarify: my car has very low mileage and didn't need the first oil change until it was about a year old. I'm assuming cabin filter is not on the standard list of things to do for a first oil change. Does anyone know if the engine filter is changed at every oil change, or does it have a separate interval?

Speaking of the engine filter, I visually checked it again, and while I wouldn't necessarily say the intake side is dirtier (seems pretty even to me), the interesting thing was the left side was considerably more clogged.

I'm thinking about replacing the OEM one with a K&N since it says it normally doesn't need to be cleaned but every 50K miles. Does anyone have opinions on them? They claim to be "high-flow" air filters, which I assume would make the engine work less (more efficiently?), but on the other hand, does that mean it doesn't do as good a job at filtering than a stock one?

[KenR]

I think what RahTX means by "Engine side"..is..when looking straight down on the air filter (with the plast cover removed...the "engine side" has more dirt on it (closer to the air intake snorkel) than what I would call the fender side.
I don't think RahTX meant "engine side" of the air flow vs the "fresh air intake/snorkel" side of the filter..... Just a guess...
-KenR

[Jayemtee]

I've always used K&N air filters in my cars and I have one in my Insight. My love and loyalty for them is based on performance in older technology cars. I don't know how much good they do on a 113 hp electrical assisted engine. I suspect it's the same types of improvement as the older cars, but on a smaller scale. But even if it makes absolutely no difference, I like the ability to clean it whenever I want. I like clean filters.