Cabin filter change
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Contents
Introduction
It appears that most people do not realize that the Jimny has a cabin / pollen filter, or at least has the facility for a cabin filter.
Most manuals never refer to it, even in the OEM Service Guide.
A lot of people, particularly those who drive off-road, are tired of the clouds of leaves that hit you in the face when you open the fascia vents. Fitting a cabin filter is straight forward once you know where it is (supposed to be) hidden.
If your Jimny already has a cabin filter installed (but you have not been aware of it), the filter is probably heavily clogged.
- This is an example of a five year old (heavily used) cabin filter of unknown manufacturer, which was removed from a Jimny 3.
- This is a filter which contains charcoal particles, so it is normal to look "dirty" / greyish, but not this much.
- That picture was unfortunately taken just after the leaves and grit were brushed off off from the filter.
- The weight of that used dirty filter was around 800 grams!
Required parts
The filter itself
Choose your air cabin filter wisely:
- There are many erroneous aftermarket compatibility claims (regarding dimensions) on the Internet.
- First check if the dimensions match.
- Then choose a suitable filter type.
- Your aim should be to match filter's filtering capabilities with your inhalation requirements.
All info about cabin filters is written in detail in the wiki article Fluids and filters - proper selection / chapter "cabin air filters".
Filter cover
- You may wish to consider buying a spare cabin filter cover at the same time.
- The part number of Suzuki's genuine cabin / pollen filter cover for Jimnys is: 95423-81A01
- The suitable cover is also offered in BigJimny Shop.
It is common to break the filter cover when removing it as the plastic becomes brittle.
Changing / Installing a cabin filter
Tools
- Assorted screwdrivers or blade
I cannot emphasis too strongly how easy it is to break the old cover!
Installation
- Here is the filter cover, up underneath the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle
- First remove the glovebox.
- This is done by flexing the sidewalls so the plastic retaining lugs can drop past the edge of the fascia.
- Lower the whole glovebox away.
- I am using a screwdriver with the end protected by a cloth to stop it marking the fascia, as I use it to prise away the retaining lugs.
- The filter cover is retained by small clips on the end.
- The tip of the scewdriver points to where the clip is (hidden).
- Warm the plastic filter cover.
- Either use a hairdrier or allow the car's own heater to warm the car (on re-circulate setting).
- If the plastic is cold it is more likely to fracture.
- Insert a small blade into the filter retaining lugs and gently prise it away from the edge of the moulded catches on the heater body.
- Do this a bit at a time alternating front and back.
- If you have a UK Jimny, you are more than likely to find an empty hole now (full of bits of leafs).
- Simply insert the cabin filter.
- Gently press the filter cover back into place.
- Don't think that you will be immune to breaking the filter cover - here is mine!
Additional reading
- Russian user report on disinfecting the ventilation system and replacing the cabin filter in a Jimny 3
- Russian user report on how to solve the problem of breaking a cabin filter cover on a Jimny 3
Page last edited on 17/01/2021 by user Bosanek
