[CrowMagnumMan]

Folks...if you do not know it already, DO NOT have your dealership do this procedure. It is very very simple and doing it yourself will save you a bundle. I have heard of dealerships charging up to $80 to change the air filter out.

As a test, I had my wife watch the videos below and then go out and change the air filter. She was done within 4 minutes. It really is that simple! I do not remember what the air filter cost me, but, I do believe it was under $20.

Hope this helps someone in the future.

P.S. I change mine once a year, in November.

 

[e_piph_a_ny]

Here's an oldie but still goodie!

Clean or replace your own cabin filter, improve air flow & save a bundle

 

[CrowMagnumMan]

Good find, E. I posted for our friends who don't search or didn't come up with it as well as letting people know it's definitely a DIY project! I'm hoping it'll help some of our newer members.

 

[ridgeline30152]

I changed mine last week.

I'm used to weird and assorted glovebox attachments but the Ridgeline is the easiest one yet.

Flip the two holders out and voila: easy access.

I ordered my replacement filter from Ebay: cost including shipping $17. :act035:

I'll be damned if im going to pay a dealer or an oil change place $50+ to change this easy 5 min. swapout.

 

[CGM55123]

Dealer quoted me $36 to replace the air filter and $85, yes $85, to replace the cabin filter. Went to NAPA and got the air filter for $17 and the cabin filter for $11, replaced them both in about 15 mins.

Thanks for posting this excellent information!

 

[rollinhonda]

I know it's 'buyer beware' but I can't help but think those charges are pure highway robbery. And they wonder why people get pi$$ed off at dealerships.
The fact they can get away with it is even worse.

 

[Rockwood]

Its much easier on the RL than Pilot/Ody. Their CAF are vertical forcing partial removal of the glovebox

 

[jonesbb630]

Let's not forget. Dealers have a lot of employees to pay every week and huge bills to pay to run a dealership. On top of that, they need to make a profit, they all do or else they would all close down and we would have no dealers to buy new vehicles from. So yes it appears to be a ripoff and always will so we all better get over it or find alternatives. But that's why it's always cheaper to DYO work if you can or ask a friends who can do it for you for a case of beer.

This is what i do. My Honda dealer charges $98 per hour plus 13% taxes here in Canada. So I got to know one of the mechanics at my dealer and he does work for me at night from his home in his garage for $30 per hour cash no taxes. It used to be $25 but his prices went up about 6 months ago. Yes it's not legal but he does it for a few people he knows and it's comforting to know the work is done by a qualified Honda Technician who knows about recalls, and all the easy tricks and copies for instalation instructions. I'm not complaining. He makes a few extra bucks working out of his garage 3 to 4 hours every night, and I get to save lots of money. So I recomend anyone to try to get to know their Honda Technicians. If they refuse to do it, they most likely know another mechanic in the shop that does. Be very friendly and snoop around your dealer when you go get work done.

 

[rollinhonda]

When not doing DIY I use a competent independent mechanic that has no problem on working on any vehicle, and at reasonable rates. If dealerships can't make their shops run more efficient without over-charging customers, so be it. We all have choices of how and where to spend our money.

 

[CrowMagnumMan]

Dealer quoted me $36 to replace the air filter and $85, yes $85, to replace the cabin filter. Went to NAPA and got the air filter for $17 and the cabin filter for $11, replaced them both in about 15 mins.

Thanks for posting this excellent information!

Glad I could help!

 

[RustyH]

The hardest part of doing this job is emptying out the glove box. After that its a 2-3 minute job tops.....then another 10 minutes to load everything back in so the glove box fits.

 

[CGM55123]

I know it's 'buyer beware' but I can't help but think those charges are pure highway robbery. And they wonder why people get pi$$ed off at dealerships.
The fact they can get away with it is even worse.

This was my first experience with this dealer and it was acutally a very positive one. He was the low bid on my timing belt replacement and the filter replacements were quoted as part of their inspection process that they completed. He didn't pressure me at all and in fact I think he assumed I'd replace them myself. I say that because they both needed replacement and he simply called it out and did not do the hard sell. He also quoted me tires for about $800 but when I asked him how that would compare with Costco, he was very up front and told me I'd save some money going there. I've had other Honda dealers, thankfully a minority, who tried to put the high pressure sell on and frankly I simply lost trust in them because it was so transparent.

Have no problem with a dealer trying to make a buck, as a consumer I'm going to keep them honest and work hard to save a buck leveraging good old fashioned competition and for the simpler jobs, elbow grease.

 

[rollinhonda]

There is a great deal of variance in how any dealer handles customers and sets prices, no doubt about it.
I've had my local Honda dealer screw up, and forget to use my oil, and fess up about it, giving me an option of changing it again on the spot, or discounting the charge. It happened once over 5 years.
Sometimes he has specials that are good deals, and they have never given me a reason not to trust their work.
But there are things my local mechanic can do better, and in many cases cheaper. So if I don't DIY, I choose my mech for non-warranty issues. I'd rather give him the business and learn more about my vehicles as I watch him or his mechanics work on them.
The important thing is having choices.

 

[IN_Darel]

This thread alone just paid for my lifetime membership. Thanks.

 

[Smokey619]

Thanks. This is one thing many people never change in their car if they do oil changes and all that themselves

 

[IN_Darel]

I was in for my scheduled second oil change, ($50). The service manager comes into the waiting area and says that everything checks out fine on their multi point inspection. That my tires are showing even thread wear but it is recomended that I have them rotated, ($20). Then says that it's time to change the intake and cabin air filters and wanted to know if I wanted them to proceed. I told them that I would change the filters myself, that they charge too much for the cabin air filter change. He told me that they lowered the price by $30 to $59. I told him that it was still too much for a two minute job. He said that the service is there for people that can't or don't know how to change it. I respond in an ambushing style, "So you take advantage of loyal customers ignorance?" He didn't respond.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

[Old pup]

Yesterday I picked up a Fram FreshBreeze Cabin filter at O'Reilly Auto parts for $15.99. Part #CF10134 Suppose to have activated charcoal and baking soda imbedded in the filter material. We'll see if it helps with odors.

For Ridgeline newbies like me, check out the post http://www.ridgelineownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9130 besides the video. The videos don't show the stop arm. The first vid didn't have one and the second vid just left his to hang and rattle.

 

[DeuceRon]

Good video. Guess I'll change mine soon as well. Thanks for postin' this up!

 

[USMCVietVet67]

Thanks very helpfull--

 

[Rickman]

Its much easier on the RL than Pilot/Ody. Their CAF are vertical forcing partial removal of the glovebox

Even easier on my 2009 CRV. You just squeeze the ends of the glovebox, nothing to remove but the filter itself. They should do the same with the Ridgeline.

Great reminder CrowMagnumMan!