When the dealer says your cabin air filter's dirty

[mclasser]

one reasonably assumes the tech actually looked at the old and dirty one. It's a chore in many cars getting to the cabin filter since removal of the dashboard and panels are often involved.

So if the dealer says your filter's dirty during one of their free multi-point inspections included with an oil change, is it fair for them to still charge the $80+ to replace it even though they already removed all the stuff to gain access to the filter as a part of the free inspection to begin with? I think the only cost here should be the filter and maybe a nominal labor fee. On the other hand, if you schedule a specific appointment to ONLY have the cabin filter changed, then you should pay the full (albeit exorbitant) labor fee associated with the replacement.

What do you guys think?

 

[wallyuwl]

I doubt they actually check them during normal inspections. They more than likely just go by mileage, assuming anything over 25k miles hasn't had it replaced recently and needs one.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Best thing to do is replace your own and tell the service advisor to leave it alone. Same can be said for air filter.

 

[ryanschillinger]

Then you don't have to worry about stuff coming undone behind your glovebox when they slap it back together...

 

[THE_TROTS]

No dealership tech is checking your filters during the free multi-point inspections included with an oil change. No dealership tech is changing your oil unless it is part of a repair.

Dealers have a fast lane/quick lube/whatever you want to call it staff who's entire jobs are to change oil. The fast lane/quick lube/whatever it is called employees are the ones who would check that filter during your inspection, and many don't. They are judged by the service manager mostly on how fast they can turn out oil changes, and tearing apart a dash/glove box to check the cabin air filter can take as long as the oil change itself did.

If you have a service history at that dealership, the service adviser will see that filter as a recommended item based on mileage. If you don't, and it was later recommended, than the fast lane employee who changed your oil took the time to check it.

Yes, if the filter was actually checked, than he did tear into the dash to check it. In regards to the price, that's part of dealer service. It is worth it to some, not to others. There's a reason dealer service departments often make more money than the new car sales department.

 

[Chris142]

Often a plugged cabin fiter will make the bblower louder than normal or the flow from the vents is lacking. Maybe thats how they determined its plugged.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
one reasonably assumes the tech actually looked at the old and dirty one. It's a chore in many cars getting to the cabin filter since removal of the dashboard and panels are often involved.

So if the dealer says your filter's dirty during one of their free multi-point inspections included with an oil change, is it fair for them to still charge the $80+ to replace it even though they already removed all the stuff to gain access to the filter as a part of the free inspection to begin with? I think the only cost here should be the filter and maybe a nominal labor fee. On the other hand, if you schedule a specific appointment to ONLY have the cabin filter changed, then you should pay the full (albeit exorbitant) labor fee associated with the replacement.

What do you guys think?


I think that's why they call them stealerships.

 

[silverrat]

Is the for the Accord? Because the Pilot takes like 20 seconds to check.

 

[Rand]

Last 2 cars probably takes a max of 1 min to change it.

now the older ford taurus under the cowl style was a PITA with all those tiny clips in the cold.

 

[Woody71]

I changed one on a '10 Nissan Altima over the summer. I had to lay on my back half out the door looking up under the dash. I'd gladly do that again if I were to be charged $80 for the service. It took me 3 min. to change the CAF in our '11 CR-V last weekend.

 

[Brybo86]

my accord takes 30 seconds to remove.... is this on the Infiniti?

 

[oilmutt]

It took me 3 minutes to change the CAF, because it was the first time on the 2013 Sonata, From now on I will be able to do it in under a minute.

 

[Voltmaster]

I take every word a mechanic or technician says with a grain of salt. No matter what.

Unless my engine or transmission dies, I am going to ask on forums and fix myself. Most job only takes a Sunday and some patients.


On the other hand the Cabin air filter is cheap and easily replaceble. Expect to spend between 5-25 min on it depending on your car, but its mostly trying to take out parts with screws and putting it back together.

My 2000 accord took 15 min just to remove. My girlfriend's Elanatra took 3 min for the whole job, either way it was fast and quick.


I recomend Pentius filters if you can get them on Amazon, they are ussualy the cheapest and their carbon smell gives you a new car feeling. its kind of nice.


Youtube is your bestfriend my friend.

 

[salv]

Originally Posted By: THE_TROTS
No dealership tech is checking your filters during the free multi-point inspections included with an oil change. No dealership tech is changing your oil unless it is part of a repair.

Dealers have a fast lane/quick lube/whatever you want to call it staff who's entire jobs are to change oil. The fast lane/quick lube/whatever it is called employees are the ones who would check that filter during your inspection, and many don't. They are judged by the service manager mostly on how fast they can turn out oil changes, and tearing apart a dash/glove box to check the cabin air filter can take as long as the oil change itself did.

If you have a service history at that dealership, the service adviser will see that filter as a recommended item based on mileage. If you don't, and it was later recommended, than the fast lane employee who changed your oil took the time to check it.

Yes, if the filter was actually checked, than he did tear into the dash to check it. In regards to the price, that's part of dealer service. It is worth it to some, not to others. There's a reason dealer service departments often make more money than the new car sales department.


This is not only wrong in many cases, but a huge overgeneralization. At my shop it is our job as service advisors to check fluids before the RO is written. Many shops operate that way.

Our technicians will check cabin filters if they suspect they haven't been changed, or if they hear something rattling around in the blower. Any smart tech knows that giving a customer a visual is going to increase their chances of selling a job.

Only larger dealers have quick lube lines.

 

[salv]

Originally Posted By: mclasser
one reasonably assumes the tech actually looked at the old and dirty one. It's a chore in many cars getting to the cabin filter since removal of the dashboard and panels are often involved.

So if the dealer says your filter's dirty during one of their free multi-point inspections included with an oil change, is it fair for them to still charge the $80+ to replace it even though they already removed all the stuff to gain access to the filter as a part of the free inspection to begin with? I think the only cost here should be the filter and maybe a nominal labor fee. On the other hand, if you schedule a specific appointment to ONLY have the cabin filter changed, then you should pay the full (albeit exorbitant) labor fee associated with the replacement.

What do you guys think?


The biggest problem is, if they don't check it, and you have a problem with it soon after you leave, you are going to be upset that it wasn't checked. The general impression is that a dealer is supposed to be more thorough that a quick lube place, so customers expect that everything is gone through, even on a routine oil change visit. We may check the filter just to cover our butts, and if you decline replacement we eat the tech's time.
It is like getting a free brake inspection at any shop. Even though the brakes are all apart to check them, you still pay the full labor cost for repairs if they are needed.
It is just the way the industry works. It isn't just dealers. We take time with your vehicle in the hopes that we can find something you need. If you decline repair, we are out our time, time that could have been used to make money elsewhere.
The idea that dealer service only exists for warranty work and to act as a reference for other shops and DIY guys is an antiquated idea.
The idea that the only money a person should have to spend at a dealer is when they purchase a car, is a bad idea.
Even if you do your own work, you will need the dealer for something at some point. If you want any kind of breaks on labor, it is best to maintain a good relationship with your dealer's service department.

 

[zzyzzx]

If a repair shop told me that, I would tell them that my car doesn't have one, and I will not be returning to them since they lied to me.

 

[hattaresguy]

They don't check, I had a GM dealer do an oil change on my truck and try to sell me a few things, three were an air filter (1k miles old at the time), shocks (I had 5k on Bilsteins, which are yellow BTW you would think they could see shiny yellow shocks!), and PS fluid (which was changed already).

I told the service adviser he was a crook and it went down hill after that.

That dealership was utterly incompetent, not only did they fail to rotate my tires, they overfilled the oil with the wrong weight. The only thing they did right with that oil change was they used the right filter...which was overtightened but at least it was the right one!

 

[spackard]

If at a dealership it would be pretty easy to develop a calibrated back-of-hand feel for when the filter's clogged. Fan on full, vent on fresh, doesn't blow enough air, recommend filter change.

You could get more scientific and measure the current draw of the full fan, and with an inductive clamp that wouldn't take more than 30 seconds.

Just saying there's indirect ways of checking the cabin air filter.

 

[Freeborn_John]

A friend bought a 15 year old Mercedes C190, 200,000 miles but good, all the dealer history in the world.
Problem was, the demister fan was so feeble it was dangerous, when the cabin filter came out, clogged solid and followed by a good double hand full (200,000 miles worth in fact) of what looked like well rotted compost, it was evident why.
The fan blew like a champion after that...

 

[Propflux01]

They don't check. If you leave and a few days later something goes wrong, they'll just say "we asked you if you wanted it changed and you said no" so you'll get the blame.

They go by time change. If it's not showing done in thier computer, there gonna ask you if you want it changed