Did you remove the end cover of the dash and disconnect the strut which attaches to the glove box?

Are you squeezing the sides in enough and holding them in while you swing the glove box door down so that the little bumpers clear the edges of the opening?

If you do these things it should swing right down.

Those look like the leaves of the Live Oak. We've got about 8,000 pounds of them in our front yard. And had about a pound in the filter when I took it out.

@ scooby - here's a .pdf showing how to change it if it helps.

http://jerrystout.us/sonata/tsb/air%20cond...er%20change.pdf

Thanks for the heads up, this filter is the same for the Santa Fe as well.
I'll go over to AAP tomorrow to pick one up as i'm nearing my one year anniversary.

You don't have a PDF of the Leaf by any chance?

I thought it was funny seeing one again. Thank you

for answering my question from 5 Weeks ago :thumbsup:

Many thanks guys - no problem replacing the filter after looking at the pdf. Only guess was air flow direction. Since the ton of leaves and debris was on the top I assumed that the air flow was down. Right?

Again - thanks!

Yes.

I'll add my dirty filter picture to the collection:

Impressive picture there scoobydo...lol

I just replaced my filter (AAP for $15.00) but my old one wasn't quite busy as yours, yours reminds me of autumn. But on the next change I may want to clean that area out a little, you may want to do the same with all the nature you collected.

I got mine for $16.20 including tax. (from aap) Took me less than 5 minutes to replace. Mine was pretty dirty on the inside. I bought the car used and not sure when the last time it was replaced.

My dealer is now charging around $12 for cabin filters - a little second source competition never hurts.

I don't have any filter photos - but the manual means what it says about yearly replacement. The replacement process is far easier on the Sonata than on some competitors.

This post has been edited by kn5owa: Aug 5 2008, 08:41 AM

LOL, my closest dealer still wants $40 for it.. my arse.. i'll buy a Fram or Wix cabin filter for $15 at Rock Auto....

I'm convinced the filter business (any kind) is where it's at if you want to be an instant tycoon.

The same nonsense is happening with furnace filters. Nowadays, if you don't use the $20 Filtrete filters, you will die a horrible death ten times over from all those little germs they show in their ads.

I just bought an armload of the old fashioned $1.29 fiberglass filters, so this may be my last post on the forum.

Really, those are a joke..... You can SEE that those filters are a joke.... I would certainly NOT buy them, though I don't expect them to stop GERMS.... just dust, hair, dirt......

LOL - yeah, I have used them for the past 30 years with no issues but being that you can SEE through them . . .

Anyway, I have seen many more HVAC issues with folks using the HEPA filtrete type filters than with the old $1 filters. It seems like people dont understand that the increase in resistance on a filter (10x or more over the $1 filters) burns the blower up quicker, results in decreased airflow through furnace, poor delta in temps in summer and too high delta T in winter. Stick with the $1 filters.
OK - sorry for going off topic. Back to Sonatas . . . .

I wasn't going to bring it up, but the fancy filters that trap the superfine stuff DO block air, as well. This not only stresses the blower fan and reduces net cooling, but can drastically alter refrigerant pressures in the system.

This post has been edited by kn5owa: Aug 5 2008, 04:36 PM

Has anyone tried pulling the filter more often and blowing it out with an air compressor. It should keep the filter flowing better and extend the life too. Both my cars have these little money makers and while I garage both and they do not stand outside much I think I'm going to try this. My wifes car is over 1 year old and the Air and heater blow fine with no odor. Mine (Sonata) is just 3 months old. I will report results if this thread stay open.

Yes, and the K&N filters are supposedly letting more air flow into the engine for more power, better gas mileage --- AND MORE DIRT AS WELL.... Of course, with HVAC filters, the cheaper the filter, the more air flows thru, but more junk too.... Basic logic, I'd say. :thumbsup:







This post has been edited by mamamia: Aug 5 2008, 06:21 PM

The air compressor would blow the leaves and large crud off, but I've checked the filters closely when I pulled them and they are packed with fine grit down inside the folds of the filter - lots of luck on cleaning them.

In any case, by the time you get the filter out - you may as well replace it - is my philosopy on the matter. And the prices are coming down - if you shop aroun