I have a 2007 Azera. Tried to remove the cabin air filter and broke on of the tabs. Now, I can't get the air filter out. Anybody have a solution?

Thanks

Hey you drive a Hyuns1 Azera. Let me send this to our Azera Board!

When you push down on an upper tab (or lift up on a lower tab) the plastic flexes just enough to lift a molded catch off a retainer, allowing the carrier to be removed. If you can fit some thin needle-nosed pliers to where you can grab what's left of the broken tab, holding tightly, you may be able to wiggle what's left of the tab, while operating the other above or below tab until you feel a slight outward movement of the tray. Then, without letting that side snap back, work the opposite-side tabs until the tray slides out.

I just replaced my cabin filter (with a new home-made filter) and I note that the carrier fits snugly in place, so I wonder if the tabs are at all necessary, or rather, the plastic tab catch. Might be able to just break off the bad tab's plactic catch, maybe all four catches, then later use the empty tab slots and manuever a couple of small screwdrivers to pull out the carrier in future...

This post has been edited by Gamle-ged: Oct 29 2009, 12:34 PM

When the cars are new, you have to squeeze the tabs and pull the tray out with pliers.

Afterwards, they are easier to remove.

New trays are cheap. Get two.

Earlier this year I was going nuts trying to take out the cabin carrier cartridge in my 08. Using a pliers broke a tab off. I put a 90 degree bend in two short screwdrivers or awls and used these to separate the catch and retainer. The carrier had never been out before, and it seemed to me the slot for the carrier was a bit narrower than the carrier. So when the carrier was pushed back in place, it had a flex to it that jammed it in. But with the 90 degree dedicated Azera screwdrivers (patent pending, send me $99.99 cash or gold bullion before bending your screwdrivers) life became a walk in the park.

It is now clear why some Dealers charge up to $90 plus the part to change them. I paid $39.95 in Labor for the 1st one,

and paid a friend a Taco Combination Plate the 2nd time around. It took less than a minute to change. And it came out

very easy, by hand, with no broken clips. Some Hyundai Cars are very difficult, and the Dealers know this all too well!

In 41k miles I've personally replaced mine four times, the first time with another OEM filter, the last three times with my home-made filters (cut from a large, high-quality home air handler filter). I use a 3M "Filtrete" Maximum allergen reduction filter, "performance rating" of 1700, bought at Lowes for about $20. It's a 24" x 24" size, not quite 1" thick, and when cut down yields 4 Azera-sized filters. Then I use a little duct tape to close the 2 cut edges)... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grin.gif)

This post has been edited by Gamle-ged: Nov 1 2009, 07:10 PM

Is there anything you can't do with duct tape? I didn't think so... Haha.

And this use is actually "duct" related. I think, for me, that's a first!...

Gamble-ged Thanks for this bit of information. I just came home from my dealer after getting the tires checked and he also showed me the cabin filter and how dirty it was. You are right, they want at least $40 to replace it. I plan to find a suitable filter at Lowe's or Home Depot and do exactly as you suggest.

How do you get to the cabin air filter to pull it out? Is it behind the glove compartment? Do you remove the glove box?

joezera

Empty the glove box, slip the glove box "cylinder" off (on right side, it's what gives the gradual action to opening the glove box), then just squeeze the sides of the flexible glove box toward each other until the stops on either side are evaded. The box will now hang down from its bottom hinge.

Now the plastic horizontal filter "carrier" is revealed. Squeeze the two sets of clips toward each other (top toward bottom, bottom toward top) and pull the carrier straight out...

yeah it is located behind the glove compartment, it is also important to clean the filter every 30k miles coz it will prevents pollutants and allergens from entering the passenger cab of the vehicle.
____________
ACC cabin filter protect your car from harmful elements..

All the air that enters or recirculates throughout the cabin passes through the cabin air filter.

The Air Quality switch, when engaged, will automatically allow a check of outside air quality for excessive hydrocarbons and fine dust particles, and if/while the outside air is too polluted, the system will automatically switch to Recirculate to keep the nasty stuff outside, and then it will switch back when outside air improves.

Recirculate also helps to keep the air filter cleaner/longer, as the filter doesn't have to absorb the worst of the nasty stuff outside, but don't just hit the Recirculate switch (you can do that, like if you're passing a skunk) and lock the outside air out all the time, as fresh (even if stinky) air is good for you... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grin.gif)

This post has been edited by Gamle-ged: Mar 15 2010, 08:08 PM