How to replace the air filter in a 2005 Toyota Camry

Most places that change your oil will also offer to replace your air filter.  It's convenient, but it's also expensive.  You may pay $30 for them to do it, when you could replace it yourself for $10 or so and 10 minutes of your time.  If you're not sure how to replace the air filter in your 2005 Toyota Camry, this article will walk you through the process.

A new air filter can be purchased from any auto parts store, or online, typically for about $10.  Amazon sells a Fram air filter (part# CA9360) for $9.83 right now.  Once you have the new filter, grab either a large Phillips screwdriver or a socket wrench and a 8mm socket.

Pop your hood, then locate the air filter box, located on the right side of the engine compartment (as you're looking at it).  It will be the black plastic box behind the battery with a large hose protruding from the rear.

There are two sensors on the hose in the back of the air filter box; unplugging these sensors will give you more room to work, but it's not necessary.  To disconnect the sensors, push in the tab on each to release it, then pull it out of its connector.

Now you'll need to open the air filter box.  There are two screws -- one on the front side of the box and one on the rear.  They are Phillips screws, but if they are overly tightened, you may not be able to get them out with a screwdriver.  The socket wrench will definitely be easier.

With the screws out, there are plastic hinges on the left side of the box -- lift the lid up from the right side to expose the air filter.  You won't be able to completely remove the lid without disconnecting the hose, but you should be able to open it far enough to remove the air filter.

Now you can install the new air filter.  Three of the corners are rounded and the fourth is straight; the straight corner goes in the the front right corner of the air filter box.  Lay the filter flat and then close the lid (being sure that the hinges are still connected).  Put the two screws back in, and reconnect the sensors if you disconnected them.  Forgetting that last step will result in some engine codes (P0102 and P0113) and a poor start.

Fram CA9360 Toyota / Lexus air filter for under $10

Need an air filter for your Toyota Camry, Highlander, Solara, or Sienna?  You can pick up a Fram CA9360 air filter for under $10 from the following online retailers:

- CARiD:   $8.38
- RockAuto:   $8.42
- Amazon:   $9.83
- Walmart:   $9.83

See all compatible years and models here.

Compare that price to $12.99 from AutoAnything or $16.99 from Autozone.

eBay auction - Fram CA8911 air filter, new

If you need a Fram CA8911 air filter, I just put a brand new one (still in the original box) up for auction on eBay.

Starting bid is just $6.99 with free shipping.  (It's currently listed on Amazon for $12.47, almost twice the auction price.)

This filter fits some early- to mid-2000s Honda/Acura models, including the 2003 Honda Civic EX (installation instructions can be found here).

Basic auto repairs and maintenance that you can do yourself

Many people choose to do their own auto maintenance and minor repairs, rather than take their car or truck in to a service center.  Doing the work yourself can save you money (and often time).  Below are some basic repair and maintenance jobs that you can perform yourself.

- Replacing air filters

Engines use an air filter to block impurities in the air from making it into the engine block.  This air filter needs to be changed periodically, otherwise it will get clogged up with dirt and prevent enough air from getting to the engine.  In many vehicles, you can get to the air filter simply by removing a few clips and lifting a black plastic rectangular lid.

Your vehicle probably also has a cabin air filter (or two).  This interior air filter is responsible for filtering the air that comes into the passenger compartment of your vehicle -- the air that you breathe in when the heat or air conditioning is on or when the windows are closed.  This filter should also be replaced regularly.  It is often located behind the glove box (which you can probably just release and swing down, rather than completely remove) or somewhere else behind or under the dashboard.  Your vehicle's owner manual may be able to tell you where the cabin air filter is located, or you can look it up online.

- Replacing the battery

If your battery is old or dying, or you're pretty sure it won't last much longer, you can purchase a new battery from an auto shop, or from a retail store like Walmart or Sears, and install the battery yourself.  Replacing a battery is an easy task -- most batteries are negative-ground, and with a good wrench you can have the job done in under 10 minutes.  Most stores will dispose of the old battery for you (you may need to provide your sales receipt for the new battery).

Some stores and auto shops provide free installation with any purchased battery.  In these cases, let them do the heavy lifting for you, but if they charge for installation, replacing a battery is a job you can do yourself.

If your vehicle is equipped with anti-theft technology, disconnecting the battery may cause your radio/stereo to stop working.  In this case, you'll need to enter a code to re-enable it, which you should be able to get from your dealer or manufacturer.

- Replacing windshield wipers

When your wipers stop working effectively or begin to leave streaks on your windshield, it's time to replace them.  If you know what size wipers you need (your owner's manual should tell you, or you can look it up online) it's not a big deal to remove the old ones and install the new ones.  It may get a bit tricky if your wipers require a special adapter, but for most vehicles it only takes a couple of minutes to replace a pair of wiper blades.  Auto service centers will offer to change your blades for you when you go in for an oil change or other service, but they may charge more for the blades and you'll probably also have to pay for the labor.

- Replacing lights and bulbs

Replacing a headlight, tail light, turn signal, or interior light in most vehicles is a simple task.  Some cars require the front bumper to be removed, or the lights are otherwise hard to get to, but in most cases you can replace burnt-out bulbs yourself.  Online auto parts stores like AutoZone.com or AdvanceAutoParts.com can tell you which bulbs fit your vehicle.

- Replacing fuses

Replacing a blown fuse (or a faulty relay) can be done in just a couple of minutes.  Your vehicle may have a fuse box located under the hood, or it may be under the dash (or both).  Your owner's manual will tell you the location of your fuse box(es), and on the top of each box there should be a diagram showing which fuse controls which component.  Always replace a blown fuse with an identical fuse of the same size and rating.

- Changing the oil

Replacing the engine oil is more involved than the other tasks listed above, and it requires more equipment, but it is certainly something you can do yourself.  You'll probably need ramps, so that you have room to work under the vehicle.  You'll also need a drain pan or other container to drain the oil into, and an oil filter wrench (or oil filter pliers) to remove the old oil filter.  Once you are finished, you'll need to dispose of the oil in a manner consistent with local regulations.  (Some auto parts stores will dispose of the oil for you.)  If you plan to do your own oil changes regularly, the tools that you have to buy will quickly pay for themselves.

Changing the oil itself is not a hard job; it just takes time.  Basically, all you will need to do is drain out the old oil, remove the old oil filter and install the new oil filter (if necessary), install the oil plug and washer, and fill up the reservoir with new oil.  If your owner's manual doesn't show you how to change the oil in your car or truck, you can probably find a video or tutorial online describing the exact steps for your vehicle.

(Originally published on Helium.com, April 2012)

How to replace the air filter in a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport

Removing the air filter in a 2012 Chevy Captiva Sport is fairly easy to do.  It takes a little more work than it does on some other models, but it can easily be done with just a few tools.  All you'll need is a pair of Phillips and slotted screwdrivers (or one multi-bit screwdriver), a short or flex-head 10mm combination wrench, and of course the new air filter.

With the vehicle turned off, pull the hood lever located below and to the left of the steering wheel (near the driver's left leg).  It is a black lever with a picture of a car with a raised hood on it.  You may have to bend down to see it.  Pull this lever toward you to pop the hood.

To raise the hood, stand in front of the vehicle and feel under the opening in the hood, near the center.  You should feel a metal latch; lift this latch up to release it, and then raise the hood.

The air filter is located in the black plastic box on the left side of the engine compartment (as you're standing in front of it).  There are two ways to get the air filter out -- remove the entire box that the air filter sits in, then remove the cover, or just remove the cover and leave the box in place.  The second method is quicker, and it is the method described here.

There are three screws (probably with black heads) securing the top of the air filter box to the bottom.  Remove these three screws with your Phillips screwdriver -- one on the front right side, one on the front left side, and one on the rear left side.

Once those screws are out, disconnect the large black hose on the rear side of the box by loosening the slotted screw that holds the clamp in place.  With the screw loosened, the clamp will also loosen, allowing you to pull the hose off of the air filter cover.

With the hose removed, you can see a 10mm bolt on the rear right side of the air filter cover.  You won't have direct access to this bolt, but you can remove it from the side with a 10mm combination wrench or crescent wrench.

After you've removed that bolt, lift the top of the air filter box up.  Be careful not to yank it, because the air filter sensor is still attached.  Set the cover out of the way so you can remove the air filter itself.

You can remove the air filter by lifting it straight out.  A new air filter is installed simply by placing it into the now-vacant cavity (pleated side down).  Then set the cover back on top, secure the bolt and the three screws, place the hose back onto the round opening on the back of the air filter cover, and clamp it back down with the slotted screw.

Close the hood and start the vehicle.  If the check engine light comes on (and it didn't come on before) check the air filter and sensor -- the sensor may have become disconnected, or something may be out of place.

How to replace the air filter in a 2005 Honda CR-V

Replacing the air filter in your 2005 Honda CR-V is something you can easily do yourself and save some money, rather than pay a mechanic or service center to do it for you.  You can probably get a new air filter for $10-$15 from your local auto parts store ($12.47 right now on Amazon) and in around 10 minutes, you can have the old air filter out and the new air filter in.  The only tools you'll need are a #2 Phillips screwdriver and a pair of slip joint pliers or groove joint pliers.  (A strong pair of long nose pliers can also suffice.)

With the vehicle off, pop the hood (the release lever is located below the steering wheel, to the left, near where the driver's left leg would be) and go around to the front of the CR-V.  Open the hood and prop it up using the bar that lies across the front of the engine compartment.

Locate the air filter box.  It has three straight sides and one curved side, and it will be on the right side of the engine compartment, behind the battery.  There are five Phillips screws securing the top of the box; remove these screws and place them somewhere safe.  Next, use your pliers to release the pressure on the clamp on the hose coming out of the left side of the air filter box.  With the pressure released, move the clamp to the left, so it's not locking the hose to the air filter box.

You can now lift up the top of the air filter box.  It won't come straight out; you'll have to wiggle it.  Try to lift it up and toward the front of the engine compartment, since the large black hose is still connected.  As you lift it up, the hose on the left side will probably disconnect itself.  (If you find that you don't have enough wiggle room to remove the top of the box, you can disconnect the hose on the front side as well; one Phillips screw holds down the clamp on that hose.)

Once you have the top of the box out of the way enough to access the air filter, remove it by lifting it straight out.  If you have a rag, you can clean out the inside of the air filter box, but it's not necessary.  Install the new air filter by setting it down into the base of the air filter box, so that the round filter bottom fits over the round protrusion in the bottom of the box.  Then lower the top of the box back in place over the air filter.

Secure the top of the box with the five screws, then reattach the hose on the left side.  Use your pliers to release the tension on the clamp, then slide it back to the right to lock the hose onto the air filter box port.

Your new air filter is now installed.  Release the hood prop bar, close the hood, and your job is done.

How to replace the air filter on a 2014 Hyundai Elantra

For a 2014 Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai recommends inspecting your air filter every 7,500 miles (under normal driving conditions) and replacing it every 30,000 miles.  It's very easy to access the air filter on the 2014 Elantra -- you don't even need any tools.

With the car off, pull the hood latch (located beneath the steering wheel, near where the driver's left leg would be) to release the hood.  Then, when you're standing in front of the car, raise the hood up slightly and feel underneath it near the center.  You'll feel a small lever; push it to the left and the hood latch will release completely, allowing you to raise the hood.

Prop the hood up using the metal bar laying along the engine compartment to your left.  With the hood propped up, you can see the engine and battery.  The air filter sits inside a plastic odd-shaped box, just in front of the battery.  You'll see a large hose coming out the left side of the box.

To remove the lid, release the two locking tabs on the right side of the box.  Pull them away from the box, and lift the lid up from that side.  It will pivot up toward the left.  You don't need to remove the large hose, because you can move the lid up and out of the way enough to get access to the air filter.

Remove the air filter by lifting it up out of the box.  If you see a lot of dirt or debris inside the box, under the air filter, remove it.  To install a new air filter, simply set it into the box in the same orientation as the old filter.  (It will only fit one way.)  If you are inspecting the old filter and not replacing it, check the underside of the filter for any dirt, bugs, or other debris that has gotten stuck.  The easiest way to clean the filter is to shake it (away from the engine compartment) and lightly tap the side of the filter against something hard, like a tree, to dislodge anything stuck in it.  Once all or most of the debris has been removed, place the filter back in the filter box.

Many people have said that when using non-OEM air filters, they have had trouble getting the box lid to close over the new filter.  If you experience this problem, try taking the rubber seal off the top of the old filter and attaching it to the new filter.

The filter box lid has two tabs on the left side.  Line these tabs up with the slots in the filter box, and once the left side of the lid is lined up, push the right side down and then snap the two locks into place.

Now all that's left to do is close the hood.  Hold the hood up with one hand and release the prop bar with the other hand, then lay it flat and pop it back into its holder.  Now you can close the hood, and you're done.

There are many different brands of air filters you can get for your car.  Fram makes one air filter (part #CA10889) that is usually reasonably priced.  Here is a brief price comparison for the Fram filter, just to give you an idea:

- RockAuto.com:  $13.60
- Walmart.com:  $15.58
- Amazon.com:  $16.42
- AutoZone.com:  $25.99

How to replace the air filter in a 2003 Honda Civic EX

Unlike on many other vehicles, the air filter on a 2003 Honda Civic EX is screwed down.  However, with the right tools you can still check, clean, or change your air filter in very little time, rather than pay a mechanic or service center to do it for you.  New air filters can be purchased from your local auto parts store, or you can buy them online.  Amazon sells at least three different filters that will fit an '03 Civic EX: a Fram filter for $12.47, a Pentius filter for $11.03, and a washable/reusable K&N filter for $46.99.

To get to your air filter, first turn your car off and pop your hood, using the lever located by the driver's left leg.  Then, to release the hood the rest of the way, feel under the front of the hood, near the middle, until you find the latch holding it down.  Push this latch to the side and lift the hood, then use the black metal bar with the plastic tip lying across the front of the hood to prop the hood up.  Pull this bar up and insert it in the rectangular hole in the underside of the hood.

The air filter is located toward the rear of the engine compartment, in the center.  If you have the new air filter with you, look at its odd shape (square on one end, triangular with a flat edge on the other) and look for a cover with a similar shape.  This cover is held down by six screws around the edges and one screw in the middle.  You can remove these screws with a large screwdriver or a socket wrench and an 8mm socket.  (If the screws are very tight, the socket will work better than the screwdriver.)

If you've ever had a service center or auto shop check your air filter, they may have used powerful tools to loosen and tighten these air filter screws.  Sometimes, the screws can get overtightened, and they may not come loose by hand, or if they do, they may crack the housing that they are held in.  If this is the case with your air filter screws, you may have to break the air filter cover or housing to get the air filter out.  (You should consider taking the car to a mechanic in these circumstances.)  If you break the cover or the air filter housing, you can order these parts online and replace them yourself.

(Originally published on Helium.com, May 2012)

How to replace the air filter in a 2001 Honda Accord

When you take your car to a service center for a routine oil change, they'll often check your air filter to make sure it's in good shape.  If it's not, they'll offer to replace it for you.  Air filters are not typically very expensive, but you can save some money by replacing your air filter yourself.  This article describes how to replace the air filter in a 2001 Honda Accord.

You can buy a new air filter at your local auto parts store -- just tell them what year and model your vehicle is, and they'll make sure you get the right filter.  They may have several different brands or styles of filters to choose from -- the standard (least expensive) filter is usually sufficient for most owners.  Below is a quick online price comparison for the Fram CA8133 air filter:

- Amazon: $10.47
- Walmart: $10.47
- AutoZone: $12.99
- OReilleyAuto: $12.99 (may vary by region)
- AdvanceAutoParts: $16.49 (may vary by region)

The air filter is located under the hood, by the engine.  To open the hood, pull on the hood release lever located to the lower left of your steering wheel.  You should hear the hood pop open.  Then get out of the car and go around to the front.  The hood has been released, but you'll need to feel underneath the hood (near the front center) for the release latch -- pull up on the hood with one hand and feel for the latch with the other.  When you find the latch, pull it to release the hood, and then raise the hood as high as you can.

There is a bar laying across the front of the hood, on the car's frame.  This bar is metal with a plastic tip.  Raise this bar up and stick the plastic tip into the corresponding hole on the underside of the hood, on the right side about halfway between the center of the hood and the side.  With the prop rod in place, the hood should stay securely raised so that you don't have to hold it up while you work.

As you're looking at the engine, there will be a thick black hose toward the back (near the windshield) running toward the left side of the engine compartment.  This hose ends in a black plastic box with a striped pattern imprinted on the top.

Remove the top of this box by releasing the four metal clips -- two on the front side and two on the rear side.  Push these clips away from the box to release them.  Then you can remove the top of the box (with the hose attached) to expose the air filter.

The air filter may be sitting in the box, or it may have come up with the top of the box.  Remove the old air filter and replace it with the new one.  Be sure to install the new air filter in the same orientation -- the side with the taller pleats goes face-down.  Then put the top back on the box and push the clips back into place.

Put the metal prop bar back into place (be sure to hold the hood up with your other hand while you put the bar back) and then close the hood.  You've now replaced your own air filter and saved yourself some money!

(Originally published on Helium.com, January 2012)

How to replace the cabin air filters in a 2005 Honda CR-V

Since the Honda CR-V is based off of the same body as the Honda Civic, it's not surprising that the steps for replacing the cabin air filters in the CR-V are almost identical to the steps for replacing the filters in a Civic.  The filters themselves are the same, as well - Amazon.com sells a range of filter sets that will fit a 2005 CR-V (as well as earlier and later CR-Vs, and many Civics too) for $10-15.

Before removing your old cabin air filters, turn your car off.  Then open your glove compartment.  There are two stopper pieces (one on each side) that prevent the glove box from falling all the way down when you open it and spilling everything in it onto the floor.  You'll have to remove these stoppers to replace the cabin air filters.

Each stopper is held in by two tabs on the outside of the glove box.  With the glove box open but pushed in very slightly - just enough to take the pressure off the stopper - push in the two tabs, toward each other.  Once they release you should be able to push the stopper into the glove compartment, though you may have to wiggle it slightly to get it through.  If you're having a hard time releasing the tabs, you can try using a pair of slip-joint or needle-nosed pliers, but it should get easier after you've done it the first time.

After releasing and removing both stoppers, slowly let the glove box slide all the way open.  (You may want to remove everything from it first so nothing falls out.)  You'll now have access to the cabin air filters.

The air filters are covered by a rectangular black plastic cover, with little squares cut into it.  If you're sitting in the driver's seat or passenger seat the cover may be hard to see because of the angle, so you may want to kneel down or move the seat back farther.  This cover can be removed by pushing in the tab that sticks out on the left side.  Push the tab to the right and pull the cover out, toward you.

With this cover removed, you'll see two black plastic cases, each with a long thin tab sticking out.  The air filters are located in these cases.  Pull the first case out toward you by its tab.  It should slide straight out, but you'll probably have to wiggle it around to get it all the way out because of the glove box bulb assembly.  This assembly hangs down from the top of the glove box cavity and can get in the way of the filters.  The filters can be removed with the assembly intact - it just takes some angling and patience - or if you want you can remove the bulb assembly to get it out of the way.  (It's held in by two Phillips screws.)

Once you've removed the first filter, slide the second filter over to the left and remove that one as well.  You'll see each white or light-colored filter sitting in its black plastic case.  Note which side of the filters face up before removing them from the case.

After taking the filters out, install the new filters into their cases in the same orientation as the ones you removed.  Put the right side filter back into the vehicle first, and slide it over to make room for the other filter.  (The right side case is the one with the tab on the left side.)  Then put the left side filter back in and reattach the filter cover by hooking the right side of the cover in first and then pushing the left side forward (toward the front of the CR-V) until it snaps into place.

To reattach the glove box, push it up far enough so that the stopper hole is behind the metal plate that the stopper hits against when you open the glove box.  Insert one stopper at a time, from inside the glove box, so that the stopper itself sticks out of the glove box, then push the stopper piece against the side of the glove box until the two tabs snap back into place.  If you reinstall the stopper with the glove box too far out of its cavity, you won't be able to close the glove box because the stopper will get in the way.  Repeat this same procedure to reattach the other stopper.

(Originally published on Helium.com, March 2012)

(Disclaimer: I earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.)

How to replace the cabin air filters in a 2003 Honda Civic

To replace the two cabin air filters found in a 2003 Honda Civic, you'll first need to get a new set of filters.  A pair of Fram filters can be purchased from Amazon.com for $14.75.  (Other brands may be priced differently.)

The cabin air filters are located behind your Civic's glove compartment.  You don't need to remove the glove box completely; you just need to allow it to swing down and out of the way.  There is a plastic bracket on either side of the compartment that keeps it from falling out - to release the glove compartment, you'll need to remove these brackets.

Open the glove compartment.  The bracket is located toward the rear, and it's held in by two plastic tabs.  Push these tabs inward, toward each other, to release the bracket.  A good pair of slip-joint or needle-nose pliers will be a big help here.

Once you've pushed the tabs inward, the bracket should start to pop out, into the glove box.  Push the glove compartment a little bit closed, so that the bracket has room to move, and then push the bracket the rest of the way through the hole into the glove compartment.  (You may have to wiggle it a bit.)  Repeat this process on the other side, for the other bracket.

Now your glove compartment can swing all the way down.  With it out of the way, you'll see a whole mess of wires and connectors.  To the right of these wires is a black rectangular plastic cover, with two rows of little rectangles cut out of it.  Release this cover by pushing in on the tab on the left side, and then pulling the cover out toward you.  Now you can see the cabin air filter cases.

The air filters sit in black plastic cases, each with a long thin tab extending from it.  The first filter can be pulled straight out simply by grasping the tab and pulling.  Once that filter is out, remove the second filter by sliding it over to the left and then removing it the same way.

Now you can remove the filters from their case.  Simply pull each filter out (after noting which side faces up for when you install the new filters) and then wipe the case down with a dry rag.  Then push the new filter into place, being sure to install it in the same direction.  The edges of the cases have little tabs that the edges of the filters will fit over.  If the filter is not in snugly, it may not slide back into its compartment.

Once you have the new filters sitting in their cases, reinstall the cases back into your Civic.  Push the right filter in first (the one with the tab on the left side) and slide it over to the right, then install the left filter.  Make sure that when they are in place, both filters have the air flow directional arrow pointing down.

Now you can reattach the air filter cover by sliding the right side of the cover into the hole just to the right of the right side air filter, then pushing the cover in until it snaps into place.  Reattaching the side brackets is a little bit trickier.

To reattach the glove box brackets, push the glove box most of the way closed, so that the side holes are about even with the metal rails that the brackets would hit.  Insert each bracket from inside the glove compartment through the hole, with the rubber stopper and the two tabs facing away from the glove box.  Push the glove box back so that as you insert the bracket, the stopper is behind the metal rail, then push the bracket against the side of the glove compartment until the tabs snap into place.

If you think you'll be checking or replacing your cabin air filters often, you can leave one bracket out, to save yourself some time.  The other bracket will be strong enough to support the glove box as long as you don't keep anything abnormally heavy inside of it.

(Originally published on Helium.com, March 2012)