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Old 01-21-2005, 12:26 AM   #1
RogersWRX
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Default Cabin Air Filter replacement

I know a lot of people have cut or made filters to replace the $37 to $50 (yikes!) factory cabin air filter... but I've found a couple of standard air filters that fit and work great!

Purolator - Part # 33590 - $5.99 from Pep Boys
Fram - Part # 3916 - $6.99 from Pep Boys.

Both fit with no modification - just remember, rubber side down, as the air flows from top to bottom!!

Replacement should be about every 10-15,000 miles.

You have to take out all the screws around the inside of the glove box, two on the bottom and one on the right side of the dash.
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Old 01-21-2005, 07:31 AM   #2
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how well does it fill the slot - that filter looks to be 7.6" x 6" which is a bit smaller than the OEM filter which is closer to 7.25 x 8.25 (it's a little over 7 by a little over 8 - I forget the exact dimensions)

I have been tempted to look through the filters at pep-boys for one which would work, but always forget when I am there... I had planned to just cut up a furnace filter (bought the fancy 3M Ultra 1250 - $15 for the 25" x 25" one, and it will make 9 filters)

I don't know why the filter manufacturers don't make a replacement filter for it - they do for other cars cabin air filters...
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Old 01-21-2005, 08:02 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DrD
I don't know why the filter manufacturers don't make a replacement filter for it - they do for other cars cabin air filters...

...they do.....you just have to order them
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Old 01-21-2005, 08:12 AM   #4
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wow awsome! i didnt even know pepboys/fram/purolator sold cabin air filters (as i assume these are).

do pretty much all pepboys carry them?

Thanks!
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Old 01-21-2005, 01:29 PM   #5
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Does anyone know how different the MY01 RS filters are compared to the WRXs?
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Old 01-21-2005, 05:57 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty
...they do.....you just have to order them
from which manufacturer? Fram, Purolator, NAPA, etc. don't list one on their respective sites or in the application guides in places like Pep boys - do you have a part no.?
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Old 01-22-2005, 01:50 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RogersWRX
I know a lot of people have cut or made filters to replace the $37 to $50 (yikes!) factory cabin air filter... but I've found a couple of standard air filters that fit and work great!

Purolator - Part # 33590 - $5.99 from Pep Boys
Fram - Part # 3916 - $6.99 from Pep Boys.

Both fit with no modification - just remember, rubber side down, as the air flows from top to bottom!!

Replacement should be about every 10-15,000 miles.

You have to take out all the screws around the inside of the glove box, two on the bottom and one on the right side of the dash.
hmmm ... are those engine air filters? I'd be a little convcerned that they would filter TOO well and block the airflow.
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Old 01-25-2005, 12:55 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Wevrick
hmmm ... are those engine air filters? I'd be a little convcerned that they would filter TOO well and block the airflow.
Or not be a Hepa filter..
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Old 01-25-2005, 11:24 AM   #9
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I cut my own from a home furnace Hepa filter before. This may be a great alternative though.
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Old 01-25-2005, 12:39 PM   #10
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Ditto. I don't think it works too well though. :-/
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Old 01-25-2005, 01:05 PM   #11
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I'd guess that a intake engine air filter would be at least HEPA quality. (99.97% of all particles >.3um (first pass efficiency)) The problem is that if the Max CFM at the pressure that the blower motor produces (prob not > 12"H2O) is too low there is a chance of not cooling the blower motor properly.
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Old 01-26-2005, 01:35 PM   #12
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Wow, new news to me ... I know it's an absolute newbie question, but do 04' WRX's have cabin filters?
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Old 01-26-2005, 03:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LyveWRX
I'd guess that a intake engine air filter would be at least HEPA quality. (99.97% of all particles >.3um (first pass efficiency)) The problem is that if the Max CFM at the pressure that the blower motor produces (prob not > 12"H2O) is too low there is a chance of not cooling the blower motor properly.
no way imho! have you looked at engine filters? they are nothing like HEPA filters, atleast in order of filtration. you can see through them ! (not really, but you get the idea).
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Old 01-26-2005, 04:51 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pezman04wrx
Wow, new news to me ... I know it's an absolute newbie question, but do 04' WRX's have cabin filters?
Yes - they should. Check behind your glovebox
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Old 01-26-2005, 04:54 PM   #15
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I'm thinking more along the lines of cleaning/reuseing the filter. Would it damage the filter to dip it in sope water and hang dry?
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Old 01-26-2005, 05:27 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Undepelo
I'm thinking more along the lines of cleaning/reuseing the filter. Would it damage the filter to dip it in sope water and hang dry?
Since, according to Subaru, it's got some kind of gel impregnated in the filter material to help catch particles, that might not work so well.
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Old 02-04-2005, 11:37 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty
...they do.....you just have to order them
Bump for a part # Scotty.
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Old 02-05-2005, 04:14 PM   #18
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bought and installed the purolator filter listed above. it is quite a bit smaller than the box and that concerns me (it can move around). i dunno if it will filter at all because there are other lower resistance pathways (around the filter). thoughts?
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Old 02-05-2005, 05:16 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jejunum
bought and installed the purolator filter listed above. it is quite a bit smaller than the box and that concerns me (it can move around). i dunno if it will filter at all because there are other lower resistance pathways (around the filter). thoughts?
if the air can go around the filter easily, then the filter can't do it's job very well...
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Old 02-05-2005, 05:18 PM   #20
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exactly. so uhh this filter is not so good the only way it might be ok is that it covers the entirety of the blower even when shifted to different extremes.
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Old 02-05-2005, 05:33 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AjIsDope
Bump for a part # Scotty.


....damn it ....can't find the damn number....
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Old 02-05-2005, 05:38 PM   #22
Jejunum
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what # scotty?
Purolator - Part # 33590 - $5.99 from Pep Boys
Fram - Part # 3916 - $6.99 from Pep Boys.
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Old 02-05-2005, 06:07 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jejunum
what # scotty?
Purolator - Part # 33590 - $5.99 from Pep Boys
Fram - Part # 3916 - $6.99 from Pep Boys.


...no....and that fram filter is too tall to fit in the slot properly.....dunno about the purolator one....

Somebody posted a specific 'cabin' filter P/N that was for another car, that fits the 02+ Impreza like a glove.....and I can't find it....
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Old 02-05-2005, 06:51 PM   #24
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damn! the purolator fits in snugly (in terms of height), but is an inadequte size to fill the entire slot. like i said though - covers the entirety of the blower.
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Old 02-05-2005, 07:28 PM   #25
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I found another part # that was closer to the factory 7 x 8" size, but it woldn't fit in properly, because of the vertical tabs inside the housing prevented it from going all the way in... plus it was a real pain to try and squeeze in around the blower moter.

The smaller one seem to fit fine, doesn't seem to be moving around and completely covers the blower opening and filters all the inbound air.

While Fram and Purolater do make "Cabin" air filters, they do not list one for the Impreza application... don't know why!!?? - so this is an "Engine" air filter...

I think cutting one of those "cut to fit" indoor air filters to size, is also a great idea. They offer better flow, but not as good filtering to keep all those dusty dirt roads out of your air vent... Anything's better than paying retail at the $tealer!
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