How to Replace the Cabin Air Filter in a Malibu?
4 Answers
Here are the steps to replace the cabin air filter in a Malibu: 1. Open the glove box, which is the storage compartment on the passenger side. 2. Release the hanging rope, and squeeze both sides inward with your hands to disengage the clips. At this point, you can lower the glove box. If you find it difficult to remove the glove box by squeezing both sides simultaneously, you can try to remove one side first with some force. There is an elastic rope on the right side that also needs to be removed. After removing it, slowly release your hand to prevent the elastic rope from retracting. 3. When removing the glove box, there is a wire connected to the glove box light. You need to unplug the bulb connector. Be careful not to pull it out forcefully. Inside the wire clip, press with your fingernail and then pull outward to remove the wire from the slot. 4. After opening the glove box, you will see a black box, which is the cabin air filter. Below it is the fan. Remove the old cabin air filter and replace or clean it.
I'm the type who often tinkers with my car. Last time when I changed the cabin air filter for my Malibu, I found it surprisingly simple – no need to spend extra money at the dealership. The filter is located behind the glove compartment on the passenger side. After opening the glove box, you'll see small clips or damper rods on both sides. Gently pressing them allows the glove box to fully drop down. Inside, there's a rectangular cover plate – remove it to access the old filter. Pull out the old one, then insert the new filter following the arrow direction (arrow pointing toward dashboard indicates airflow direction), otherwise it might not function properly. When reassembling, just secure the cover plate and restore the glove box to its original position. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. I prefer wearing gloves to keep my hands clean. Changing the filter annually prevents musty odors from the AC vents and avoids blowing dust particles that could harm health, especially during allergy seasons. A standard filter compatible with Chevrolet models works perfectly – they're cheap online, around 20 RMB. DIY saves money and gives a sense of accomplishment.
As a regular car owner who doesn't know much about cars, I tried replacing the cabin air filter of my Malibu myself, and it turned out to be easier than expected. The process starts from the glove compartment on the passenger side. After pulling it open, press down firmly on the small clips on both sides to lower the glove compartment further, revealing a small cover behind it. Once the cover is pried open, the old filter can be easily pulled out, covered in dust indicating it's time for a replacement. I bought the new filter online and installed it following the arrow mark (the arrow points toward the front of the car). Then, I simply closed the cover and pushed the glove compartment back into place. The whole process took about 15 minutes, and the air became noticeably fresher, making breathing more comfortable. Since I drive frequently, a dirty filter can affect the air conditioning efficiency, so I recommend checking it every six months or 10,000 kilometers. Doing it yourself saves the shop labor cost, with a material cost of around 40 yuan. I was a bit nervous during my first attempt, but after getting familiar with it, I found it very convenient and would recommend giving it a try.
In simple terms, my experience with this can be broken down into a few steps. The Malibu's cabin air filter is located behind the glove compartment on the passenger side. Open it, press down the inner clips to lower the compartment, and the filter slot will be revealed. Remove the slot cover, pull out the old filter and discard it. When installing the new one, ensure the arrow indicating airflow direction is properly aligned. Then, put it back and close the cover. The entire process is quick, taking about 5 minutes, and significantly improves in-car air quality while reducing bacterial growth. Make sure to select a filter model that matches the original specifications of your vehicle.
