How to Replace the Cabin Air Filter in a Malibu?
2 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.
