I ordered an Aldehyde air filter from mazdastuff.com and it arrived today.

I've never installed a cabin air filter, so it took a little bit of prodding around to find where it goes (filter didn't come with instructions). Anyway, I figured I'd share my results.

--SL01

 

First step, pop this slider off glove compartment door. It came off pretty easily with a flat head screw driver providing a little leverage. Putting it back is simply a matter of pressing it back by hand. Very easy...

 

Now the glove compartment will come down lower than usual, but still not far enough. There are two plastic tabs on either side of the drawer. Simply squeeze the sides of the compartment inward and the two tabs will clear the housing.

 

Here's the right side tab afterward.

 

And the left side tab. Getting these back in is also easy, just squeeze the sides together while closing.

 

Behind the glove compartment is the air filter box. The panel on the front pulls toward you to open. The far right side is way back in there, so do the left first and use the leverage you get from that to get the right side off.

Putting this back is simply a matter of pressing it back on. It clicks into place pretty easily.

 

Here's the air box opened. The filter is actually in two pieces so you can get it in and out with the limited right side clearance.

 

All I can say is wow... thanks for the info and taking the time to document it!

 

wow dude, that was crazy...I could follow those instructions!
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WOW. Very easy 2 follow. Can you do one on how to install a turbo charger on a rx-8.

 

I actually looked for the filter(s) yesterday, got as far as dropping the glove box all the way, but couldn't find it! Thought it was maybe on the outside of the firewall & gave up....

Thanks for the directions!
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doc

 

Thanks!!

I thought the RX-8 came with the filter stock?

How much was it?

Thanks again!

Vince

 

LOL! I wish I could!

--SL01

 

Yeah, there is a filter in there stock, but it's just a regular filter (white pleats, white frame). The filter you can get from Mazdastuff.com (any Mazda parts dealer, actually) is the Aldehyde fancy shmancy one (grey pleats, black frame) that collects smoke and various other airborne nastiness.

It's not cheap ($44), but I wanted to try it since smoke bothers me and they're burning scrub brush near my home.

--SL01

 

Thanks for the tip and photos. Methinks I'll be pulling out the standard filters and treating them to a dose of the tacky "filter charger" spray that we use on our home HVAC system. Does anyone know how much the standard filters cost to replace, or the life expectancy of them vs the aldehyde filter?

 

Very cool!

Thanks,

Vince

 

Can someone recall the thread discussing buying a sheet of similar material and then cutting it down to size. Instead of paying $44 bucks for a small filter you can get sheets of similar material for $12. If someone can find the thread post it here, thanks.

 

SL01 you are the man! Maybe you could do a little manual on replacing the rear speakers?? Hehehe...

 

I posted some info about this before b/c I did this simple mod in my Celica (I think there were other forum members that did the same thing as well). Anyway, I can't find the actual thread b/c I think the reply was prob off-topic.

Here's the link I posted from NewCelica.org that describes the process - which should be very similar.

Celica cabin air filter mod

Not really that hard - just buy a furnance filter, measure and cut it up into as many as you can make and install. From the pics posted, looks like some slight modifications might be needed in order to get the filter to fit. Hopefully, someone will try (I would but my 8 isn't here yet)

Why spend $40+ for ONE when you can make 4 or more for under $15?

 

Hey, that's pretty inventive!

 

That was the thread I was looking for, thanks..

 

youse guys are amazin!

uh, which direction is the airflow in the RX8?

 

Killer directions SL01. I move that somebody creates a DIY folder and starts dumping the good threads (or just cleaned up pages) with all of the good installs in there - like this one, or the MP3 player, etc. I've used ptdiy.com several times and it's really handy if you're actually going to do a little work on the car.

Or should this reply go in the suggestions box? Now where was that box...

 

I was going to ask the same question.

If there aren't any markings on the filter itself, then I guess the easiest way to find out is to turn on the air while the filter/glove compartment is open and feel for the airflow.

btw - SL01: nice install pics!

 

Thanks guys. When I removed the white filter, there was debris in the top side of the filter. So... I suspect the air flow is top to bottom.

--SL01