Joe, this is an incredibly detailed video. I watched another video by a "professional" company before yours and they did not explain things very well. They left out the details on how to get the small side clips out as well as the plastic bar removal. Thank you for this informative video. I actually feel like I can do this project rather quickly now.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm always afraid that I'm boring everyone but then I realize you can always fast forward these videos. Good luck with your project.
Thanks so much for this video, I would have been lost without it. Not sure how long it had been since the air filter was changed, but I pulled enough stuff for about 6 bird's nest out of the filter compartment. Thanks!
Very good! You are much better at showing the more minor details, and better close up focus than all the other videos I watched. Now I feel like I can do it!
My thoughts exactly! Fortunately, I was not the first to change it on my car, so the temporary structural bar had already been cut out for me. I would never have figured that one out with the shop manual.
Thank You!!! Fantastic Tutorial!!! Question for you... If you had to purchase the power wrench/ socket set with longer extensions today, where would you go shopping? My biggest "do it yourself" challenge is having the right tools to get the minor jobs like this done. My current tools are not the best quality. Thanks in advance for your advice!
I grew up a Craftsman tool devotee. I still have those tools that I got 40 years ago. Quality is worth it. That said, these days I've been known to buy Kobalt at Lowes and for fringe (specialty) stuff I'll even go to Harbor Freight. I don't recommend HF for your main tool set since they are usually poor quality. Another route is high quality (snap-on, etc.) used tools. Good luck with it and thanks for the comment.
My 2001 MDX (275K) has never had the filter replaced so looking at your video I'm thinking it may be a job for a Mechanic having to saw off the "plastic" thingy? I can't imagine what the filter will look like after 20+ years and 275k miles...yikes. Better call the the Federal Hazardous removel squad before I proceed! Thanks for the great video!
Thanks for words of encouragement! Acura wanted $1,200 to replace spark plugs& coils. Found the parts on Amazon for $84. Took me x3 days to do the job (the 3 against the firewall were #@!!). Been running fine for past 3 years and 50K miles. So maybe even at 78 yrs old I can tackle the air filter replacement after watching your video. 😊
@@wr4i 78!?!? You are a hero! I know what you mean about spark plugs. The first step for changing plugs on my Highlander was to remove the windshield wipers, then the cowl under them, and on down. I felt like I was digging for gold. Good luck with your filter. It's really not a bad job.
Question. There is a plastic kick trim bottom right, below glovebox. It unsnaps, but also has a retainer at the firewall, maybe female threaded. Mine is missing. Never seen what it looks like or what it is called. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Any ideas on no ac air flowing to the back seat? I replaced the transistor, fuses show good, cleaned the dirty filter covering the fan by transistor, and the fan can be turned with my fingers, no hang ups.
Hello Franklin, I don't think I ever saw the filter and I've since sold the car. Sorry about that. Perhaps one of our other viewers can chime in or you can ask on an Acura forum. Good luck with it.
I guess it would be OK but why not just put it back on instead of figuring out how to dispose of it? It's not that hard and it may turn out to be important after all. Good luck whatever you decide.
Great video. I was wondering what was involved in replacing air filter. Mechanic wants $30. My friend replaces his filter by opening the hood of his car. I don't even think he has to unscrew anything (don't quote me on that). Thanks for the great detail.Wonder how the mechanic knows it need to be replaced without inspecting it. Hmmm. :-/
Air filter history lesson: My 1968 Camaro and most of its contemporaries had an air filter pan (looked like a big frying pan) and there was a single bolt sticking up through the middle of the lid that was secured by a single wing nut. My 1997 Toyota pickup had a similar pan but the lid was secured by 3 or 4 snap lock clips. The 2002 Acura MDX in this video has 4 or 5 hard-to-get-to bolts holding the two halves of a compartment together. It is by far the hardest one to do. So much depends on the car.As for your mechanic knowing it needs replacing without looking - that can be solely based on mileage. If you've driven 50,000 miles, you've sucked a certain amount of air through that filter and it almost assuredly needs replacing. If you look at it and it looks dirty then it for sure needs replacing. If he'll do it for $30 including parts, I'd let him. Good luck and happy motoring!
You can watch the whole video to make sure but I think you can just do it with a phillips screwdriver. Some of the screws have hex heads so you can (and should) use your small metric socket set for those. If it's never been done in your car, you'll need to cut out a plastic crossbar. For that I would use a hacksaw.If you don't have tools, I like the Kobalt tools that Lowes sells. They are inexpensive and fairly well made. Let us know how it goes and good luck.
Joe, this is an incredibly detailed video. I watched another video by a "professional" company before yours and they did not explain things very well. They left out the details on how to get the small side clips out as well as the plastic bar removal. Thank you for this informative video. I actually feel like I can do this project rather quickly now.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm always afraid that I'm boring everyone but then I realize you can always fast forward these videos. Good luck with your project.
Thanks so much for this video, I would have been lost without it. Not sure how long it had been since the air filter was changed, but I pulled enough stuff for about 6 bird's nest out of the filter compartment. Thanks!
Thank you for the comment. I'm not sure everyone realizes that there IS a cabin air filter, so they are neglected quite often I'm sure.
Thanks for posting. It's also a good idea to vacuum out the slot and any debris in there before sliding the new filter in.
Excellent idea. Thank you for commenting.
Very good! You are much better at showing the more minor details, and better close up focus than all the other videos I watched. Now I feel like I can do it!
I sometimes wonder if I'm showing too much detail but figure that folks can skip ahead if they're in a hurry. Thank you for the kind comment.
You're awesome! Thanks for sharing these MDX videos. Keep them coming please.
Thanks for watching. Next MDX video will be brake pads and rotors.
Great video....! Just a little frustrating to think that Acura couldn't come up with an easier way to chance a simple filter!
My thoughts exactly! Fortunately, I was not the first to change it on my car, so the temporary structural bar had already been cut out for me. I would never have figured that one out with the shop manual.
Thanks. I’m planning to replace mine this weekend
I hope it goes well for you. Good luck.
Thank You!!! Fantastic Tutorial!!! Question for you... If you had to purchase the power wrench/ socket set with longer extensions today, where would you go shopping? My biggest "do it yourself" challenge is having the right tools to get the minor jobs like this done. My current tools are not the best quality. Thanks in advance for your advice!
I grew up a Craftsman tool devotee. I still have those tools that I got 40 years ago. Quality is worth it. That said, these days I've been known to buy Kobalt at Lowes and for fringe (specialty) stuff I'll even go to Harbor Freight. I don't recommend HF for your main tool set since they are usually poor quality. Another route is high quality (snap-on, etc.) used tools. Good luck with it and thanks for the comment.
BTW if you hesitate to spend lots of money on tools just remind yourself how much you're saving by doing it yourself.
My 2001 MDX (275K) has never had the filter replaced so looking at your video I'm thinking it may be a job for a Mechanic having to saw off the "plastic" thingy? I can't imagine what the filter will look like after 20+ years and 275k miles...yikes. Better call the the Federal Hazardous removel squad before I proceed! Thanks for the great video!
You can totally do it. The plastic is really easy to cut with a hacksaw blade. Good luck. Maybe you should wear a mask when you pull out the filter.
Thanks for words of encouragement!
Acura wanted $1,200 to replace spark plugs& coils. Found the parts on Amazon for $84. Took me x3 days to do the job (the 3 against the firewall were #@!!). Been running fine for past 3 years and 50K miles. So maybe even at 78 yrs old I can tackle the air filter replacement after watching your video. 😊
@@wr4i 78!?!? You are a hero! I know what you mean about spark plugs. The first step for changing plugs on my Highlander was to remove the windshield wipers, then the cowl under them, and on down. I felt like I was digging for gold. Good luck with your filter. It's really not a bad job.
detailed, clear, and complete.....thank you!
Thanks, thanks and thanks...thank you. Happy motoring!
Question. There is a plastic kick trim bottom right, below glovebox. It unsnaps, but also has a retainer at the firewall, maybe female threaded. Mine is missing. Never seen what it looks like or what it is called. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hmm..I traded in my Acura a few years ago. Perhaps you have a friend with a MDX that you could look at?
Great easy to follow video.. Thank you.
Thank you for the nice words and thanks for watching.
this was exactly what i needed! thank you very much, sir!
So glad to help. Thanks for watching!
Great video, clear instructions. Thanks!
+Shelia Davis Thank you for the kind feedback and thanks for watching. Hope your replacement project went well.
Great video Joe keep em coming!
Thanks for the encouraging comment. Happy motoring!
Any ideas on no ac air flowing to the back seat? I replaced the transistor, fuses show good, cleaned the dirty filter covering the fan by transistor, and the fan can be turned with my fingers, no hang ups.
Hi, you could let me know where is the fuel filter at the Acura mdx '02??
Hello Franklin, I don't think I ever saw the filter and I've since sold the car. Sorry about that. Perhaps one of our other viewers can chime in or you can ask on an Acura forum. Good luck with it.
So there's a plastic bar on mine...do I need to cut that off?
Yes, Mine was already cut out but the shop manual said to cut it if it's there. Good luck with it.
How do I cut off the plastic bar?
I have a Stanley mini-hacksaw where the blade sticks out past the holder. I would think it would be perfect for the job. Wal-mart has them.
So the point of the metal bar is for structural purposes? I feel like I may just leave it off, or is that dumb?
I guess it would be OK but why not just put it back on instead of figuring out how to dispose of it? It's not that hard and it may turn out to be important after all. Good luck whatever you decide.
@@FloridaJoe3 Yea good point. Thanks for the reply and thanks for the video too!
The sound of the drill drilling needs to be a lot louder.
:D
Great video. I was wondering what was involved in replacing air filter. Mechanic wants $30. My friend replaces his filter by opening the hood of his car. I don't even think he has to unscrew anything (don't quote me on that). Thanks for the great detail.Wonder how the mechanic knows it need to be replaced without inspecting it. Hmmm. :-/
Air filter history lesson: My 1968 Camaro and most of its contemporaries had an air filter pan (looked like a big frying pan) and there was a single bolt sticking up through the middle of the lid that was secured by a single wing nut. My 1997 Toyota pickup had a similar pan but the lid was secured by 3 or 4 snap lock clips. The 2002 Acura MDX in this video has 4 or 5 hard-to-get-to bolts holding the two halves of a compartment together. It is by far the hardest one to do. So much depends on the car.As for your mechanic knowing it needs replacing without looking - that can be solely based on mileage. If you've driven 50,000 miles, you've sucked a certain amount of air through that filter and it almost assuredly needs replacing. If you look at it and it looks dirty then it for sure needs replacing. If he'll do it for $30 including parts, I'd let him. Good luck and happy motoring!
Thanks Joe!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching.
what tools do i need
You can watch the whole video to make sure but I think you can just do it with a phillips screwdriver. Some of the screws have hex heads so you can (and should) use your small metric socket set for those. If it's never been done in your car, you'll need to cut out a plastic crossbar. For that I would use a hacksaw.If you don't have tools, I like the Kobalt tools that Lowes sells. They are inexpensive and fairly well made. Let us know how it goes and good luck.
Unbelievable complicated procedures, just for a cabin air filter replacement. Acura may have designed it for a life long period usage...
That's what videos are for. Thanks for watching.
Thanks
Thank you for viewing. Happy motoring!
could pls edit out the LOUD audio parts, holy crap!
Sorry about that. I'll look into it and see what I can do. Thanks for watching (and listening).
Changed mine because it smelled like cigarettes. Turns out it had not ever been changed in 15 years
Wow! That should have made a dramatic difference. BTW, I hate smoker's cars. Takes forever to get the smell out. Febreeze works the best for me.