Owners of other Acura or Honda vehicles such as the RDX, ILX, TLX, RLX, TL, CL, RSX, RL, TSX, ZDX, NSX, Integra, Pilot, Accord, Civic, Fit, Clarity, CR-V, CR-Z, HR-V, Odyssey, Element  and Ridgeline may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

No tools are needed to access and clean the metal filter screen for the back seat passengers HVAC system.

If you would like to remove the filter screen and clean the inside of the rear A/C blower fan motor, you'll need either a 7mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet and an extension bar or a Phillips head screwdriver.

The first two steps are to move the power driver seat all the way back towards the rear of the SUV.

Then remove the driver side floor mat and set it aside in a safe place.

There is a kick panel located along the bottom of the center console close to the right side of the driver seat and the accelerator (gas) pedal.

It is held in place by several plastic and metal retaining clip friction fasteners.

Gently pull on the bottom edge and front of the kick panel to remove it from the side of the center console.

Try to avoid using excessive force. The clips should pop out relatively easily.

Set the access cover aside in a safe place.

If your rear A/C system doesn't work at all, you should try checking for a blown fuse or replace the transistor.

Take a look at my DIY tutorial for the procedure: 2001-2006 Acura MDX Rear A/C Transistor Replacement Guide. (Coming soon!)

You do not have to remove the filter screen in order to clean it.

Use a wet/dry shop vacuum with a crevice attachment to clean off all the dust, hair, insects and other debris that is clogging the metal filter screen.

Just cleaning the debris from the metal filter screen might be enough to solve your rear A/C noise problem.

The sound you heard may have been from the blower motor being starved for air and not spinning fast enough which caused the squirrel cage to slip on the motor's output shaft.

To be thorough, I decided to fully remove the filter screen and clean out any debris inside the blower motor's round plastic "squirrel cage wheel".

You can also use a Phillips head screwdriver.

Although the top screw is hidden by part of the plastic center console and difficult to reach with a standard screwdriver.

Try to avoid bending or damaging the screen.

I chose to also thoroughly wash the filter with water in the sink.

If you do wash the filter with water, be sure to dry it completely before re-installing it.

Line up the filter with the blower motor and gently push it back into place.

Turn on the main air conditioning system.

Press the "RR A/C Manual" switch to activate the manual controls for the rear passenger air conditioning system.

Rotate the fan speed control knob on the back of the center console to the various settings and listen closely for any strange noises.

If you don't hear any odd sounds, congratulations on having a quiet and perfectly functional rear A/C system again.

Locate the plastic tab on the front edge of the kick panel and its corresponding slot in the carpet floor liner.

Line up the retaining clips on the back side of the access cover with their corresponding slots on the center console.

Gently push on the kick panel to secure it in place.

Replace the floor mat and re-attach the two hooks that prevent it from sliding forward, bunching up under your pedals and impeding your use of the brake pedal or accelerator.

Be sure to record the rear A/C filter and blower motor cleaning in your SUV's service records.

For more, please check out all of my 2001-2006 Acura MDX DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.