Saturn Ion Cabin Air Filter
Replacement Guide
How to clean or change the A/C system's
cabin air filter element in a 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Saturn Ion.
 2005 Saturn Ion |
 Open Glove Box - Empty |
 Push In Side Walls |
| This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 1st
generation (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) Saturn ION sedan in cleaning or
changing the A/C system's cabin air filter element located in the HVAC
blower motor housing. Owners of other Saturn vehicles such as the Vue, Relay, Sky, EV1, Outlook, Aura, Astra, LS, LS1, LS2, LW1, LW2, L100, SL, SL1, SL2, SC, SC1, SC2, SW1 and SW2 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. A few compatible replacement replacement filters with their part numbers are as follows: Bosch P3808WS, EcoGard XC35676, Fram CF10361, PotAuto MAP 1009W, ACDelco CF125 and Wix 24882. No tools are required to access and replace the filter. The first few steps are to sit in the front passenger seat, open the glove box and empty out the contents. Some Saturn models have a damper arm or string located on the right outer side wall of the glove box that will need to be disconnected. Firmly push in the two side walls of the glove box until the plastic side stops can be released from behind the dashboard. |
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 Release Side Stops |
 Lower Glove Box |
 Rest On Floor Mat |
| Gently lower the
glove box down to the floor mat. Don't worry if the plastic hinges come apart. They can be re-attached later on. |
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 Left Side Stop Peg |
 Right Side Stopper |
 Filter Cover Exposed |
| Once the glove box is out of the way, you'll be able to see the HVAC blower motor housing and the rectangular shaped access cover. | ||
 Grasp Plastic Tab |
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 Push Up Tab To Release |
| Locate the black
plastic tab in the center of the filter access cover. Gently push up the tab to release the retaining clip. |
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 Swing Open Filter Cover |
 Old Filter Exposed |
 Slide Out Old Air Filter |
| Pull up the filter
access cover to swing it open towards the top of the dashboard. Slide the old filter straight out of the slot in the HVAC blower motor housing. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part number is GM 52493319. |
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 Dirty Old Filter Removed |
 Inspect Both Sides |
 Empty Filter Slot |
| Inspect both sides
of the old filter. If the old filter is dark grey or black and clogged with dirt, dust, pollen, soot, leaves, insects, hair, sand and other debris, it should be replaced with a new element. I recommend buying the Bosch P3808WS cabin air filter since it has excellent reviews from other Saturn owners. If the old filter is relatively clean, just tap out the large debris and remove any fine dust with a wet/dry shop vacuum. Check the filter slot for any debris and clean it out with the crevice attachment of your vacuum. |
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 Debris - Clean Out Slot |
 Slide In New Filter |
 Swing Closed Cover |
| Orientate the new
filter with the "Air Flow" arrow pointing down towards the floor mat. Slide the new filter straight into the slot. Make sure the new filter is securely seated in the slot. Swing up the cover to close it. |
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 Push Down Retaining Clip |
 Re-Insert Side Stops |
 Close Glove Box |
| Push down the black
plastic tab to secure the retaining clip. Double check that the filter cover is securely in place before moving on to the next steps. Firmly push in the two side walls of the glove box until the side stoppers can be re-inserted behind the dashboard. Replace the contents of the glove box and close it to complete the job. Enjoy the fresh clean air from your A/C system! Be sure to write down the filter change in your vehicle's service records. The service interval specification in the
owner's manual for changing the passenger compartment air filter is every
15,000 miles (some model years specify 18,000 miles). |
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