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Ford Escape Cabin Air Filter Replacement Guide
How to clean or change the A/C system's cabin air filter element in a 3rd generation 2013 to 2016 Ford Escape SUV.

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2015 Escape Glove Box
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Open Glove Box
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Gently Pry Off Panel
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 3rd generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and maybe also the refreshed 2017 model year) Ford Escape SUV in cleaning or changing the A/C system's cabin air filter element located in the HVAC blower motor housing.

Owners of other Ford or Lincoln vehicles such as the Focus, Fusion, C-Max, Mustang, Fiesta, Transit Connect, Edge, Flex, Explorer, Expedition, Taurus, F-150, EcoSport, MKC, MKZ, MKS, MKX, MKT and the Navigator may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a plastic automotive panel pry bar tool (or a flathead screwdriver), a Torx T15 star bit screwdriver, a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench and a Torx T20 screwdriver.

A few compatible replacement filters with their part numbers are as follows: Motorcraft FP-70, ACDelco CF2291, Ford CV6Z-19N619-A, TYC 800183P, PT Auto Warehouse CF183P, GKI CF1248, Ecogard XC36174, Wix 24419, Hastings AFC1568 and Denso 453-6026.



 
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Release Plastic Clips
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Rotate Panel Out
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Front Lip Removed
The first two steps are to open the glove box and then empty out the contents.

Move to the outer edge of the dashboard and gently pry off the triangular shaped panel.

Once the orange plastic friction fasteners are loose, carefully rotate the trim panel away from the dashboard until the front lip can be removed from the rubber weather strip.

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Dash Side Panel Removed
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Fabric Panel Under Glove Box
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Squeeze Black Plastic
Set the dashboard's outer edge trim panel aside in a safe place.

Then move to the foot well area under the glove box.

Pinch the two round black plastic fasteners and slide them off the yellow pop rivets.

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Pull Off Fastener
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Remove 2nd Fastener
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Pull Off Fabric Panel
Set the two black plastic clips aside in a safe place.

Gently pull the fabric cover down and set it aside in a safe place.

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Footwell Trim Panel
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Torx T-15 Screwdriver
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Right Side T15 Screw
Locate the two screws inside the glove box on the top wall or "roof".
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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Remove Left Side Screw
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Two Torx T-15 Screws
Loosen the two screws by turning them counterclockwise with the Torx T15 star bit screwdriver.

Set the two screws aside in a safe place.

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10mm Bolt - Bottom Edge
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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Left Side 10mm Bolt
Then move to the bottom edge of the glove box and loosen the two bolts by turning them counterclockwise with the 10mm socket and 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench.

Both the left and right side bolts are located near the bright yellow plastic pop rivets that secured the fabric foot well cover in place.

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Loosen 2nd 10mm Bolt
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2 Screws, 2 Bolts, 2 Clips
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Gently Pull Out Glove Box
Set the two 10mm bolts aside in a safe place.

At this point, you should have removed two T-15 screws, two round plastic fasteners and two 10mm bolts.

Carefully pull the glove box out of the dashboard.

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Glove Box Removed
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Disconnect Power Plug
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Set Aside Glove Box
If you have trouble removing the glove box, try gently wiggling it back and forth while pulling it out.

Press the release tab on the electrical connector for the glove box light before sliding it straight out of its socket.

Set the glove box assembly aside in a safe place.

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Blower Motor Exposed
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Filter Access Cover
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Loosen T-20 Screw
Once the glove box is out of the way, you'll be able to see the HVAC blower motor housing on the left side in front of the center stack or "center console" area.

Locate the rectangular shaped vertically mounted filter access panel.

Loosen the single screw at the bottom of the filter cover by turning it counterclockwise with a Torx T20 star bit screwdriver.

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Torx T20 Removed
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Two Release Tabs
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Squeeze Together To Release
Set the T20 screw aside in a safe place.

Squeeze in the two flexible tabs on the bottom edge of the filter panel to release the retaining clips.



 

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Pull Off Filter Panel
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3 Tabs On Top Edge
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Old Filter Exposed
Swing open the bottom edge of the filter access cover and then pull it down to disengage the tabs on the top edge.
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Slide Out Old Filter
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Connectors In The Way
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Old Filter Removed
Carefully slide out the old cabin air filter from the slot in the HVAC blower motor housing.

Some of the plastic electrical connectors are slightly in the way when you pull out the old filter.

Just gently bend the filter forward to continue removing it.

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Inspect Both Sides
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Clean With Vacuum
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"Air Flow" Arrows
Inspect both sides of the old air filter.

If the old filter is dark grey or black and clogged with dirt, dust, pollen, leaves, insects, twigs, hair and other debris, it should be replaced with a new element.

I'd recommend buying the Motorcraft FP-70 cabin air filter since it has the best reviews on Amazon.

If the old filter is relatively clean, just tap out the large debris and remove any fine dust with a vacuum.

Check the new filter for any "Air Flow" or other directional arrows.

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Empty Filter Slot
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Carefully Insert New Filter
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New Filter Installed
Orientate the "Air Flow" arrows so that they point towards the rear of the vehicle.

Carefully slide the new air filter in to the slot until it flush with the opening.

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Line Up Filter Cover
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Top Of Filter In Place
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Push On Bottom Edge
Line up the filter cover with the slot.

Insert the tabs at the top of the filter cover in to the top of the slot.

Gently push on the bottom edge of the filter cover until the retaining clips click in to place.

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Filter Cover Re-Installed
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Tighten T20 Screw
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Raise Glove Box
Re-insert the T-20 screw in to the bottom edge of the filter cover and tighten it in the clockwise direction until it is snug.

Try to avoid over tightening the T20 screw to prevent from cracking the plastic filter cover.

Raise the glove box towards the dashboard.

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Push In Light Power Plug
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Slide Glove Box In Dash
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Tighten Right 10mm Bolt
Slide in the power plug for the glove box light bulb.

Carefully push the glove box back in to the dashboard.

Hold the glove box in place with one hand while spinning in the two 10mm bolts on the bottom edge in the clockwise direction.

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Tighten Left Side 10mm Bolt
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Replace Right Side Screw
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Tighten Left Side T-15
Tighten the two bolts on the bottom edge in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench.

Re-insert the two T15 screws in to the top interior wall of the glove and tighten them in the clockwise direction.

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Line Up Fabric Panel
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Push On Plastic Fasteners
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Fabric Trim Panel Replaced
Slide the fabric trim panel back in to place under the glove box.

Push the two black plastic fasteners on to the yellow pop rivets to secure the footwell panel.

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Dashboard Side Panel
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Re-Insert Front Lip
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Line Up Friction Fasteners
Re-insert the curved front lip of the dashboard side trim panel back in to place.

Line up the orange plastic friction fasteners on the back side of the panel with their corresponding mounting slots.

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Firmly Push In Fasteners
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Close Glove Box
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Cabin Air Filter Replaced
Firmly push on the dashboard outer edge trim panel to secure the fasteners.

Replace the contents of the glove box and close it to complete the job.

Enjoy the fresh clean air from your A/C system!

For more, check out my other 2013-2016 Ford Escape DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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