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Kia Soul Cabin Air Filter Replacement Guide
How to clean or change the A/C system's cabin air filter element in a 1st generation 2009-2013 Kia Soul with photos.

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2013 Soul Glove Box
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Open Glove Box - Empty Out
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Phillips Screw - Top Left
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 1st generation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013) Kia Soul in cleaning or changing the A/C system's cabin air filter element.

Owners of other Kia and Hyundai vehicles with similar blower motor housings such as the Forte, Cadenza, Rio, Optima, Sedona, Sorento, Sportage, Sonata, Accent, Elantra, Veloster, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe and Genesis may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A few compatible replacement filters with their part numbers are as follows: TYC 800147P, Fram CF10776, Wix 24600, Hastings AFC1458, Champion CCF1876, Mahle LA 531, Denso 453-5011, Beck Arnley 042-2181, Premium Guard PC4600 and Ecogard XC26086.

The only tool required to replace the filter is a standard Phillips head screwdriver used to remove the glove box fasteners.



 
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Remove Left Middle Screw
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Upper Right Screw
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Middle Right Screw
The first few steps are to sit in the front passenger seat, open the glove box and then empty out the contents.

The glove box is held in place to the dashboard by 8 screws.

There are two screws along the inner left edge, two on the inner right edge, three along the very bottom edge and one in the back of the upper compartment.

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Lower Left Screw
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Lower Middle Screw
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Lower Right Screw
Remove the screws by turning them counter clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.
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Last Screw - Back of Box
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8 Phillips Screws Removed
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Gently Pull Out Glove Box
Set the 8 screws aside in a safe place.

Then slowly pull the glove box straight out of the dashboard.

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Glove Box Removed
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Glove Box Light Wires
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Release Power Plug
Unplug the electrical connector on the right rear corner of the glove box by pressing the release button and sliding it straight out of the socket.

If you need to replace the glove box light bulb or you want to upgrade it to a brighter LED unit, now would be a good time to easily access the old bulb housing on the back side of the glove box.

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Glove Box Light Bulb
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Blower Motor On Left
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Pull Off Clip - Front Edge
Then locate the black plastic rectangular filter access cover at the bottom of the blower motor housing.

Gently pull the retaining clip at the front edge of the filter cover towards yourself and then down.



 

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Swing Open Filter Cover
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Filter Access Panel Removed
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Slide Out Old Air Filter
Swing the filter cover down to open it and then pull the tab on the rear edge out of its slot.

Slide the old filter straight down out of the slot.

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Old Cabin Filter Removed
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Clean With Vacuum
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Insert New Filter In Slot
Inspect both sides of the old cabin air filter.

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

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

I recommend buying the TYC 800147P filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

If your A/C system often smells musty or moldy, try using the Fram CF10776 filter which has Arm & Hammer baking soda and carbon in it to help absorb odors.

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New Filter Installed
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Tab On Rear of Cover
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Slot On Rear of Opening
Slide the new cabin air filter straight in to the slot in the blower motor housing.

If the new filter has an "Air Flow" arrow, it should be pointing towards the left side of the car.

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Insert Tab In To Slot
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Push On Retaining Clip
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Filter Cover Replaced
Insert the tab on the rear edge of the filter cover in to the slot at the back of the opening in the blower motor housing.

Swing the filter cover closed and gently snap the retaining clip in to place on the front of the blower motor housing.

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Push In Glove Box Light Plug
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Line Up Glove Box
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Push In Glove Box
Hold the glove box near the dashboard and re-insert the power plug for the glove box light.

Line up the glove box and gently push it back in to the dashboard.

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Replace 8 Phillips Screws
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Tighten Clockwise
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Close Glove Box
Re-insert the eight screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver until they are snug.

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

For more, check out my other Kia Soul DIY Maintenance Guides.
 

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