Cabin Air Filter?

Optimus3Prime · January 16, 2017

Hello All,

I've read thru some forums here and found that some folks have had issues with "recirculation" in their vehicles. My question to this after reading that most of it is "normal" per GM, can a cabin air filter be installed anywhere to alleviate the issue of "outside" smells I the main cabin?

Also, when I push my recirculation button, it only blinks and never turns on. Are there only certain functions that allow it to be on?

Thanks y'all.

2013 Diesel 3500 HD

newdude · January 16, 2017

Recirculation will only run with the AC on in older trucks.

GM has specific cabin filter instructions for installing one on 2007-2013 trucks as they were not built with them at all.

#PI1216: Dust Intruding into Cabin Interior - (Apr 14, 2014)

Condition/Concern
Some customers may comment that dust is intruding into the cabin interior.

If the vehicle is driven primarily in high dust conditions, it may be possible for some residual dust to enter the cabin of the truck through the fresh air intake in the plenum, then through the HVAC case.
Recommendation/Instructions
At request of customer, install a cabin air filter following instructions below.

These vehicles did not come with a cabin air filter from the factory. First-time installation of the cabin air filter will require an installation kit. There are two different types of filter media offered; particulate or carbon/particulate. Refer to the part numbers listed in the Parts Information following the procedure below.

Locate and remove the screws holding the right side lower insulator panel as shown in the illustration above. Refer to Instrument Panel Insulator Replacement in SI.

On the underside of the HVAC case, inboard of the blower motor, locate the groove (2) around the molded-in cabin air filter access panel (1) as shown in the illustration above.

Carefully cut out the molded-in cabin air filter access panel using a suitable tool. Keep the tool inside the groove at all times.

Note: The size of the opening is 10.25” x 1” (260.3 mm x 25.4 mm) as shown in the illustration above.

Important: Once the molded-in cabin filter access panel is removed, ensure the opening is free of burrs and debris.

Bend the top stage and slowly insert the cabin air filter into the HVAC module, with the filter stages (cut outs) facing inboard while the pull strip is pointed down as shown in the illustrated above.

Important: The cabin air filter MUST be flush with the HVAC module access opening as shown in the illustration above.

Install the cabin air filter cover plate hook onto the slot in the HVAC module and press the cover flush while installing the fastener as shown in the illustration above.
Tighten
Tighten the fastener to 1.6 Y (14 lb in).

22759208 - FILTER KIT, PASS COMPT AIR (Initial Installation Kit, with Removable Filter Cover) (w/o Filter)

22759203 - FILTER, PASS COMPT AIR (Particulate Media)

23101674 - FILTER, PASS COMPT AIR (Carbon/Particulate Media)

BigBlueLB756 · January 16, 2017

1. Welcome to the forum.

2. Do this mod:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/189958-cabin-air-filter-for-2007-2014-gm-pickups/

Have clean(er) air.

davester · January 16, 2017

Note, it is a tradeoff, as it does filter the air, but it also reduces airflow and makes the fan work harder.

Colossus · January 17, 2017

And the fan or fan speed resistors will burn out faster.

mjoekingz28 · January 17, 2017

For the Recirc/Max to work. IIRC, the vents must be on face or face/foot, if the knob goes to defrost it will just blink. My Cobalt will do this.

I don't remember exactly whether or not the red/blue temp makes a difference. It MAY not work with heat, but again IIRC.

Colossus · January 17, 2017

I believe it depends upon the outside temp for the A/C compressor to come on. It won't activate below a certain temp unless you have defrost only set as defrost uses the A/C compressor.

Optimus3Prime · January 20, 2017

Thanks for the info y'all. I did figure out the recirculation issue, it only works when the air is blowing thru the cabin and floor vents All my other vehicles allow for recirc on any area. As for the cabin air filter, looks simple enough and thanks SO much for saving me from going to the dealer to figure everything out.

RoarinRow · January 20, 2017

Sort of on topic, but I saw this thread and decided to pick up some new cabin filters. Considering I just picked this up in November, it probably hasn't been changed. I watched some YouTube videos and it seemed easier enough.

I got the filters from Amazon and went through the process of replacing the filters. When I got to the filter housing and pulled them out, they were clean as a whistle lol. Hardly a spec of dirt. Oh well since I was there I still replaced them with my carbon filters compared to the stock ones that were there.

I noticed that the new one had some wording on the side about installing them with the arrows pointing towards the air flow. I thought ah man, which way did I take the original ones out? Of course at this point I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

I took a wild yet educated guess to point the arrows towards the driver's side. I put everything back together, then Googled the direction of the air flow arrows and luckily I was right. Whew. Most of the YouTube videos didn't even talk about the arrows, they just slapped them back in.