written 3/17/24, updated 3/17/24
Overview
What
Replacing/changing cabin air filter for a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Written text with pictures
Why
Because it’s easy enough to do by yourself and to save some good money. Cost adds up!
Materials and Cost
I bought the Purolator for $28.20 from Amazon. A flashlight/headlamp might also be useful
| ITEM | PRICE |
| PurolatorONE Advanced Cabin Air Filter with Activated Carbon (C31449C) | $28.20 (Amazon) or $29.49 (Advanced Auto Parts) |
| Or if you’d like to stick with OEM: | |
| Motorcraft Cabin Air Filter (Part #: FP100A)* | $30.56 (Ford) or $20.97 (PartsGeek) |
Time and Effort
Time: ~10 minutes under ideal conditions
Difficulty: Easy
Contents
Installation
It’s best to be in a parked where you can comfortably open your passenger side door wide
Empty Glove Compartment
It is highly recommended to remove the contents of your glove box.
Unlock the stop Arm
With the glove compartment open, look to the right side and locate the stop arm. Use a finger to pull it until it pops off.
NOTE: I’ve had lots of trouble with this step in previous cars, but this one came off exactly like it was supposed to. Nice surprise.
Then press the tabs on either side of the glove compartment to unhook the box.
If you didn’t unload the contents, everything gets dumped on the floor as it swings on its hinges.
Undo Side Tabs
On either side of the uppermost, solid plastic, rectangular door with the stamps, are 2 tabs that keep it in place. Push aside (outwards) the plastic tabs until both sides free from the little tab. Be careful not to break anything!!
Hint: you may need to push aside any impeding wiring bundles. The rightmost one for me was easy, but the leftmost one required me to push with my left hand while my right hand pulled the filter door down
In these images, the orange is showing what you need to push aside to free the filter door. The green is trying to show the square piece that fits into the orange tab and hold the door in place
Here’s a close up of the left-side tab. You can see how it butts right up against the wiring bundle which therefore prevents it from staying unlocked. That’s why I needed one hand to hold the tab open and the other to pry down the door
Pull down the Door
Push up or aside any wayward wiring bundles and reach your fingers (or a plastic pry tool) up and around the two sky-facing tabs. Pull carefully down to open the door
NOTE: I have a history of breaking things by using too much force, so I’m always trying to be careful. Also, be careful of the metal frame! It’s sharp! You may wish to employ gloves
HINT: do one side at a time if you’re having trouble. See the tabs in the images below
Pull Old Filter Out
There it is! Just reach in and pull out the old, used air filter, and note the direction of the airflow arrow. Ford’s OE filter is really flexible, and so I managed to rip it on the way out.
Replace With New Filter
Compared to the Motorcraft filter, the Purolator is much stiffer. Just position and slide it in
NOTE: I managed to really scrape up my finger on the metal. I wish I’d worn gloves or something. Because the Purolator is so stiff, removing it requires either two hands, one on either side, or the use of a tool to help
Yeppp. I’d say it’s time to change it. Had the car about 14 months before doing this
All Steps in Reverse
Close the filter door, making sure the tabs are popped back into the side clips
Pull the glove compartment back up into position until the side tabs click into place
Replace the stop arm on the side of the compartment by just giving it a nice push
NOTE: you might have to pull forward into position if it slid backwards
Put your stuff back in
All done! YOU DID IT! Super easy, AND you saved yourself some money!