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Smart Fortwo Cabin Air Filter Replacement Guide
How to clean or change the A/C system's cabin air filter element in a 2nd generation 2008 to 2014 Smart Fortwo.

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2013 Smart Fortwo
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Driver Side Footwell
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HVAC Blower Motor Housing
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second generation (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014) Smart Fortwo compact city car in cleaning or changing the A/C system's cabin air filter element in the HVAC blower motor housing.

Owners of any Smart Fortwo models or trim levels such as the coupe hatchback, cabriolet or "cabrio", electric, pure, passion, forfour, prime and proxy should also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

A few compatible replacement cabin air filter elements with their part numbers are as follows: PotAuto MAP 1017C, Ecogard XC35843C, Mahle Original LAK 430, Fram CF10612, Mann-Filter CUK 2132, ATP Automotive CF-163, Pentius PHB5843, GKI CF1205 and Wix 49351.

No tools are needed to access and replace the filter.



 
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Push Tab - Release Clip
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Push Tab - Lower Clip
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Swing Open Filter Cover
To access the cabin air filter element, you'll have to crouch down in to the driver side footwell.

Open the driver side door and look under the dashboard towards the center stack or center "console" to locate the rectangular filter access cover.

Gently press in the two tabs located on the left side of the cover (closer to the front of the car) to release the retaining clips.

Swing open the left side of the filter cover towards yourself.

Carefully pull off the filter cover and remove the three plastic tabs on the right side (closer to the rear of the car) out of their corresponding slots.

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Filter Cover Removed
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3 Tabs On Right Side
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Edge of Old Filter Exposed
Set the filter access panel aside in a safe place.

Once the filter cover is out of the way, you'll be able to see the outer edge of the old filter in the slot.

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Pry Out Stuck Filter
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Slide Out Old Air Filter
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Inspect Old Air Filter
Slide the old filter straight out of the slot in the HVAC blower motor housing.

If you have trouble getting a grip on the outer edge of the old air filter, use a flathead screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool to gently remove it from the slot.

Inspect both sides of the old air filter.

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

I recommend buying the Mann-Filter CUK 2132 cabin air filter since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

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



 

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Empty Filter Slot
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Clean With Vacuum
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Slide In New Air Filter
If your wet/dry shop vacuum has a crevice attachment, clean out any leaves or other debris in the filter slot within the HVAC blower motor housing.

Locate the "Air Flow" arrows on the new cabin air filter.

Orientate the "Air Flow" arrows so that they are pointing towards the back of the car.

Slide the new filter straight in to the slot until it is flush with the opening.

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Air Flow Arrows -->
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New Air Filter Installed
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Re-Insert Three Tabs
Line up the filter cover with the three plastic tabs on the right side (closer to the rear of the car).

Re-insert the three plastic tabs in to their corresponding slots.

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Push To Secure Two Clips
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Filter Cover Secured
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Cabin Filter Replaced
Swing the left side of the filter cover closed and push on it to secure the two retaining clips.

You should hear or feel the two retaining clips "click" securely in to place.

Be sure to record the cabin air filter change in your car's service records.

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

For more, check out all of my 2008-2014 Smart Fortwo DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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