Cabin Air Filter - Clip Broke

[Neil4Real]

Well, clumsy me. I went to go change my air filter and, of course, the right clip snapped off with barely any force.

Do I need to replace the assembly or just leave it? The left side is sealed but obviously the right isn’t since nothings holding it down. If I don’t get a rattle, does it matter? Would this be a leak of sorts in the system and cause significant air pressure loss to the HVAC system?

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[Mach-Lee]

Yikes, I think those clips are molded into the HVAC housing so you'd have to rip the whole dash out to replace it. In the service manual they show screws holding the cover on, would that be an option?

It's a poor design to put the clips on the housing, they should have put them on the cover instead. I've had them break on other vehicles before but they were on the cover so an easy replacement.

 

[Neil4Real]

Yikes, I think those clips are molded into the HVAC housing so you'd have to rip the whole dash out to replace it. In the service manual they show screws holding the cover on, would that be an option?

It's a poor design to put the clips on the housing, they should have put them on the cover instead. I've had them break on other vehicles before but they were on the cover so an easy replacement.

You’re the man, seems to work and sealed it nice and tight!

 

[hack-e]

This just happened to me. Same right side broke. Thanks for the tip on a solution.

 

[mikeinet]

we've also got a ford escape... just replaced cabin air filters in both cars.

The MachE did not have screws, but the escape did... found that somewhat odd.

(FWIW - I totally ripped one of the tabs on the escape too... ugh! but screw holds it in fine)

 

[GizmoTheCat]

we've also got a ford escape... just replaced cabin air filters in both cars.

The MachE did not have screws, but the escape did... found that somewhat odd.

(FWIW - I totally ripped one of the tabs on the escape too... ugh! but screw holds it in fine)

doh. I am also an idiot and broke a tab. What size screw did you use?

 

[mikeinet]

doh. I am also an idiot and broke a tab. What size screw did you use?

It was already on the escape the first time I changed it. Was small, just need to hold it in place

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