[ducart2002]

Hi all: I'm sure everyone knows this, but here goes. I finally got around to installing a cabin filter. However there is no screw, under a plug, near the wiper blade. There is an indentation where it could go, but no plug or screw. You only have to unfasten the 3 clips, and gently wiggle the plastic cover on the passenger side, to get to the filter area. I must quit driving so much, my SVT turned 18,300 miles today. art in Ga.[wiggle]

 

[WD40]

my SVT turned 18,300 miles today.
You make me sick. [chair] [poke] I just hit 65,000. [bawling]

Which reminds me, it's probably about time I replace the cabin air filter.
I put one in about a month after buying the car in 2004.
I don't remember how many fasteners there were, but I'll sure let you know if I find the same thing.

 

[bobkat3999]

if you could take pics that would be awesome, does the svt already come w/ a cabin air filter?

i'm at 44,700 right now

 

[WD40]

The car doesn't come with one from the factory.

There is a "How To" around here somewhere....
Yep...
http://www.myfordfocus.com/how-to/cabinfilter.htm

Incidentally, I used a WIX #24808 cabin air filter.

 

[lildudeinacar]

you both make me sick at 114k

 

[loudfocus01]

Congrats man. I finally installed one in my car about a month ago. Its nice to have for sure.

 

[superchop]

Lol, good job on the cabin air filter...it really does help out with cabin dust and even cabin smell. At least it did with me. As for the screw...are you talking about the one that should go between both cowl peices...right in the middle?

The plastic fastener on mine actually broke...so i just went to home depot and got a generic one...it's not a perfect fit but it holds the cowls together good enough for the time being. Also becareful with the little pushpins...lol, they can pop off and dissappear into the middle of nowhere...

 

[fritotec]

the 02's had the screw. the 03 and 04 didn't.

 

[macdiesel]

I found the filter fits better if you leave the filter cover off. I had trouble squezzing the filter into the pop-out cover. Decided to just put the filter in without cover and fits perfect. And I always forget about the screw in the middle. These things get dirty after 15k.

 

[superchop]

Lol, you do realize that the pop out mesh cover was fords way of giving us an "air filter" right?

The plastic piece was put there just to keep bigger pieces of garbage out of the cabin...so in essence that WAS our cabin air filter from factory. Lol, so when anyone bought a real filter the plastic piece was meant to come out

Also, if only the 02's had the screw...what did the 03's and 04's have? Nothing?

Cause i had gone to a junk yard and a standard sedan focus was there and it had the same exact screw as mine did...

 

[Leinie]

the plastic frame was a filler that was installed at the factory for delivery of the vehicle. Ford found that the plastic filler was cheaper and LIGHTER than the filter itself and the shipping weight of the car would be lighter without the filter so it was shipped without the filter installed.

HEY! The coolest part is that the 2000-2004 Foci came with the cabin air filtration system in them so you have the option of putting them in. This makes these model years a pretty cool option. I also have a 2003 Mach 1 Mustang and NO CABIN FILTER system...PERIOD! the car breathes fresh air but i DONT!.

I have an 02 and i dont remember any screws but i do remember breaking the cowl fastener clips trying to remove the cowl cover. hint: put the wipers in the UP position before trying to remove the cowl cover.

The dustier the area that you live in the more often that you should replace the filter. Factory recommends every 15k but i replace about every 8,000 miles because the filters are really cheap on eBay.

HAPPY DRIVING!