How to Change an Air Filter on a Honda Fit

The air filter in your car filters fresh air coming into the engine to protect it against damage from larger dirt particles. The filter should be changed once per year, or twice in areas of the country where leaves, tree pollen, sand, or dust are common. Don't take your zippy new Honda Fit to the dealer or corner lube joint where they charge unnecessarily for something that's so easy to do at home. Just keep that Honda Fit in your driveway and follow these instructions.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Correct size air filter for a Honda Fit
• 5 minutes of your time

1. Allow the car to cool down for about two hours. Metal hoses toward the back of the air filter housing are hot after driving the car and can burn your hand.

2. Lift the hood of the Honda Fit and prop open using the stick prop.

3. Locate the air filter casing. This is a small, square black plastic box in the very center of the engine to which is attached the larger air intake hose. Note the metal latches around the box.

4. Using your thumb, push latches open one by one.

5. Remove the top of the air filter casing by pulling it upward, then toward you. Set aside.

6. Remove dirty air filter and set aside.

7. Position new air filter in the rectangular air intake space. The filter should sit inside the space flat, not slanted down toward you. If it's slanted, take it out and turn it around, then put it back in the air intake space.

8. Replace the casing on top of the air filter housing assembly. You will have to use a bit of pressure to position the nozzle back into the air intake hose, then on top of the air filter assembly.

9. With the casing properly aligned and back on top of the air filter intake, secure latches.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't guess at which kind of air filter you need for your Honda Fit. Identify the correct filter number by using the book in the store (you'll need to know the car's year and engine size). Or, ask a store salesperson to look it up in their computer system.
• Make sure the air filter for your Honda Fit sits flat inside the air intake before you put the casing back on top. If it's slanted, you have it in wrong.
• If it seems you can't put the air intake casing back on top, take the air filter out, flip it upside down, and replace. There are two fins on the back of the air filter; these should be pointed downward into the air intake.
• Be very wary of auto shops that tell you that you need a new air filter. This is easy money for them and they vastly overcharge. Some will outright rip you off. ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask to see the old air filter and judge for yourself. Never be afraid to tell them, "Not right now."

Resources

• Car Talk