Heightened MMM senses and Youtube save me $90

[FIRE Artist]

This will not be earth shattering for those on the forum who take care of their own car maintenance, but for those out there like me, with zero interest and no past exposure to car maintenance, this might be a useful lesson. 

My 2013 CRV (I know, bought pre MMM enlightenment, but at least I paid cash for it ) was in the shop for changing out the winter tires and the annual oil change and inspections.  I get a call with the results of the inspection, and was told that the cabin air filter needs to be changed out, and they will do it for $110 parts and labour.  My MMM senses start tingling so I decline the service. 

A quick Google search and I find aftermarket replacement filters for $17-22CND, and a YouTube video on how to pop open the glove box and replace the filter on my exact year and model CRV.  It is a tool-free, 2 minute job, on the difficulty scale of changing out the filter in my vacuum.  I price check at the dealer for the part, it was $55 for the Honda filter so I declined to even buy the part from them.  So on reflection, I realize that on top of the stupid price for the filter, they wanted to charge me $55 for the mechanic to walk over to the store room, get the filter and remove it from the box, because the glove box was already open and the old filter was already removed for the inspection.  Unreal. 

So I'm adding cabin air filter replacement to the list of easy car maintenance duties I can and will just do myself for the rest of my car owning days (light bulb and windshield wiper replacement pretty much make up the rest of the list).   Again, not earth shattering for most here, but I know plenty of people, especially my fellow female middle aged peers, who wouldn't even dream of looking into how to do this themselves.

[nereo]

A quick Google search and I find aftermarket replacement filters for $17-22CND, and a YouTube video on how to pop open the glove box and replace the filter on my exact year and model CRV.  It is a tool-free, 2 minute job, on the difficulty scale of changing out the filter in my vacuum.  I price check at the dealer for the part, it was $55 for the Honda filter so I declined to even buy the part from them.  So on reflection, I realize that on top of the stupid price for the filter, they wanted to charge me $55 for the mechanic to walk over to the store room, get the filter and remove it from the box, because the glove box was already open and the old filter was already removed for the inspection.  Unreal. 

Yup.  This is how a lot of shops make money.  I once had a headlight out and I keep a spare one in my glove box.  My car was have the valves adjusted so I asked them if they'd be willing to just change the lightbulb.  Sure... for $60.  Wtf?  no thank you.  It's *literally* as easy as changing a light bulb (yes I know some cars it's a PITA to reach, but mine isn't one of those cars).

I still take my car to my mechanic for major work, but I always youtube it first and check prices for parts- even when it's not an easy fix at least then I know a bit more in case the mechanic tries to convince me it'll take 4 hours and $600 in parts.

[geekinprogress]

Awesome timing - I just declined a cabin air filter change at the oil change place, and was wondering if I actually DID need the air filter changed....but now that I know it's not a big deal to access/swap out, I'll just go check the filter myself and order a replacement if needed. 

[Joggernot]

My 2000 Accord requires removal of 11 hard-to-reach screws, both from the side of the dash and the glove box to gain access to the filter.

My 2005 Toyota Tacoma requires me to remove the glove box (2 screws). 

After learning the prices were approx. $150 to replace the filters, I did them myself.  The Accord is almost worth paying the price to have them do it.

[NoStacheOhio]

My favorite is when they call to ask about the "really dirty" cabin air filter, and I decline. Then when I'm picking up from the next oil change six months later, and they say the filter looks great. :-|

[HipGnosis]

So on reflection, I realize that on top of the stupid price for the filter, they wanted to charge me $55 for the mechanic to walk over to the store room, get the filter and remove it from the box, because the glove box was already open and the old filter was already removed for the inspection.  Unreal. 

You're assuming they actually inspected the old filter.  More probable that they just looked at the odometer, punched your mileage into their 'system' and 'replace cabin filter' popped up.

[forummm]

I used to change them myself to save money like this. It saves quite a bit. What a racket they have going on there.

Now I save money by having an electric car that doesn't need an engine air filter. And I also rarely use any cabin air, so no real need to change that one either.