Ok so i changed my cabin filter in my 2016 Platinum and took some pics to hopefully help guys out there with the wood trim removal.


I used these 2 tools. You should be able to get them at most automotive stores. They are plastic so less likely to damage the trim piece



Insert the tool with the split ends in the middle of the wood trim piece



With the tool that has the split end, pry back just enough to inset the tool that has a 90 hook.



While prying with the split end tool slide the hook tool to the far right side of the wood trim and pull towards you. Do this all the way across the trim piece.



This is what the back of the wood trim piece looks like.

 

Make sure they don't try to sell you a power steering flush. They probably still think our trucks have a hydraulic power steering pump.

 

Thanks for the tips Robin. I purchased my truck used and I think the original owner smoked cigars in the truck. I get just a faint smell of cigars when I use the a/c on recirculate. I'll try and replace the filter first before I try and scrub the carpets.

 

Do all models of the F150 have the cabin filters ? Or just the high end ones XLT and better ? Do the XL also have it ?

Thanks

 

I finally replaced the cabin air filter on my Lariat after 35K miles. Someone posted this vid out on you tube that was extremely helpful. https://youtu.be/fhN-uJP_Zw0

Only problem with the vid is this guys truck did not have the trim piece covering the upper glovebox section so I was stuck at that point trying to figure out how to remove the trim. So... I came to the forum and this thread and BINGO! I wish I would have had those plastic tools to help pop the clips out. They would have been very helpful and I'll pick them up prior to replacing the filter the next time. In the mean time though I removed the trim by reaching in behind the left side of the trim and pushing the far left clip out towards me until it popped out. After that I was able to get in behind the trim with a very thin long screw driver and carefully pull the trim out towards me until the rest of the clips popped out. As one of the other posters mentioned I can see those clips breaking off over time with age. At any rate I'm good for now and after 35k miles the old filter was almost black so I'm glad I was able to git-r done

 

Here's new vs old at 20000

 

Yuck!!

 

Ok, I just gotta say outloud, right now as I have just come to learn this........

FORD......SHAME ON YOU!!

To have the cabin air filter access be this involved is ABSO-F#$#ING-LUTELY......REEEE-F$$#@ING-DICULOUS!!

This is absolutely the WORST engineered cabin air filter I have seen.

I am NO FAN of Toyota but they make this process look light years more advanced in ease vs this bunch of bullsh!#$!

Sorry if my reaction is a little over the top but.....dayum.....I'd like to find the engineer that signed off on this design and bring him to work sit him in front of my computer and tell him, "Try again and I'll just stand back here with Lucille on my shoulder until I approve of your design. Hint: I could redesign it proper in less than 5 minutes, so don't make Lucille wait too long!"

(facepalm)

 

if you break off top plastic tabs on filter door you can swap filter and re-attach filter door without unscrewing and taking the trim panel out. The filter gets through the tight space - it's just the filter door which you can't latch / close top tabs back in without removing trim piece and unscrewing. Filter door holds just fine with side tabs - no play or wiggling

 

Thanks. I will probably do this very thing. Then fly to Ford, find the engineer responsible, take both removed plastic tabs and shove one into each nostril, tar & feather him/her and then hang them by their big toes in the middle of town and post a sign on their posterior reminding the public that this is what *should* happen to bad engineers!!