Cabin air filters often have an air flow direction printed on them, sometimes just an arrow. To change the airflow direction of your cabin air filter, ensure the arrow (or “UP” marking) on the filter is pointing toward the car’s interior during installation. This indicates the correct airflow direction.
To locate the cabin air filter housing in your vehicle, follow these steps:
Check the owner’s manual for stock toyota cabin filters, which are installed with the arrow up. The microgard is the first aftermarket one that says to have the arrow down. Airflow is downward, coming in from the top, going through the filter, and then to the blower and the rest of the interior.
Check the filter latch cover and support frame both have UP arrows, which indicate which way they should orient relative to the earth. The arrow should be pointing to the inside of the car.
Contact K and N for your specific filter, but they suggest the flat side up or facing the engine if that makes sense. The Mann instruction manual says the airflow arrows should be facing the interior of the car.
In summary, cabin air filters have an air flow direction printed on them, and it is crucial to ensure that the arrow points towards the correct side during installation.
📹 Cabin Air Filter Arrow Up Or Down Air Flow Direction
In this video I talk about what the arrow means on a cabin air filter. It could mean installation direction, or it could mean air flow …
📹 Which Way Does a Cabin Air Filter Go & Does Air Flow Direction Really Matter? • Cars Simplified
Cabin air filters often have an air flow direction printed on them, sometimes just an arrow. Without any obvious markings, how do …
Airflow direction is key! Very good info here. You can always establish the airflow direction of the cabin blower fan by holding a light piece of tissue paper over it while running the a/c (don’t stick your fingers into moving parts!) and watch which direction it pulls the paper. That is your air flow direction and that is the direction in which you should install the arrow on your filter.
Great tips! I actually just replaced the cabin air filter in my truck last weekend. I am a bit embarrassed that I scratched my head a little longer than I care to admit trying to work out the correct airflow direction. Didn’t even think to look at the little access panel that I removed (it likely has an arrow) – I worked it out based on the location and orientation of the blower motor. I’ll have to check the access panel next time!
Thanks for simplifying this. On my 2020 Highlander the arrow (I think for assembly since it has wedges that forces the filter frame up) points up but based on you logic. The airflow is down. (Squirrel cage is on the bottom). Nice and simple and it didn’t take perusal 20 minutes of rambling. Well done.
Thanks for making an awesome article on this! I installed the filter correctly with the airflow pointing down (as directed for my car). When installing, it seemed that it fit better with the mesh being vertical, rather than horizontal. Does it matter which way the filter is facing (horizontal/vertical), as long as the airflow direction is correct? The reason I bring this up is that I bought a cabin filter from a third party, not an OEM version and the one I received seems to fit better with the mesh pointing vertically (from the cabin filter door opening). Thanks in advance!
Thank you. I’ve been having a bit of an issue on my C4 which has been having a bit of condensation. Someone told me the cabin filter might need changing so got a new one and decided to replace it anyway, only just bought the car so it is good practice. My filter is under the windscreen wipers and when I pulled the old filter out although it was not too bad the top did have debris in it. But…..the airflow arrow was pointing up – toward the wondscreen! This did not make sense to me considering the debris so I found your article. I cannot see a blower but there is a large opening in the steel plate below the space where the filter is located, I have assumed as per your article that this is the motor so have placed the new filter with airflow down. There really seems no other way in common sense as I honestly do not think there is room above that space for a motor like that. However I was concerned about the orientation until I found your article. So thank you again.
In a 2008 Highlander the access door to the cabin air filter has an arrow that points up; however, the fan / blower is located below the filter slot. The arrow on the access door will always supersede the location of the fan / blower. I recommend that owners and installers look for the arrow direction on your access door and search YouTube for your specific vehicle model for correct installation instructions.
My 2918 CRV doesn’t have “airflow direction” on the cover, but the cover itself is labeled “this side up”. A little confusing at first but then I noticed the blower underneath and guessed you would want filtered air going to the blower. Aligned the filter with airflow pointing down towards the blower. I just Googled this article to make sure. Thanks for the verification.
I have a 2020 CRV and the airflow was quite confusing the 1st time I replaced my cabin filter. I have a plate covering the cabin filter with an arrow pointing up and the plate actually says “UP” on the outside. Once you remove this you can see the blower motor with an arrow pointing down and showing the direction of airflow. l would assume that 90+% the arrow needs to point down as the air will be sucked in from the vents in the dashboard down into the blower motor.
Great useful information as always. Ever notice how easy some cars are to change the air filter while some cars are more difficult. I remember my VW GTI’s from the 80’s. I had an 84, 85, and 87. It seems that they were more awkward than they should have been. My brother use to annoy me since he always had very dirty filters and when I saw them I use to pester him to change them. I think he use to like showing me how dirty they were just to annoy me. But hey it’s his cars so not my problem right!
Thank you! It was my first time changing it on my new older car- I pulled out the old one at it showed an arrow pointing up and just aids up. The replacement showed an arrow and said air flow beside it. I stuck my phone in there, took a photo and because of your information, I learned that I needed to point the filter down! I didn’t copy someone else’s mistake. My asthma thanks you!
When I was replacing it myself, uncertain about the direction of the airflow, I turned on the fan and reached in to feel the direction of the wind. The wind was blowing upward. However, the blower on my car is located below the filter, and the original filter installation also directed the airflow downward. So, I believe this is correct. If the airflow is downward, why is there an upward wind when I turn on the fan?
Great tips! My arrow faced up in my 2017 spark when i cahnged it for the second time just now, and it made me feel weird so i looked it up. Surely i copied exactly what the stock filter was when i took it out? Either i backwarded myself, or the factory put it in upside down lol. Thanks for showing us the way to tell! There’s nothing stamped on my plastics indicating directiin.
My 13 Camry has an UP arrow on the door in front of the cabin air filter. I always assumed this was the direction the air flowed and I installed the filters that way with the arrow UP! Just found out that the original Toyota cabin air filter was installed with the arrow up (no air flow with arrow direction) The after market filters have the word AIR FLOW and the arrow down. I have been installing them upside down for years! No wonder people get confused!
Hi I was confused about this as in my car there is an arrow pointing up on the plastic clip showing air up but my filter replacement arrow is down the blower motor the big one you show white is upwards so I put my filter which says down on filter so hope it’s ok thanks for your advice on the good article on my old filter the arrow was up so yes very confusing I might just go to Toyota near me and check for sure which is correct for my Toyota Yaris hybrid 2019……..