Cabin filter on Kia Sportage: where is it located, replacement

Is a cabin filter really necessary?

Almost every driver knows about the importance of oil, fuel and air filters without explanation, but with the cabin filter the situation is different.
This is largely due to the fact that the component began to be installed on cars only in 1991. Wear of the filter element (unlike other filters) does not lead to breakdowns or operational problems, so drivers do not think about replacing it. This is an extremely erroneous opinion. According to studies, in urban conditions the level of air pollution exceeds the norm on more than 140 days a year, however, even on “favorable” days, the concentration of individual substances (for example, nitrogen oxide) can exceed the established norm by 1.5-7 times. The most dangerous place is a traffic jam, because the air contains up to 200 harmful compounds, in particular:

• dust and microparticles from tires and asphalt;
• bacteria, spores and viruses;
• sulfur oxides and nitrogen compounds;
• carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide;
• heavy metal particles;
• soot, soot and other toxic substances.

Without proper ventilation, all this settles in the cabin. The consequences here will be very diverse, ranging from headaches to chronic diseases of the respiratory system. High concentrations are especially dangerous for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. An attack while driving is dangerous not only for the driver, but also for other road users.

It will surprise many, but the Kia Sportage 3 cabin filter is capable of retaining up to 99.5% of small particles, and carbon models even absorb odors. Don't risk your health and safety. Change this part strictly according to the regulations, like any other “consumables”.

Periodic maintenance of KIA Sportage

The Kia Sportage 3 maintenance regulations imply the frequency of vehicle maintenance. The manufacturer recommends 9 consecutive maintenance procedures. The timing of their implementation depends on 2 factors:

• mileage;
• vehicle operating time.

During maintenance of the Kia Sportage, various components and fluids of the car are changed. Replacing the latter is necessary, because During operation, they lose their declared initial characteristics.

The oil in an automatic or manual transmission is subject to the destructive effects of air oxygen radicals and temperature changes. Characteristics drop, lubricity becomes lower. The moving parts of the transmission begin to rub against each other, and scuffs and marks appear on their surface.

The time for the first and subsequent maintenance work on the KIA Sportage 3 does not depend on what type of engine or gearbox is in the car. For gasoline and diesel engines, the start dates for maintenance are the same.

How often is replacement done?

Unfortunately, the service life of the component is short. According to the technical documentation for the car, the Kia Sportage 3 cabin filter should be replaced every 15 thousand kilometers. However, this is a rather optimistic parameter. In practice, everything depends on a number of factors:

• Environment. Drivers who regularly drive around the city or industrial area should change the filter much more often.
• Type of road. Constant driving on dirt roads has an adverse effect on the condition of the filter. Dust, grains of sand and small pebbles regularly get into it.
• Number of hours stuck in traffic. The more you stand in a stream of other cars, the higher the content of harmful substances and the load on the filter.

Thus, the service life of this consumable item is reduced to 7-8 thousand, so we recommend that you do not wait for the replacement period, but carry out periodic external inspection. If the car is used extremely rarely, then install a new filter at least 1-2 times a year.

Step by step replacement

1. Remove all contents from the glove compartment.

2. Open the glove compartment and unscrew the two fasteners of the glove compartment niche. They are located on the left and right. You need to turn it counterclockwise.

3. Remove the glove compartment opening angle rod. Just pull it to the right.

4. After removing the rod, the glove compartment niche is free, lower it down.

5. After lowering the glove compartment you will see the cabin filter cover. On the right side, squeeze the antennae of the cover fastener and remove it.

6. Remove the filter, remove debris from the seat and install a new one. Before removing the filter, look at the installation direction arrow. Install the new filter in the same way.

7. Install and snap the filter cover.

8. Raise the glove compartment and put on the glove box opening angle rod.

9. Insert and tighten the two fasteners for the glove compartment niche.

The work took us no more than 15 minutes.

How to tell if the filter is clogged

In order not to visually inspect the filter every time, you can pay attention to a number of characteristic symptoms, which include:

• violation of the temperature regime (increase in temperature in summer and ineffective functioning of heating in winter);
• Unpleasant odors appear in the cabin (a sign of carbon filters)
• active fogging of windows due to poor ventilation;
• the appearance of a stream of dust from the ventilation when it is turned on;
• The dashboard and windshield glass become dirty.

All this indicates that the cabin filter is living its last days. To make a 100% decision, you can inspect the part visually. If it is already all gray or even black, change it urgently.

Characteristic signs of a clogged air filter

• Engine operation is unstable at idle and under load;
• Difficulty starting the engine;
• Sudden loss of power;
• Weak acceleration dynamics;
• The accelerator pedal is unresponsive;
• Increased fuel consumption;
• Shots in the muffler. Which indicates that the combustible mixture is unbalanced.

The list of symptoms is not exhaustive, some of them are characteristic of other breakdowns

At the initial stage, it is important to correctly identify the fault so as not to go down the wrong path

To ensure objectivity of the data, please contact the service center specialists for help. Use craftsmen to a lesser extent; unprofessional intervention in repairs does not guarantee the functionality of the equipment.

Video of replacing the cabin filter

The average service life of the interior cleaner for the Kia Sportage is 15,000 km. When the machine is actively used on rough terrain, during periods of heavy fall of fluff and pollen, reduce the replacement interval by several thousand kilometers.

Where is it located: in cars of the Kia Sportage family, regardless of generation, the cabin filter is installed behind the glove box body. To replace the element, you must temporarily dismantle the box body.

Dimensions: length 262 mm x 168 mm x 32 mm.

• casing damage;
• deformation of the plastic base around the perimeter;
• Oil, moisture, lint, and antifreeze were found on the fiber;
• manufacturing defects;
• operation longer than the recommended period (15,000 km).

• a foul odor is heard in the cabin;
• Debris, dust, leaves fly out of the deflectors;
• weak air flow from deflectors;
• an uncharacteristically large accumulation of dust on the surface of the torpedo.

Diagnostics is carried out like other Kia models in two stages:

• visual assessment of the degree of clogging of fiber and carbon filler. Checking the plastic case for deformation, cracks, dents;
• checking the fuse (No. 11, 5A) of the interior mounting block for integrity. Often when the fan is activated, the latter is motionless due to the lack of current. Replace the fuse with a new one.

Do not violate the technical inspection deadlines. Purchase accessories with original serial numbers. For a complete list of catalog items, please see the instruction manual. Order vehicle maintenance services mainly from certified service stations, where the craftsmen provide a quality guarantee for the work performed.

Which filter is better: paper or carbon? It is clear that coal is used, as it cleans the air flow of toxic substances better.

What work is performed during each maintenance?

The manufacturer's regulations indicate that during the 1st maintenance the owner needs to replace the lubricant in the engine and its filtration system. It is necessary to install a new filter in the car interior.

List of checks and works:

• cleaning drainage holes;
• lubricating locks, hinges and hood latches;
• headlight adjustment;
• checking battery performance;
• checking the car’s brake system (pads, discs, hydraulic drive, quality and fluid level);
• determining and, if necessary, changing wheel alignment angles;
• bringing the tire pressure level to that specified in the Regulations;
• checking the reliability of chassis and body fastenings;
• diagnostics of the condition of the front and rear suspensions;
• monitoring the reliability of fixation of fuel hoses;
• checking the quality of fixation of cooling system pipelines;
• monitoring the lubricant level in the engine and gearbox.

The lists of maintenance works 2 and 4 for Kia Sportage are the same. In both cases, the driver must:

• change engine oil and filters;
• install new spark plugs;
• change the cabin filter;
• pour new fluid into the hydraulic drive (for manual transmission);
• Fill with new brake fluid.

The list of work for maintenance No. 2 of the Kia Sportage will have to be repeated during the 8th scheduled maintenance. The lists are identical.

The 3rd car maintenance involves changing the engine oil. The driver will also have to install a new oil, cabin and air filter.

The list of work for Maintenance 5 of the Kia Sportage 3 is identical to 1: you need to pour new oil into the engine and change the filters.

The list of work for maintenance 6 of the Kia Sportage 3 includes the procedures for the first three services. Carried out if the car is over 6 years old or has covered 90,000 km. It is considered the most voluminous and expensive. The following are subject to replacement:

• engine lubricant and filter system;
• cabin filter;
• candles;
• working fluid in the hydraulic drive (for models with manual transmission);
• lubricant in the transfer case (for all-wheel drive cars);
• oil in the automatic transmission (if an automatic transmission is installed in the crossover);
• air filter;
• brake fluid.

When carrying out the 7th maintenance, the owner of the Kia Sportage will only have to replace the engine oil and filtration system. A new oil filter and ventilation filter are installed inside the cabin.

At the 8th maintenance, the filters are changed again, fresh oil and brake fluid are added. In vehicles with a manual transmission, it is the working fluid in the hydraulic clutch system. The spark plugs also need to be replaced.

Buy a filter

Replacing the Kia Sportage cabin filter yourself involves purchasing it. The most reliable option is to buy a branded filter recommended by the car manufacturer. You can find information about it in the technical documentation. It has part number 97133-2E260. The manufacturer tries to reduce the cost of components as much as possible, so the price for such products is within 400 rubles.

If you can’t find the original or you’re not happy with the price, you’ll have to study the analogues in detail. Alternatively, order the following models:

• TSN 9.7.565;
• "Sakura" CA-28150;
• "Nevsky filter" NF-6424.

If you want the maximum level of protection, we recommend replacing a conventional paper filter with a highly efficient carbon filter TSN 9.7.566, Corteco 80001215 or Delphi TSP0325286C.

Carbon models are one of the most effective filters for cars. The key feature is a multilayer structure of fibers and activated carbon. The first layer performs rough cleaning and traps large debris. Microfibers resist the passage of small particles measuring several micrometers in size.

• the ability to turn on the fan in the ventilation system even in a traffic jam, without fear of harmful compounds entering the cabin;
• minimizing glass fogging;
• high level of filtration and long service life up to 30 thousand kilometers;
• converting harmful ozone into oxygen.

At the same time, be prepared that the coal model will cost more than the original ones. The form factor of the carbon and dust filters is the same, so the installation instructions will not differ.

When to change, what interior to install

To perform scheduled maintenance operations, there are regulations, as well as manufacturer recommendations. According to them, replacing the cabin filter of the Kia Sportage III SL heating and air conditioning system should be done every 15,000 kilometers or once a year.

Considering that the operating conditions of the car in most cases will be far from ideal, experts advise performing this operation approximately twice as often, in spring and autumn.

Characteristic symptoms:

1. Windows often fog up;
2. the appearance of unpleasant odors in the cabin when the airflow is turned on;
3. deterioration of the stove and air conditioner;

They may make you doubt that the filter element is coping with its tasks and an unscheduled replacement will be required. In principle, these symptoms should be relied upon when choosing the correct replacement interval.

Suitable sizes

When choosing a filter element, owners do not always use products recommended by the car manufacturer. Everyone has their own reasons for this, some say that the original is unreasonably expensive. Some people in the region sell only analogues, so there is a need to know the sizes by which you can subsequently make a selection:

• Height: 20 mm
• Width: 190 mm
• Length: 238 mm

As a rule, sometimes analogues for the Kia Sportage III SL may be a few millimeters larger or smaller than the original, there is nothing wrong with that. And if the difference is measured in centimeters, then of course it’s worth looking for another option.

Selecting an original cabin filter

The manufacturer recommends using exclusively original consumables, which, in general, is not surprising. They themselves are of good quality and are widely available in car dealerships, but their price may seem overpriced to many car owners.

Regardless of the configuration, on all third-generation Kia Sportage (including the restyled version), the manufacturer recommends installing a cabin air filter with article number 97133-2E250 (971332E250). But you can also install the original analogue with number 97133-2E260, the dimensions are the same, the width and height are the same.

It is worth noting that sometimes consumables and other spare parts may be supplied to dealerships under different part numbers. Which can sometimes confuse those who want to purchase an original product.

When choosing between a dust and carbon product, car owners are advised to use a carbon filter element. This filter is more expensive, but it cleans the air much better.

It is easy to distinguish - the paper filter accordion is impregnated with a carbon composition, and therefore has a dark gray color. The filter cleans the air flow from dust, fine dirt, germs, bacteria and enhances the protection of your lungs.

Which analogues to choose

In addition to simple cabin filters, there are also carbon filters that filter the air more effectively, but they are more expensive. The advantage of coal SF is that it does not allow foreign odors coming from the road (street) to penetrate into the car interior.

But this filter element also has a drawback - air does not pass through it well. GodWill and Corteco carbon filters are of fairly high quality and are a good replacement for the original.

However, in some retail outlets the price of the original third-generation Kia Sportage cabin filter may be greatly inflated. In this case, it makes sense to purchase a non-original consumable item. In particular, cabin filters are considered quite popular:

Conventional dust cabin filters

• Mann Filter CU24004 – high-tech consumables from a well-known manufacturer
• BIG filter GB-9967 – popular brand, good fine cleaning
• Nevsky filter NF-6424 - Russian manufacturer with an affordable price

Carbon cabin filters

• Mann Filter CUK 24 004 – high-quality and thick carbon coating
• BIG filter GB9967/C – activated carbon
• Nevsky filter NF6424C – normal quality, affordable price

It makes sense to take a closer look at the products of other companies - they also specialize in the production of high-quality consumables for passenger cars:

• Corteco
• Filtron
• SCT
• Sakura
• GoodWill
• Fram
• JS Asakashi
• Champion
• Zekkert
• Masuma
• Nipparts
• Purflux
• Knecht Mahle
• RU54

It is quite possible that sellers may recommend replacing the Sportage III SL cabin filter with non-original cheap substitutes with a much smaller thickness. They are not worth buying, since their filtering characteristics are unlikely to be at the proper level.

Changing the filter yourself

The first question for drivers is where is the Kia Sportage 3 cabin filter located and how much will have to be disassembled? No need to worry, since the part is located behind the glove box, and the tool you will need is a flathead screwdriver at most. Work can be carried out in the garage or outdoors. The only condition is good lighting.

Now we’ll describe how to change the cabin filter on a Kia Sportage. Follow a few simple steps:

1. Open the glove compartment on the dashboard and remove all items from it. There will be one cap on the right and left sides, which you should unscrew. If they do not budge, pry up the plastic parts with a screwdriver.
2. There is a limiter in the lower right part of the glove compartment. Push it to the right to release the entire plastic box. Now the glove compartment can be removed.
3. The plug will be located horizontally. To get it, press a pair of antennae on the sides and pull it towards you.
4. Use a screwdriver to pry up the old filter and remove it. Install the new part into the seat. Pay attention to the arrows, as they must coincide with the direction of the air flow.
5. Reinstall the plug and put the glove compartment back together.

The whole process will take no more than 10 minutes, so you can even occasionally check the condition of the filter personally as you use the car.

Changing the oil and oil filter Kia Sportage 3

The first step is to prepare the car by warming up the engine in neutral, since the lubricant must be hot when replacing. Then the machine is installed on an overpass or inspection pit.

To get to the Kia Sportage 3 drain plug, remove the protection, which is secured with four bolts, and the boot, which is mounted on two bolts and rivets. The rivets can either be unscrewed or removed with a special tool.

(link to photo source)

Before unscrewing the drain, place a tray into which the waste liquid will drain. Drain the old Sportage 3 grease, unscrew the filter along with the sealing ring. Wipe the area where the new cleaner will be installed to remove any dirt. Before installation, lubricate the filter and gasket with oil, and then install until it stops. After all these manipulations, fill in the required amount of lubricant, but remember that you cannot pour above the maximum mark of the dipstick.

(link to photo source)

Correctly checking the oil level

You need to check the oil level on a flat horizontal surface. Before checking, start the engine and warm it up to the optimal temperature, turn it off and let the liquid drain into the pan (you need to wait 5-7 minutes).

(link to photo source)

Remove the dipstick, clean it dry with a rag, then lower it again until it stops and measure the lubricant level in the engine. If the oil is between the F and L marks, the amount of liquid is sufficient for normal operation of the Kia Sportage 3 engine. But it is better to top up to the upper mark. If the lubricant drops below the L mark, topping up is required.

How much does Kia Sportage maintenance cost?

Kia Sportage maintenance is carried out only at specialized service stations by qualified mechanics. The cost of servicing depends on the mileage and age of the car. So, for the latest 2019-2020 models, the estimated maintenance cost is presented below:

• TO-1 – 10-13 thousand rubles.
• TO-2 – 15 thousand rubles.
• TO-3 – 15 thousand rubles.
• TO-4 – 20 thousand rubles.
• TO-5 – 12-15 thousand rubles.
• TO-6 – 25 thousand rubles.

For older models 2015-2017, the approximate cost of maintenance will be:

• TO-1 – 10 thousand rubles.
• TO-2 – 11-12 thousand rubles.
• TO-3 – 11-12 thousand rubles.
• TO-4 – 20 thousand rubles.
• TO-5 – 10 thousand rubles.

For other versions of the SUV, the estimated cost of maintenance and repairs ranges from 5,000 to 36,000 rubles, depending on the list of work and malfunctions.