One of the most commonly overlooked maintenance items on your Volvo is its cabin air filter. The cabin air filter ensures that the air that enters into the vehicle cabin is filtered, purified, and clean. The filter makes it possible for any of the air that's distributed into the cabin from the A/C & heating systems can be safely inhaled by the vehicles passengers. With that said, it should be understood that these filters do not last forever and should be changed regularly as it accumulates dirt, dust, and other debris. How many times have you entered into a vehicle, turned on the blower, and smelled a musty odor coming from the vents? Sure, It happens, but it doesn't need to with simple maintenance.
The cabin air filter on these cars should be replaced every 15,000 miles in order to keep it in its best condition and working efficiently. These cars have two different sized air filters and one of the most common questions I get on regular basis is "How can I determine which size cabin air filter my car has without removing it first?". Well, the answer can simply be found by looking at the re-circulation button found on the climate control module. If it has the letter "MAN" & "AUT", you'll require the larger 1.5" filter. If it just shows the re-circulation arrow, you'll require the smaller 1" filter.
Additionally, Any Volvo equipped with IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) originally came with a 1.5 inch thick activated charcoal impregnated filter. The charcoal filter provides better filtering and longer life. So now you ask "Can I put the larger charcoal filter in place of the smaller 1" filter?" Well, yes. However. you may notice that some models have a small plastic tab preventing the filter from being installed in the thicker slot. The good news is that the tabs are easily removed with pliers making the choice yours!
The applicable models are as follows:
- 1999-2006 S80
- 2001-2007 V70
- 2003-2007 XC70
- 2001-2009 S60
- 2003-2014 XC90
The following video shows you how to replace the cabin air filter on your P2 chassis Volvo:
