The Hyundai Santa Fe Cabin Air Filter Installation
(US Version)

Introduction / History

The Hyundai Santa Fe's that are sold outside the United States are equipped with a Pollen Cabin Air Filter that filters out any odors and particles leading to the fan/air conditioning unit ducts. This modification addresses this oversight by installing a genuine Hyundai air filter into the empty filter housing for US Models. The OEM filter is one that is made for the Hyundai Sonata but fits into the same housing of the Santa Fe. Performing this modification yourself will save you between $80-$120 US Dollars that it would cost if US Dealerships were to do it. The original install guide for Australian right handed drive models can be found here.

Disclaimer

Difficulty level / scale: On a scale of 1 - 10

Tools and materials needed:

Time to install item:

Source, item and packaging

		The Cabin Air Filter needed for this modification is a genuine Hyundai OEM part made for the Hyundai Sonata. The part number for the Cabin Air Filter is as follows... Part # 97619-38100 fits all Santa Fe's produced from its birth through march, 28th, 2003. Part # 97619-3D000 fits all Santa Fe's produced from March 29th, 2003. These filters can be obtained at any Hyundai dealership, even cheaper if purchased online through the Hyundai Parts Online and Hyundai Accessory Mall website. A few more sites are available on this page.
		The Cabin Air Filter is shown here with its part number.
		For those that are not in the United States and do not have access to obtain the above filter such as Canadian Owners, you can purchase any furnace filter which are usually sold in any hardware store with the size of 406 mm by 508 mm and 25 mm thick. Just cut it into four pieces. Each piece would be 203 mm by 254 mm and wedge it into place. (Tip provided by Santa Fe Forum member congo99.)

Step 1: Accessing the Cabin Air Filter Housing

		The Cabin Air Filter housing is located behind the Glove Box. The Glove Box needs to be temporarily detached to gain access to the cabin air filter housing. Open the front passenger door all the way and place the passenger seat to the rear most position. This will give you plenty of room to work in the immediate area. To the right of the glove box is a side molding. This side molding is attached by clips and a screw. Remove this screw.
		Gently pull the side molding towards you. It should come off with no problem. This picture also shows the pin that holds the elastic cable. This elastic cable prevents the glove box from going to far.
		This picture shows the elastic cable and the tape securing it. Take off the tape and place it elsewhere on the glove box.
		Carefully thread the pin through the hole so it is released from the glove box.
		Bend the left and right sides of the glove box inward to release it from the stop points. This will allow the glove box to be fully extended. (Make sure the glove box is empty.)
		With the glove box fully extended, you can see the bolts that need to be removed. Remove them with the 10mm socket wrench. Gently pull towards you the glove box to detach it from the area.
		With the lower part of the glove box removed, you will need to remove the upper part which is held by 4 screws. Remove these 4 screws.
		Carefully dislodge the upper glove box molding. Be aware that it is still connected to the console by the glove box light switch wires. You will need to place the upper glove box carefully towards the door or the wires will disconnect. You can disconnect the wires if you wish, but remember that the black wire is on top and the blue one is attached to the lower pin.

Step 2: Remove existing filter

		Pre-2003 Models With both the upper and lower glove box moldings out of the way you can see the Cabin Air Filter housing and its cover. Remove the cover by unclipping it from the bottom.
		Post-2003 + Models Santa Fes' now have a two piece retainer cover. Remove with a half twist of  the center tee bolt to free the top half, bottom half unsnaps at bottom and slides down and out.
		Post-2003 + Models Retainer cover removed.

Step 3: Remove existing filter

		If you have an existing filter in the housing just pull it out. If no filter exists, proceed to step 2. This picture shows the filter after one year. (I think I will replace it a bit more often like every 6 months).
		Another view side by side.

Step 4: Attaching the new Cabin Air Filter.

		This picture shows the cover removed and the inner area of the housing.
		Take your filter and inserted into the housing. Make sure that the filters' notch is towards the bottom, otherwise the filter housing cover will not close.
		Filter should now be fully inserted and seated. Reattach the filter cover and perform the Step 1 in reverse order to reattach all the parts.

On the Post 2003 + models, the two piece filter also slides right in.

Warranty notes:

Additional notes and Part Numbers: 

MY = model year

Santa Fe
2001 MY: 97619-38100
2002 MY: 97619-38100
2003 MY: 97619-38100 or 97619-3D000 (after March 29th, 2003)
2004 MY: 97619-3D000
2005 MY: 97619-3D000

This site was last updated 02/20/06