How to Change the Cabin Filter in a 2003 Buick

by Thomas West

Buick is an automaker that can trace its roots back to 1903. Buick produced cars that were very popular and outsold Cadillac and Ford in 1908. This caught the attention of the newly formed General Motors Company, which acquired Buick in that same year. As of 2010 the Buick Division of General Motors was still producing cars. The 2003 Buick line included Park Avenue, Regal, Century, and LeSabre models which all came standard with a transverse-mounted V-6 engine driving the front wheels. The cabin air filter in your 2003 Buick, which has a replaceable element, keeps dust and other particulates from entering the interior of your car through the air conditioning vents.

LeSabre and Park Avenue Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Step 1

Open the hood. Locate the cover for the cabin air filter housing on the passenger side of the cowl area below the windshield.

Step 2

Remove the cabin air filter housing cover by unsnapping it by hand and removing it from the engine compartment.

Step 3

Locate the release lever on the left side of the cabin air filter element, which was revealed after removal of the cover.

Step 4

Push the release lever out and slide the filter element straight out of the filter housing.

Step 5

Push the release lever out and slide a new filter element into the housing. Let go of the lever when the filter is fully seated on the two tracks in the filter housing.

Step 6

Snap the filter housing cover back into place and close the hood.

Century and Regal Cabin Air Filter Replacement

Step 1

Turn the ignition key to the accessory position and turn on the windshield wipers. Turn the key off when the wipers in their uppermost position. This step is necessary, as the wiper arm obstructs access to the cabin air filter housing.

Step 2

Open the hood. Pull the rubber weather stripping loose from the flange where the cowl meets the firewall on the passenger side of the car by pulling it straight off the flange. Do not completely remove the weather stripping, as this is not necessary.

Step 3

Carefully pry the windshield washer fluid hose from the three retaining clips on the passenger side of the cowl with a flat-blade screwdriver. Remove the plastic cowl cover by prying up the screw cap in the center of the cover with a flat-blade screwdriver and removing the three retaining fittings with a Philips screwdriver. Lift up on the cowl cover and remove it from the engine bay.

Step 4

Pull the cabin air filter element out of the filter housing revealed after removing the cowl cover. Push a new filter element into the housing. Place the cowl cover back into place and tighten the retaining fittings with a Philips screwdriver. Push down on the screw cap until it snaps into place. Snap the windshield washer fluid hose back into the retaining clips.