🔧 Accent - Engine Air Filter Replacement

Your Accent’s engine air filter sits inside the air filter box (air cleaner housing) and keeps dust and debris out of the engine. Replacing it helps maintain good airflow, smooth performance, and fuel economy.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.2-0.5 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Work on a cool engine to avoid burns from hot parts.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers, tools, and loose clothing away from the radiator fan area (it can turn on unexpectedly).
• ⚠️ Do not start the engine with the air filter box open.
• ⚠️ Battery disconnect is not required for this repair.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Phillips screwdriver
• Flat trim tool
• Shop towel
• Flashlight

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Engine air filter - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and shut the engine off.
• Open the hood and let the engine cool for 10-15 minutes if it was running.
• Have a shop towel ready so you can wipe dust out of the air box.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Assumption: Your Accent uses a clip-latch air filter box (common on this model). Some have a small Phillips screw on the intake snorkel—both methods are covered below.

Step 1: Locate the air filter box

• Look for a black plastic box connected to a large intake tube going toward the engine.
• Use a flashlight to clearly see the clips or screws around the edge of the box.

Step 2: Unlatch (or unscrew) the air filter box cover

• If your box has metal/plastic latches, flip them open by hand. If they’re tight, gently help with a flat trim tool (a trim tool is a plastic pry tool that helps you avoid breaking clips).
• If your box has a retaining screw, loosen it with a Phillips screwdriver until the cover can lift.
• Don’t force clips—wiggle, then release.

Step 3: Open the air box and remove the old filter

• Lift the cover enough to pull the filter out. You usually don’t need to fully remove the cover.
• Pull the old filter straight out and keep it level so dirt doesn’t fall into the lower air box.
• Use nitrile gloves if the filter is dusty.

Step 4: Clean out the lower air box

• Use a shop towel to wipe dust and leaves out of the bottom half of the air box.
• Use a flashlight to check corners for debris.
• Do not let dirt fall into the intake opening.

Step 5: Install the new engine air filter (correct orientation)

• Place the new filter into the lower air box with the rubber edge seated evenly all the way around.
• Make sure it sits flat and isn’t pinched or folded.
• A crooked filter can let dirt past.

Step 6: Close and secure the air box cover

• Lower the cover and ensure it lines up with the lower half.
• Re-close all latches by hand, or tighten the fastener with a Phillips screwdriver until snug (do not over-tighten plastic).
• Use a flashlight to confirm the cover is fully seated on all sides.

Step 7: Final visual check

• Confirm no tools or towels are left in the engine bay.
• Make sure the intake tube is still seated and nothing looks loose around the air box.

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✅ After Repair

• Start the engine and let it idle for 15-30 seconds.
• Listen for hissing/whistling near the air box (can mean the cover isn’t sealed).
• If you hear an air leak, shut the engine off and re-check that the filter and cover are seated evenly.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $40-$90 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $12-$30 (parts only)

You Save: $28-$60 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.2-0.5 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.