Suggested tools for cabin air filter on a 2019-2024 Ram 1500
Easy · Estimated: 15-30 minutes · AI draft generated 2026-09-14
This AI-generated draft has not been independently verified for your vehicle. Confirm engine, trim, build date, tool fitment and torque specifications against the relevant service information before buying tools or starting work.
Tools to check first
#2 Phillips screwdriver
7 mm socket, 1/4 in drive
Plastic trim/pry tool
Flashlight or headlamp
On the DT-generation Ram 1500 the cabin filter finally lives somewhere sane: a snap-in door on the side of the HVAC case behind the glove box. There's no cowl panel to pull and nothing under the hood to touch. The only real work is getting the glove box liner out of the way, and that means a few Phillips or 7 mm screws plus unhooking the damper arm on the right-hand side.
The two things people get wrong: buying the filter before checking whether their truck even has one (plenty of early 2019-2020 builds shipped with an empty housing), and installing the new element with the airflow arrow reversed. Also resist the urge to lever the liner out with a screwdriver — the dash tabs and damper socket snap, and you'll be chasing a rattle afterward.
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Suggested tool and parts checklist
Item
Type
Product search
Flashlight / headlamp LED, hands-free preferred The filter door is deep in the dark footwell behind the glove box.
Socket driver and socket 7 mm socket, 1/4 in drive with short extension Some DT builds use 7 mm hex-head screws on the glove box liner instead of plain Phillips.
Cabin air filter Mopar 68318365AA (or equivalent; confirm by VIN/year at the counter) The replacement element; particulate and charcoal versions both fit.
No differences by engine. The 5.7 Hemi eTorque, 3.6 Pentastar eTorque and 3.0 EcoDiesel all share the same HVAC case, same filter and same access procedure; only the glove box liner screw type (#2 Phillips vs 7 mm hex-head) and count vary by build date and trim. Note that the 2019+ Ram 1500 Classic (DS body) is a different truck with a different setup.
Torque values to verify
Glove box liner screws (Phillips / 7 mm)
Snug by hand, approx. 15-20 in-lb — verify in the service manual
Filter access door
No torque — snap-fit clips only
AI-generated procedure overview
Push the passenger seat fully back and recline it for room; empty the glove box.
Open the glove box door fully. Unhook the damper/check strap on the right side by prying the ball socket off with a nylon tool, or remove its single screw.
Remove the glove box liner screws (typically #2 Phillips or 7 mm hex-head) around the upper flange and the lower/inner edges. Count them so nothing is left behind.
Squeeze the liner sides inward and pull it straight out of the dash. On some builds the liner instead drops down far enough to reach the filter door without full removal — take whichever path gives you access.
Look at the right-hand vertical face of the HVAC case. The filter access door is a rectangular plastic cover with one or two snap tabs. Press the tab(s) and swing/pull the cover off.
Slide the old filter out horizontally. It flexes — fold it slightly and support it so trapped leaves and dust don't dump into the footwell. Note the airflow arrow direction before it's clear of the housing.
Vacuum the housing throat clean. If you're using evaporator cleaner, spray it into the duct now per the can's directions and let it drain.
Fold the new filter just enough to feed it in, then let it square up inside the housing. The airflow arrow must point the same way the old one did (downstream, toward the blower/evaporator — on the DT this is arrow-down/inboard). Make sure the frame seats flat with no corner folded over.
Refit the access door until both tabs click.
Reinstall the glove box liner, start all screws by hand, then snug them. Reconnect the damper/check strap.
Run the blower on high for a minute on both fresh air and recirculate; listen for whistling or rattling that would mean the filter or door isn't seated.
Watch out
Some early 2019-2020 DT trucks left the factory with the housing present but no filter installed. If the slot is empty, that's normal — just install one.
Don't force the glove box liner out with metal screwdrivers; the dash tabs and the damper ball socket break easily and are not sold separately.
Installing the filter backwards hurts filtration and can cause a whistle at high blower speed. Confirm the arrow before you close the door.
If the filter comes out soaked, suspect a plugged evaporator drain or leaking cowl seal — replacing the filter alone won't fix the smell.
Don't spray aerosol cleaner directly at the blower motor resistor or wiring on the passenger side of the case.
Frequently asked
Where is the cabin air filter on a 2019-2024 Ram 1500?
Behind the glove box, in a snap-door on the passenger side of the HVAC housing. You remove or drop the glove box liner to reach it — there is no under-hood or cowl-mounted filter on the DT.
Does my 2019 Ram 1500 even have a cabin air filter?
Not necessarily. Many early DT trucks were built with the filter housing in place but no element installed. Pull the access door and look — if it's empty, just slide a new filter in.
Which way does the arrow point on the Ram 1500 cabin filter?
The airflow arrow points downstream toward the blower and evaporator — on the DT that's downward/inboard as you look at the housing. Note the old filter's orientation before you pull it out.
How often should the cabin filter be replaced?
Ram's guidance is roughly every 12,000-20,000 miles or once a year. Dusty roads, gravel job sites or heavy pollen seasons can cut that in half; if airflow on high blower has dropped off, replace it early.