Replacing Your Ford Explorer ST Cabin Air Filter: A Springtime Must

Spring is here, and with it comes blooming flowers, warmer weather, and, unfortunately, a surge in pollen and allergens. For Ford Explorer ST owners, this season is the perfect time to replace your cabin air filter. Not only does this simple maintenance task improve your driving experience, but it also helps combat springtime allergies and keeps your vehicle's interior air clean. 

Why Replace Your Cabin Air Filter in Spring? The cabin air filter in your Explorer ST is your first line of defense against airborne contaminants. It traps dust, pollen, mold spores, and other particles before they enter the cabin through the ventilation system. According to the AAA, a cabin air filter can capture everything from dirt and insects to allergens like pollen, which is especially important during spring when pollen counts soar. 

For the 40 million Americans suffering from allergies, a clean filter can reduce symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny noses, which could otherwise distract you while driving. Springtime also brings early blooming due to warmer temperatures, with some regions seeing flowers and trees bloom up to three weeks earlier than usual. This extended pollen season means your cabin air filter works harder and clogs faster. A clogged filter not only reduces air quality but can also strain your HVAC system, leading to reduced airflow and potential damage. Regularly replacing it—especially in spring—ensures you breathe cleaner air and maintain optimal vehicle performance. 

How Easy Is It to Replace? 

Good news: replacing the cabin air filter in your Ford Explorer ST is a quick and straightforward task that most owners can tackle in under 10 minutes—no advanced mechanical skills required! The process involves accessing the filter behind the glove box, swapping out the old one, and installing a new one. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing Your Cabin Air Filter Supplies: You’ll need a replacement cabin air filter compatible with your 2023 Ford Explorer ST. I recommend the EPAuto Cabin Air Filter for its activated carbon layer that enhances air quality and traps allergens, and MERV 13 rated! You will also need a phillips head screwdriver. 

Locate the Filter: The cabin air filter is behind the glove box. Open the glove box and release the side clips or stops (consult your owner’s manual for specifics). Lower the glove box to access the filter compartment.

Remove the Old Filter: Open the filter compartment cover, pry open the the plastic tabs on the sides. Then slide out the old filter, noting the airflow direction arrow. Check the filter—it’s likely packed with dust and debris after a season (or two) of use.

Install the New Filter: Insert the new filter, ensuring the airflow arrow matches the direction of the old one. Secure the compartment cover. 

Reassemble: Reattach the glove box by reversing the removal steps. Make sure it closes properly.

Test Your System: Turn on your vehicle’s ventilation system to confirm airflow is strong and clean. For a visual guide, check out this helpful YouTube video on replacing a Ford Explorer cabin air filter.

While the video may cover a slightly different model year, the process is nearly identical for the 2023 Explorer ST. Why It’s Worth It This mod costs around $12 for a quality filter, like the EPAuto Cabin Air Filter, and takes less time than a coffee run. Compare that to dealership service fees, and you’re saving money while taking control of your vehicle’s maintenance. Plus, with spring allergens in full force, a fresh filter means fewer sneezes and clearer eyes on the road—crucial for safe driving. 

 Pro Tip: Make It a Spring Ritual The 2023 Ford Explorer ST blog highlights how enthusiasts love personalizing their rides, from tinting windows to adding deflectors. Why not make cabin air filter replacement a springtime ritual? Pair it with other seasonal mods, like cleaning your interior or checking tire pressure, to keep your Explorer ST in top shape. Where to Buy You can grab a high-quality cabin air filter from Amazon. I recommend the EPAuto Cabin Air Filter for its balance of performance and affordability. It’s designed to fit the 2023 Ford Explorer ST and includes a carbon layer to improve air quality. Final Thoughts Replacing your cabin air filter is a small but impactful mod that aligns with the DIY spirit of the Explorer ST community. It’s an easy win for springtime, helping you breathe easier and drive safer during allergy season. So, pop open that glove box, swap out the filter, and enjoy cleaner air on your next cruise. Have you replaced your cabin air filter recently? Share your tips or mods in the comments below! 

 Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases through links in this post.

Steeda Lowering Springs and Rear Swaybar

I've been wanting to do this for a while, you know make an SUV handle better.  Not what you usually hear from soccer moms and grocery getters, but this is an Explorer ST - you drive it!  I got the Steeda Explorer Lowering Springs from a local seller who bought them and never installed - got a great deal on them!  I ordered the Steeda Explorer Adjustable Rear Sway Bar online as well.  I already installed the Steeda Explorer Strut Tower Brace so essentially I was building the Steeda Explorer Ultimate Handling Package.

Let's talk about each these components and why you would want to add this to your already well-handling Explorer ST.

Increased rigidity. A stamped steel strut tower brace comes standard on the Explorer ST but it may not offer the greatest performance. The Steeda strut tower brace features strong steel tubing and sturdy mounting plates to ensure great strength.  It also gives you a custom look. Compared to the stamped steel piece the Steeda strut tower brace is an eye-catcher when you pop the hood. This brace is a great way to give your SUV a unique look at meets and shows. It comes with a wrinkle black powder coat finish but I opted to pay $25 for the Steeda Blue powder Coat, just call them!

Stability and control. Distributing the weight of your Explorer between the rear wheels when turning, the Steeda sway bar helps to keep your SUV level in corners and planted to the road.  The bar is 3-way adjustable and up to 4x the stiffness of the OE swaybar.  I opted for the middle setting, not too aggressive and it feels excellent.  You can see it peeking out in the install bay - not yet attached.

Improved handling and performance. These Steeda springs help to lower the center of gravity, providing better handling characteristics. Brake dive and cornering are also improved due to a higher spring rate that doesn't compromise comfort. The springs also offer a more aggressive look. With a 1-1/8 inch drop front and rear, the Steeda springs give you a lower stance and more performance-oriented style without compromising the functionality of the SUV. We didn't want to drop the SUV too low as to interfere with parking and curbs, so these are perfect!

Lastly, once installed - you need to get your car aligned to set the specs back to factory alignment.  Fortunately the shop I took them to did everything as well as perform the rear backup camera recall as well!  

Overall, it's only been a day since the install.  The 'feel' is different, more 'planted' in the seat and the Explorer feels much more like our old Focus ST where it could turn on a dime.  The springs will take a few miles to 'settle' after some road exercise and come down to their lowered height.  Overall very pleased with the setup.  Between the strut tower brace, rear sway and springs - we have an Explorer that can handle just as good as it can GO!

REDTIGER Dash Cam time!

 An unfortunate series of events led to my wife rear-ending a small vehicle.  The guy admitted that he was driving poorly and caused the accident, but insurance used their ancient policy to blame the car in the rear.  Enough of that!  I instantly ordered a dash cam so we can record any future incident.  I opted for the REDTIGER brand, the price is great and the performance is excellent!!

The installation was pretty straightforward, and I used the following parts:

Visit the REDTIGER Store
4.4 out of 5 stars 7,942 ratings | 820 answered questions

REDTIGER Dash Cam Front Rear, 4K/2.5K Full HD Dash Camera $119 (after $30 off coupon)
SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card 256GB $17
REDTIGER 3M Mount F7N Dash Cam with GPS Module $20
REDTIGER F7N Dash Cam Hardwire Kit,11.5ft USB C Port Hard Wire Kit for Dashcam $20
REDTIGER F7N Circular Polarizing Lens, CPL for Dash cam $21

The specs are phenomenal!

• 4K Dual Recording: With Ultra HD 4K (3840x2160P) front and FHD 1080P rear recording capabilities, this dash cam captures key details such as road signs and license plates. It's ideal for providing clear evidence in unexpected situations.
• Superior Night Vision: Featuring an F1.5 large aperture and 6-layer optical lens, along with HDR/WDR technology, the dash cam ensures excellent performance under low light conditions, capturing clear details at night.
• Wi-Fi & Smart App Control: Connect the dash cam to your smartphone via Wi-Fi and manage it through the "Redtiger" app. You can view, playback, and download recordings directly to your iOS or Android device, and share your travel moments easily.
• Built-in GPS: The dash cam's built-in GPS records driving routes, real-time speed, and location, providing crucial additional evidence if an accident occurs. You can track your journey on Google Maps via the app or GPSPlayer on Windows and Mac.
• Reliable Features for Accident Recording: Even when the memory card is full, the dash cam continues recording with its loop recording feature. The G-sensor detects sudden collisions and locks the footage, while the 24-hour parking monitor records continuously with a time-lapse function (hardwire kit needed).
• 18-Month Assurance & Customer Service: The dash cam comes with an 18-month warranty and 24/7 customer service. We offer technical support to resolve any product, installation, or usage issues you may encounter.

AFE Momentum Intake Installation

 Lethal Performance has awesome marketing, they post stuff - I buy it!  Got a great deal on the AFE MOMENTUM GT COLD AIR INTAKE SYSTEM W/ PRO 5R MEDIA (2020-2022 EXPLORER ST) - 50-70076R  

The installation is pretty straightforward, took about 1.5 hours, overall very happy with it!

also checked the oil catch can, got a little bit after 5k miles - another great mod!

all installed and rockin!

Upgraded LED lighting for the rear

 One thing I'm huge on is visibility when you have tinted windows.  Upgraded LEDs can make a HUGE difference, not only in driver visibility but also to be seen better by other drivers.  The rear lights on the Explorer ST are good, but like most OEM parts can be upgraded.  I reached out to one of the Facebook groups and found this setup from Houston Speed Freaks  Upgraded turn signal bulbs, backup lights and license plate lights.  All are about 2-3X brighter - which is amazing!

pop off this square tab, and the taillight pulls out from the outside

you can use a socket to loosen the screw

simple swap of the old bulbs for the LEDs

the backup light is an extended part, just tuck the wires inside the housing

oem license plate bulb

new LED bulb, less power, less heat, and 2x as bright!

Upgraded to the Steeda strut tower brace and J&L Oil Catch Can

 Minor upgrade IMHO, but looks pretty cool!  I paid the extra $25 to have the Steeda Blue powdercoat, and the swap took about 30 minutes. https://www.steeda.com/steeda-555-5734-explorer-strut-tower-brace

While I was under the hood, I also did the J&L Oil Catch can to keep that oil bypass out of the intake, great cost and worth the trouble - especially with twin turbo vehicles.

 

OEM Strut tower brace, just a stamped piece of aluminum

simple removal - just a ratchet and 4 bolts

comparison of the OEM (top) and Steeda (bottom)

you can see the Steeda brace with extra hardware, nice flash of color!

The J&L Oil Catch can took about 15 minutes to install!

Really slick LED light strip for the Explorer ST

We found this mod on Facebook on the Explorer ST group, I can't take full credit for it - but figured for ~$40 it was worth trying out. First you have to get the parts to setup.

Parts Needed:

• 12V Add-a-Circuit Adapter and Fuse Kit (make sure your kit has the Micro-2 size)
• Car Hood Light Strip White 70 Inches Exterior Car LED Strip Lights

12V Add-a-Circuit Fuse Kit (Micro-2)

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70" Car Hood LED Light Strip White

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IRWIN Wire Stripper/Cutter

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Solder Seal Wire Connectors

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Installation Instructions:

Great! Now that you have the parts, the setup is pretty simple. First, test the strip to ensure it's working, you can do a quick connect to the battery for this, red to positive and black to negative. Not only can you see it working, but also tell which side is projecting the light.

Pop the hood and clean the top of both headlights and the grill section top. You don't want to use any harsh chemicals, just a good cleaning will do to ensure the tape will stick well. This is also a good time to see where the hood seal lays when the hood is closed, you'll want to follow this line with the new LED strip. I used painters tape to setup the strip and hold in place, it will want to wriggle around a bit since it comes curled up in the box.

Once you're satisfied with the layout, peel off the bottom red tape strip and start adhering to the car. You'll notice in my pictures that the 70" strip is perfect as it will tuck a few inches back on both sides of the hood under the fender. I placed some black 3M electrical tape to hide the red at the edges of the hood.

Wiring Setup:

Next up was to do the wiring. I cut the black cable and stripped about 1/2" off and used one of the driver side fender bolts as a ground, worked great and one less cable to run. The red wire I placed under the driver fender and ran back to the fuse panel which is hiding under two protective covers. The top cover is pretty simple, push two tabs and it comes up and off. The fuse box has 3 tabs, one toward the center of the vehicle and two (front and rear) closest to the driver fender.

I measured and cut just behind the fuse that comes with the kit. Since this is going into the fuse panel, you won't need the inline fuse. Use a fuse puller, or a thin set of wiring pliers and remove Fuse #21 - this fuse goes to the headlights and will automatically turn on (and off) when the vehicle starts (or stops).

This is where your fuse tap kit comes into play. Use the 10A fuse that you just pulled and place it in the slot closes to the pins. Then use a 5A fuse that came with my kit and plug it into the top slot. This way you protect your headlights as usual, and add a 5A circuit for your LED strip (which will use much less than 5A). Next, strip off the ends of the wire from the tap and from the LED red wire. I used Solder Seal Wire Connectors-Marine Grade Heat Shrink Wire Connectors since they're easy to use with a heatgun, offer a good soldered connection and they're waterproof for extra protection.

Final Steps:

I actually flipped the fuse around to direct the wire closer to the fender side of the box but it's a pretty simple setup and works great! Next up, check your hood clearance. In my case, the hood wouldn't close with both the LED strip and the protective rubber under the hood so I pulled the rubber from the hood. Some have adjusted their hood height adjusters but I didn't want the hood higher than the fenders.

So far it's been good, will check over time to see if the LED strip is good enough to block water, etc from the engine bay.

Last part, test! Close the hood and start it up!