Replaced Cabin Air Filter @ 15K Miles / 15 Months - Check Yours

15K is approaching for me as well. I will check it as you suggest. I'll probably attempt to clean it and then decide whether to spring for the $35.

 

Are you sure the original one was dirty, some pollen filters have charcoal in them which makes them look dirty, the charcoal is to filter out odours (sometimes they are called odour filters). The cheaper (white) filters don't filter out odours.

 

I like the Fram Fresh Breeze filter for mine, good filter, only $14.50 on Amazon, order two and its free shipping. Fram says the part number for 2010 is CF10285

 

Yes, replacement is quite easy - once you get how to remove the lower glove box. BTW, you can put one of those air fresheners called "little trees" (the new car smell) on top of the filter and it brings in a nice fresh scent thru the vents.

 

most cars i've owned with the filters suggest 15K miles or one year anyway, so 30K seems like a long time. It's good to have them clean and everything, but if you roll down the windows ever, then you're just letting all the pollen, odor, and dirt in anyway.

 

Replaced mine today, it was pretty dirty as Stream said his was. I used one from NAPA, part # 4483 $16, looked about like the original.

 

Going for my 30k service next week (or so) and checked my pollen filter and was surprised by how much crud was in it! It really was full of muck and dirt and almost looked like you could grow something in it!

Will replace it at much much earlier intervals as it surely can't be working that well in its present state. Will replace it at service next week.

I'd recommend you check yours as it's quite easy to get at.

 

I've not done 2K miles in the car yet and I only do about 8K a year so mine should be good for at least 2 years or so.
I might just have a play and see if I can take it out easily, for future reference.

 

I cleaned mine out at ~10K. It had some tree snot and minor debris on it. I used my electric leaf blower - It works great!

I plan on replacing it once I hit 20K or so...

 

Ugh. Maybe it's just me, but I find most 'air fresheners' nauseating, especially in the heat. There's no substitute for genuine fresh air. Especially in Spring, right after rain, with blossom-scented breezes replacing the cold, dead air of Winter.

And that 'new car smell'? It's contact cement, and off-gassing plastic.

 

What is that special filter cycle button on the A/C for when the air is being filtered all the time?

 

I just bought 2 cabin air filters and 2 engine air filters for $60.00 plus $10.00 shipping. These are Toyota parts from a Toyota dealer. This is the site Toyota Scion Parts Accessories Discounted Prices - Metrotpn

 

It runs the ventilation system in recirc mode for ~3 minutes or so. Depending on your climate control settings, it may or may not increase blower speed. It is intended to be used with the windows closed in order to remove pollen and dust from the cabin air. As mentioned, once you open a window you're back to square one.

 

But doesit run the air through a special filter or something? Otherwise why not just use the recirc setting?

 

No special filter, recirc and maybe turning the fan up a notch or two do the same thing. I think they just wanted to add another button.

 

Can never have enough buttons!

 

In a previous thread, someone answered that the difference was that even in recirc mode that the outside air vent is not fully closed to always allow some outside air. When run in the filter mode, the outside vent is closed tightly in order to remove dust and pollen.