Do I have to replace that Cabin Filter!

Yes, you really should clean it out periodically, and change it out when necessary. Buy it on your own and change it yourself, there are YouTube videos on how it's done.

The filters run about $10 to $15 on Amazon.

 

I've yet to change the cabin filter, at 53K kms. I've looked at it 2 or 3 times, blown the dust out. I think it depends on location a lot though.

 

I replaced the filter myself and took Prius in for service the next day. The damn dealer called and told me the filter needed to be replaced. You can't trust them when they can make a quick $20.

 

yes, at least inspect and change if necessary. fairly easy diy and you can grab one at the dealer if you need it. if you have the dealer do it, no inspection. it's only change every 15k and expensive.

 

A clogged filter will hugely reduce your HVAC efficiency. Suit yourself but its a cheap and easy thing to do yourself. If you drive mainly in the city it should last 20-30K. More if you don't use the blower much.

 

I think it depends on the location. I live in a suburb of Chicago. At 10,000 miles mine is dirty and needs to be changed. Very dirty air here.

 

Not to mention, leaves and other debris from trees. If you park under or around vegetation.

 

Yes, you should change it. I have never changed mine and don't plan to. My older cars didn't have one. My 2006 Honda Civic is on 173k miles in Bay Area, CA. I've never changed the filter. AC and heat works fine. My PiP is at 73k currently. Not paying $15 for a useless filter. I dust it out every once in awhile. Don't listen to me.

 

Even Toyota says in the maintenance guide, to just inspect/clean the filter. With a proviso to replace IF it's knackered. This is excerpt from 2010 Prius guide, US versions:

 

10k? huh, i thought it was 15.

 

I live in the Chicago area. Mine is dirty at 10,000 miles. I'm sure in other locations you could go much more than that. The air here is very dirty.

 

it's definitely worth a check, until you get a feel for it.

 

It varies depending on solar roof option or not I think.

 

hmm, isn't that interesting.

 

Sad but true. I took mine ina few weeks ago after I bought it. I let them do the brake fluid flush and refill, alignment, cabin and air filter changes, injector cleaning, throttle body cleaning, etc. and everything else that they said needed attention. But yes, I actually went through the car to make sure they actually did all that. I guess I'm a bit cynical but don't trust the dealerships much. Everything was fine and they did what they charged for. But from now on I'll be doing most everything myself. Like you say, they'll do anything to add to the bill and make more money; even when it's not needed. NOT a fan of the dealerships at all.

 

Solar roof probably drives more A/C blower hours and volume.

 

It's a bit weird. Since the US schedule goes event-by-event, I made a spreadsheet some time back, just entered everything. Solar filter has more frequent cleaning, less frequent change. Non-solar has less frequent cleaning, more frequent change.

 

Dependent on where you drive. My daughter complained of a smell in her 2012 Kia Soul. The air cabin filter had a brownish coloration to it and it did smell bad. This was at 23 months and about 12000 miles with occasional trips from Bay Area to Central Valley. I have changed the filter once in a 2000 Ody and it's been everywhere.

 

is the solar filter different? i don't understand why it would get so many cleanings, and no change until 4 years or 40,000.