Replace Cabin Air Filter

There is no effing way the cabin filter needs changing at 5000 mi / 6 months. Yeah, pop out the glove box and have a look for yourself. There's probably some tabs or tangs around both sides that need to be flexed in a bit, and a damper that needs unhooking at the outer end. Finally lift the glove box off it's hinges, and lift it out. Then just follow your nose, there'll be a little plastic door in there somewhere.

In the manual, page 621, 622.

FWIW, we're at 65K km's and 6.5 years, still on original cabin air filter. Every year or two I take it out and blow some compressed air through it.

 

Looks like a pretty straightforward job

 

Take a look on youtube, lots of helpful advice (at least there is for the 2009 Gen II) - $55 for a job which takes all of 30 seconds (45 if you need to unload the glove-box), at least that's about what it takes for the Gen II. My Stealership charges ~$105/hour (I think), but even at that rate, there's no way it takes ½ an hour plus!!! Well, you've come to the best place for really great advice, but beware, PriusChat is addictive!! Good luck!

 

Yeah and the more you do these diy jobs the more you learn about your car. This community is great for really empowering us. Damn the stealer ship and now u can see for urself if those guys are actually liars. Tag the dealership and help everyone stay away. Good luck!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Careful! in my experience, Toyota filters look better & last longer than many of the auto parts store filters. I usually order my Toyota filters from Amazon.

 

They make two filters -- one with charcoal. That one is more $$ ... My lexus has free maintenance so they change it.

I buy the OEM Denso from Autohaus or the OE from an online dealer if I'm servicing the cars w/o needing enough stuff to hit free shipping at Autohaus.

 

if the air where you live is clogging your filter at 5k, i would use a charcoal filter and a gas mask.

 

My KIA had replacement every 15,000 kilometres - I asked to see it one time, and, yes it was quite dirty. Unless you use recirculate on Climate Control, ALL the air coming into the cabin comes via the filter. I'm not sure if it's washable? TOYOTA doesn't suggest so, but a mechanic wouldn't do that if he can replace a part.

How to change it is in the Manual - here is the first of a few pages:

 

i changed mine at 30k, cause it's hard to tell if the charcoal is dirty.

 

I replace the engine and cabin filters recently on our Gen 2 with STP filters. Neither one fit correctly. It was a simple matter to make them fit, but I won't be buying that brand again.

 

Maybe just check the one in there first; seems like your dealership is completely blowing smoke. Unless your environment is per bisco's description:

Replace Cabin Air Filter | PriusChat

 

I would be amazed if you really needed to change it this soon unless you've been driving through forest fires and sand storms. A lot!

 

Or a sheep shearing marathon?

 

I found small (dead) insects, pieces of wings and what looked like grass seeds etc in the one from the KIA.

 

'grass' seeds?

 

My hunch: the dealership didn't even looked at the filter, and it's fine.

 

That's what they looked like - tiny. I'd been touring "out west".

I'd driven through a plague of locusts (small grassshopper like insects) which were a pain to remove:


When I stopped at a fuel outlet to clean my windscreen - washers didn't do anything, there were big trucks stopped, and the drivers underneath raking locusts from their radiators.

 

now that's the australia we americans know and love.