Changing the air conditioner filter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jamarimutt, Apr 9, 2006.

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  1. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    1. Open the lower glove compartment.
    2. Push in on the sides of the door until two notches disengage, the door will drop half way down.
    3. Locate a rod on the right side of the door and disengage it from a stub on the door.
    4. Pull the door and it'll come off.
    5. Look inside the hole and locate, near the top, a white rectrangular shelf.
    6. Pull on the sides and off comes a tray with the filter.
    7. Reverse the procedure after placing the new filter in the tray.

    The whole procedure takes two minutes and no tools are involved. I changed the filter at 36,000 miles and it was quire dirty.
     
    #1 jamarimutt, Apr 9, 2006
  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Yep, very easy, and waiting that long is way too long. Driving in Winnipeg city traffic I easily chuck it every 6 months. To filter out more of the dust and diesel soot, I went to Canadian Tire and purchased some of their "Supreme" furnace filters. These filters are rated MERV 12, the regular Toyota cabin filter is perhaps MERV 4. I cut them to fit but my interior is dust free.

    One of our more technical and helpful forum members, John 1701A, has a website full of helpful Prius tips:

    http://john1701a.com
     
    #2 jayman, Apr 9, 2006
  3. Ron Dupuy

    Ron Dupuy New Member

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    Is this the same as the "cabin air filter"?
     
    #3 Ron Dupuy, Apr 9, 2006
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    yeah.

    Thanks for the reminder! I'll go check at the end of the month. Haven't checked in a couple of months.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Apr 9, 2006
  5. BellBoy

    BellBoy Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamarimutt @ Apr 9 2006, 03:27 AM) [snapback]237103[/snapback]</div>
    What's the recommended miles/months to change it?
     
    #5 BellBoy, Apr 10, 2006
  6. benighted

    benighted New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BellBoy @ Apr 9 2006, 11:21 PM) [snapback]237419[/snapback]</div>
    Toyota reccomends every 10,000 miles. But at that rate I would be changing mine every 2 or 3 months!
     
    #6 benighted, Apr 10, 2006
  7. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    My air filter gets fairly dirty at 18,000 miles, so perhaps 15,000 is a good mileage to change both filters.
     
    #7 jamarimutt, Apr 10, 2006
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    10,000 miles?!? at 10,000 kms/8 months, mine's as black as anything. Ugh.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Apr 10, 2006
  9. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

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    So how much does the cabin air filter cost? While getting my state inspection done today, the dealer offered to change my cabin air filter for $65 (on sale from $70). I declined. I figured that the air filter couldn't possibly cost anywhere near that much and I could save some money doing it myself.

    So... How much?
     
    #9 Marlin, Apr 10, 2006
  10. glenk

    glenk Member

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    Does the cabin filter see both fresh and recirculated air flow or just recirculated as in my Honda?

    From the change interval that's been mentioned, it would seem that it sees all air flow.
     
    #10 glenk, Apr 10, 2006
  11. jamarimutt

    jamarimutt New Member

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    I paid $20 for a Toyota factory filter. Judging from the presence of leaves and other debris, it evidently filters the air that enters the car. I don't'know if it filters recirculated air.
     
    #11 jamarimutt, Apr 10, 2006
  12. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    just went out and pulled both of them and both are black. Put in the cleaned ones from last year and took the dirty ones down to the laundry room and gave them the Shout treatment and spun them dry and then Lysol'd them both, when dry will put them back in the box till next time. Diesel soot and bugs and leaves and only about 8 months.
     
    #12 Frank Hudon, Apr 10, 2006
  13. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    Well I started out following the OEM directions. My conclusion it is much cleaner in Japan than here. I got the idea to change mine when I was complaining to an Allergist about how much trouble I was having. He asked if my car had a filter and I said yes and he advised me to change it. It made a huge difference and it was fifthly. It is worth it to me to change it with oil changes. I have particle and electrostatic filters in my house that I change and or clean more often than the car was getting changed and I have to say "just do it"
     
    #13 hdrygas, Apr 10, 2006
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Cdn$32.95++ up here.

    I can get a better filter (MicronAir Particulate) from Canadian Tire for $20++
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Apr 11, 2006
  15. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Apr 10 2006, 10:06 PM) [snapback]237874[/snapback]</div>
    "Both"? You mean, the engine air filter and the cabin air filter? I thought it was bad luck to clean and re-use an engine air filter...

    [After reading Tideland's reply: "D'oh!!]
     
    #15 richard schumacher, Apr 11, 2006
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    he has a Classic and a Gen 2 Prius.
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Apr 11, 2006
  17. benighted

    benighted New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Apr 10 2006, 01:50 PM) [snapback]237715[/snapback]</div>
    I bought 2 OEM filters on ebay for $15
     
    #17 benighted, Apr 11, 2006
  18. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 11 2006, 04:21 PM) [snapback]238214[/snapback]</div>
    Jon:

    Would you happen to have a part number? I checked with a Cdn Tire on Fermor and also Portage west and they never heard of it. Thanks. Getting a bit tired of cutting one of their Supreme furnace filters to fit.

    jay
     
    #18 jayman, Apr 11, 2006
  19. tideland_raj

    tideland_raj New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Apr 11 2006, 06:02 PM) [snapback]238247[/snapback]</div>
    Jay,
    Try this link http://www.micronair.us/Toyota/105

    I just googled for micronair particulate.

    Jon, is this the part that candian tire sells?
     
    #19 tideland_raj, Apr 11, 2006
  20. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tideland_raj @ Apr 11 2006, 08:07 PM) [snapback]238320[/snapback]</div>

    Thanks. Will try it.
     
    #20 jayman, Apr 11, 2006
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