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New Cabin Air Filter, Blower motor service, and Engine Filter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Joe Wall, Feb 16, 2019.

  1. Joe Wall

    Joe Wall Member

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    I went to the Toyota dealership and found out my cabin air filter had a lot of debris in it. They said a rodent had been nesting in it. Additionally, they suggested a blower motor service and new engine filter. Any recommendations on cabin air filters and engine filters? Also could I do the blower motor service at home? The quote was pretty high so I wanted to do this at home instead and learn. Thanks!
     
  2. Joe Wall

    Joe Wall Member

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  3. Joe Wall

    Joe Wall Member

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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    never heard of blower motor service, not sure what it entails
     
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  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Be prepared to flush your wallet into the dealers cash register;).

    Highly doubt an air intake flush is required and will only lighten your wallet in the process :(.

    Change the air filter though(y).
     
  6. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    The filters aren't that expensive from the dealer. Personally, I get my filters from NAPA, either ProSelect or Gold lines. Some may be more concerned about engine filter quality, but for the cabin air filter, nearly anything that will allow air through but stop twigs and leaf bits will work.

    I don't know what the blower service entails, but you could just stick a vacuum hose in the blower and clean it out. I believe it should be just below the filter.
     
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  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I am assuming that debris from the rodents got past the cabin air filter. If that is true, then you will want to remove the cabin blower motor to clean it as well as the air ducting leading to the four cabin dash vents. (I further assume you do not care to breathe air contaminated with rodent droppings.)
     
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  8. Zeppo Shanski

    Zeppo Shanski Active Member

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    Toyota OEM cabin and standard air filters from your dealer in the nice Toyota box are over-priced garbage. Go to any decent quality auto parts store and get any good name-brand filter on sale and you'll be fine.

    I got a very nice aftermarket cabin filter at Advance Auto for $6.50 on sale through the internet. It was there on the counter when I walked in. < 5-minutes to put it in.
     
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    If s blower motor service requires you to remove the ac blower I would just replace it. It’s a well known failure
    At that age anyway. Odds are good if you remove it yourself to clean it it would probably fail soon thereafter only because it’s a pain to r and r.
    There like $50 on eBay. And it is a pain to remove unless you like laying on your back all scrunched up on the passenger side floor. The dealer will drill you hard on that labor probably 2 hours at $140 an hour.

    If you have mouse nest in the filter the car is inhabited by rodents. Take everything out of the rear hatch as there’s probably a nest in there too under the spare tire and they like building little condos in engine air filter box too.
    What really sucks is mice love the taste of Prius wiring and will gnaw on everything and cause a lot of damage $$$$$.
    See lots of mice damage on this site.
     
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  10. Joe Wall

    Joe Wall Member

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    I'll just get an OEM filter. Any recommendations?
     
  11. George W

    George W Senior Member

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    NAPA Gold series filters.
     
  12. Joe Wall

    Joe Wall Member

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    Called Advanced Auto and found an OEM filter about $12-$13. I'll have to check NAPA when it's open tomorrow. Thanks
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how can you get an oem filter at an auto parts store? do you mean aftermarket?
     
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  14. Borninblue

    Borninblue Active Member

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    There is only one “blower” service here and it is coming from dealer’s mouth. Replace filter on your own.
     
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  15. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Denso filter widely availble for around $4. has charcoal for those who believe it does any good.

    TYC available for under $3.50,

    2009 TOYOTA PRIUS 1.5L L4 ELECTRIC/GAS Cabin Air Filter | RockAuto

    BTW, agree with borninblue....Unless there are LOTS of debris that got past filter, would not worry. BTW, even then you can get most of it out without too much hassle and without removing blower motor -- something you should avoid
     
    #15 cyberpriusII, Feb 17, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2019
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  16. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    i would skip the charcoal. If a filter with charcoal was ripped, torn, think of the mess it would cause blowing into the cabin.
     
  17. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Denso is the OEM filter. They sell them on rock auto.
     
  18. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Because Toyota does not make them themselves, they buy them from other companies and put their name on them. Denso is the OEM manufacturer of the filters. If you buy a Denso filter it’s the same thing.
     
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  19. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    yeah kris gave the link to rock auto above;)

    But, if he were having rodent problems i would not use a charcoal filter. Big mess possible.
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    How do you confirm that a four dollar denso filter is the exact same as the thirty dollar Toyota?