Public Service Announcement! Don't neglect your cabin filter!

DON'T FORGET TO PERIODICALLY CHECK YOUR CABIN AIR FILTER!

I bought my truck used this summer, and didnt think anything of it. I changed the oil, checked the air filter, and did all the typical things youd do when you buy a used car....except check the cabin filter. I even noticed there were leaves in my glove box, but didnt think anything of it.

Since it was the summer, I really didn't need to use the heater. In the fall, I started using it but didn't think anything of it. Now that its balls ass cold here, I use the heat alot. I typically use the defrost/floor option, but the other day, It was so cold out I switched the blower over to the dash vent option and noticed on full blast/recirculate the air was barely coming out of the outer vents and there was no air at all coming out of the center vents.

I finally got to thinking and remembered I never replaced or even checked the cabin filter.....

I picked up a new one from the dealer the other day and finally got around to switching it today.

The owners manual goes into detail on how to physically replace the cabin filter, so Im not going to go into detail on that....

Heres the part number of the filter for all who are interested -



Heres a shot of the old one -



The old one is an OEM filter, which I'd imagine is probably the original factory one. If it is, it has 2 years/50xxx miles of dust and dirt on it.

Heres a comparison of the old filter versus the new one -



Pretty nasty.

After replacing it, the heater blows harder and hotter out of every vent in the truck. Its a night and day difference.

Woo.

And I figured since I did this, it would be a good idea to make sure the rain tray wasn't full of dirt and leaves and shit while I was at it.

Got the wipers off and raintray off, noticed there wasnt a screen or anything over the intake -



Is this normal, or is there a piece missing? If this is normal, this is a pretty dumb design. Even my buddy's '82 Rabbit pickup has a screen over the HVAC intake...

I wanted to do something about this. I found a piece of screen in the garage and cut/bent it up as a cover for the opening -





I was able to install it pretty easily by wrapping the screen around the lip of the opening and securing it with 2 zip ties through existing holes -





I threw it together in about 20 minutes. Its not perfect, but It'll do until it gets warmer out and I can find a better material to fabricate a nicer more OEM cover/screen out of.

TL;DR - Check your cabin air filters regularly and replace as necessary


:beer:

 

Nice job on this reminder thread.

 

Nice job Steveo! Thanks for the great read/thread, Aloha!

 

Nice write up! I like the screen idea. I also bought a new to me tacoma a few months ago and my cabin filter looked very similar to yours. I did however Instal the Mod version on here washable cabin filter made from a home depot filter.

 

I looked into doing this. Depending on how long the OEM lasts before it needs replaced will dictate my next move. If it becomes a yearly process of replacing it, I'll change over to a washable filter.

 

I changed mine at 15,000 km's. It wasn't horrible but not as bad as some of yours. My roommate didn't know her car had one and it wasn't changed in 8 years(since new). It was so nasty. I'm glad it's not my car.

 

Didn't even know cabin filters existed...

 

Great write up & nice job on the screen!

That filter was NASTY!

 

Search DIY washable cabin air filter

 

great reminder.

i'm a cheap fool. i occasionally hit my filter with my shop vac while i am vacuuming my truck out (between changes). you cant go at it hard, or your will destroy it..but it is nice to suck out big leaves and bird wings. look at it as an inspection time.

i use a Wix cabin filter. saves a few bucks over OEM.

 

WIX 49358. I change mine every year.

 

Living in Az - the dust bowl , I change mine every 6 months and have 8 extra on hand.

Az

 

AM-AUTOPARTS.COM has cabin filters for $10.31 apiece w/ free shipping.
I buy 2 or 3 at a time and change out yearly in the fall so I have good heat in winter

 

Not all cars have them.

 

wow dude that thing was gnarly. I would have never expected a 2 or 3 year old filter to be that bad. Nice catch. Added to my to do list.

 

We didn't know my roommates car had one and it's a 2005. If you can find a place to get one for cheaper than the dealer. Spend the 90 seconds to change it. Don't pay a dealer to change it.

 

Marked. I'll have to put a screen on the intake under the hood to keep the bugs out of it. BTW, I had Walmart change my oil yesterday, and the meatheads managed to lose the nipple under the oil filter. I tortured them a little bit and made them look for it here there and everywhere. Freaking meatheads, how hard is it to put the nipple in the cup, jebus. . . .

 

Nice write up and great pictures.

 

Its amazing how much dust it collects. On my VW, Id change it every few years and it would still look fairly new. Id love to know where the original owner picked up all the dirt.

Good heads up :thumbup:

Depending on how long this one lasts, I might do a DIY washable one next time.

 

Well, I guess I can expect my filter to look similar right about now. Thanks for the reminder, and for the write-up.