Cabin Air Filter

Hi - brand new member here with a question... I've had my 2003 SR5 TRD for 20 years and uh, I've never changed the cabin air filter. Decided to go for it, checked the YouTube videos... and they all show a different air filter housing than I have. Once you drop out the glove box, the videos all show the typical two-clip front to the housing - activate the clips, pull off the front, remove the filter, easy-peezy. Mine, for some reason, when I drop out the glove box, reveals just a black plastic housing (see pic), with no access. I tried every way I know how to remove it or get into it without breaking it... can someone fill me in on what I'm missing?

 

We don't have cabin air filters.

 

Cabin air filters werent added until the 2nd gen trucks (05+).

 

Wow - not exactly what I expected. Thanks for the quick response guys!

 

Side quest, I’ve picked up a 1997 4Runner with the same Ac system.

is there any filters or way to clean the system ?
I’m down to take stuff apart and replace things that were not meant to be serviceable…
I just can’t imagine it being great after 20yrs+ on all these trucks.

 

Pretty much the first line of defense for the HVAC on these things is the AC evaporator coil and you have to take apart the dash if you want to clean that really. You can kind of get in to vacuum it if you pull out the blower motor and have a hose that's flexible.

 

Think it was that I had to replace that on the Tacoma… not a fun time with the 2012

ty

 

Uhhh I have a 02 SR5 TDR and mine has a cabin air filter. At least that's what I thought it was.

 

Where did you pull it from? We don't have cabin air filters

 

" I've got some... Ocean front property in Arrrrrrriizonaaa"

 

Not my exact truck but looks identical under the hood and saves me having to go pop mine for a pic lol....anyway, the area where i added the ⬇️ symbol is where I removed the filter and replaced it. Am I missing something because is that not a cabin air filter unit?

 

That's the engine air filter....

 

That would be your engine air filter.

 

Your reply didn't load so now we have duplicate answers

 

Over the years i have seen cabin air filters fabricated into the older Toyota Vehicles more a by product of keeping evil rodents out .

In most cases The people owning the vehicle had no clue they were even there and had very restricted air flow.

 

I was about to say, previous owner has done an amazing job at keep the engine bay clean. You really did come up on a good truck.

But than read your message

 

The evaporator is what takes most of the hit from not having a cabin air filter. You can clean them without removing them, up through the drain tube, but the best way is to remove the evaporator (which requires opening the system) and use coil cleaner and hot water. I did this once on my 96. It wasn't too bad, but the system was empty already, so it was a no-brainer for me, before replacing the compressor, the suction line, expansion valve, and all new seals.

 

So what I bought and replaced was indeed an engine air filter. I always thought they were the same thing and the location just depended on the individual vehicles make, model and year. This forum has literally been a life saver for me.@TacomaTRD4x402 lol I actually got a hell of a good looking truck under the hood and interior wise. It's a solid truck and has exceptionally low miles for its year and a tacoma (130,000 as of 2/2024) but unfortunately I wasn't aware of toyotas frame issues and though I did inspected the undercarriage for rust mine apparently does have the same issues pertaining to the frame rusting but it's in the upper part near the wheels and hard to even locate unless it's up on a jack or lift. I just spent 10 grand on it in November and I'm pissed because now I don't know if I should be forking our more money to fix the now passed recalled frame and repair it or if I should resell it and get out while I can. My biggest problem with resell is I'm not a scumbag like the asshole that sold it to me and won't like to get a quick buck to the next poor fucker who doesn't know what they are dealing with in terms of vehicles. On a different thread I posted photos of my truck asking for advice from all you guys and I seen one member did the po15 and his frame turned out wonderful. Wish I could find that particular member and the thread it was posted under as I'd be willing to pay him to do mine if worth it.

 

I'd just repair the frame before it gets worse. You already have 10k in the truck, and know it's faults. Might as well fix that before it becomes a bigger issue.

 

Fix it and drive the wheels off it