DIY Cabin air filter replacement (RX350)
10-09-10, 02:05 PM
#1
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DIY Cabin air filter replacement (RX350)
Having benefited time and time again from great advice offered up by other posters, thought I'd return the favor a bit by putting together a quick guide for replacing the cabin air filter for the second generation (2007 RX350 in my case). Pretty straight-forward process, please find as follows:
Necessary goodies:
Pop open the glove box and at the upper left and right hand outermost corners, there is a plastic pin. In reading some prior threads, these are usually very tight coming out of the factory, so I needed pliers to twist and loosen them. (To prevent damaging/scratching the pin with the jaws of the plier, the tabs can be insulated with a plastic bag.) The left pin was loosened in the counter-clockwise direction, whereas the right pin in the clockwise:
It appears the pin didn't have to be completely pulled out, just loosened a touch. Then, some gentle tugging on the walls of the glove box downwards/outwards allowed for its release. Here's the full pin if one were to disassemble it completely:
With the glove box released, the filter holder (white) is revealed. Push inwards on the left/right tabs to release the holder.
The filter holder with dirty filter membrane:
Empty filter holder ready for new filter:
Now, place the replacement filter in the holder, noting the direction of air flow -- air flows from top to bottom:
Snap the filter holder back in the chamber and twist-lock the glove box pins to complete the process.
Hope this helps!
Necessary goodies:
- Air filter -- I opted for the Fram FreshBreeze (model# CF10132). Not sure if the activated carbon does much, but it was conveniently available at Walmart, or online (e.g. rockauto.com). <$15
- Pliers (optional) -- Ideally something with relatively wide jaws, I used a slip-joint.
Pop open the glove box and at the upper left and right hand outermost corners, there is a plastic pin. In reading some prior threads, these are usually very tight coming out of the factory, so I needed pliers to twist and loosen them. (To prevent damaging/scratching the pin with the jaws of the plier, the tabs can be insulated with a plastic bag.) The left pin was loosened in the counter-clockwise direction, whereas the right pin in the clockwise:
It appears the pin didn't have to be completely pulled out, just loosened a touch. Then, some gentle tugging on the walls of the glove box downwards/outwards allowed for its release. Here's the full pin if one were to disassemble it completely:
With the glove box released, the filter holder (white) is revealed. Push inwards on the left/right tabs to release the holder.
The filter holder with dirty filter membrane:
Empty filter holder ready for new filter:
Now, place the replacement filter in the holder, noting the direction of air flow -- air flows from top to bottom:
Snap the filter holder back in the chamber and twist-lock the glove box pins to complete the process.
Hope this helps!
10-09-10, 04:44 PM
#4
Moderator
Wouldn't be great if we could actually buy "Cabin Air Filters" not made in China? 3M Filterete (USA) did at one time, but as best I can tell they don't anymore. In any event your post is informative and spot on.
10-09-10, 05:24 PM
#6
No, I don't play soccer!
I recently replaced my cabin air filter with the Fram from Wallymart for $16. At 7 months old it was filthy. I'm glad I checked it. I'll have to recheck it after the leaves stop falling to see what it captures.
10-09-10, 08:33 PM
#7
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10-10-10, 05:51 AM
#8
No, I don't play soccer!
Eewww! No bugs, just leaf particles and probably lots of pollen for me. Then again I didn't check too thoroughly. Glad I didn't! It amazes me what can get inside, especially the taillights. What a collection I had in there.
10-11-10, 03:56 PM
#9
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I should have taken a picture of the one I took out. Leaves, bugs, pieces of debri and all the sand. I don't think it was ever replace. Now with the new one you can actually smell the difference. not that it smelled before-but you can now see and smell the difference-if that makes any sense. worth the $18
10-12-10, 10:02 AM
#10
Does not hurt to check condition of the filter every 6 months at least.
10-16-10, 02:00 AM
#11
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Definitely do this DIY and save big $$$
Folks, DIY on this item is a no brainer. From what I understand, Denso actually is the OEM supplier to Toyota for this part. The Denso part number is 453-1011. About $16. (Note that the "Toyota" OEM part 87139-YZZ05 costs about $20 at Sewell if memory serves).) It literally took me two minutes, with no tools, to change out the filter by following the excellent tutorial above that started this thread. Total cost: $16. OEM part.
Bottom line: Do this yourself. Save yourself $ dollars. Save yourself an hour. Learn a thing or two in the process.
Bottom line: Do this yourself. Save yourself $ dollars. Save yourself an hour. Learn a thing or two in the process.
Last edited by somnoboy; 10-17-10 at 04:43 PM.
10-20-10, 09:03 AM
#13
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I bought half a dozen from cabin/ACC filters from ************ (both .ca and .com) and shipping was free if you spend $75.00. Service was amazing! I am in Vancouver and I ordered on-line at about 10:00 am. My package arrived the next day at 2:00 pm (about 30 hours).
These filters (Chinese-made) work fine. The original one picked up a lot of dust during a summer road trip and the car would smell musty in rainy weather.
These filters (Chinese-made) work fine. The original one picked up a lot of dust during a summer road trip and the car would smell musty in rainy weather.
