ES300 A/C or cabin filter change (97-01)
05-31-16, 09:29 AM
#122
Working on my dad's 1996 4 Cyl Toyota Camry last night and decided to check. there's the same slot but no filter. ordered a carbon activated one off amazon. Going to need a shop vac and some lysol in there. it's been 20 years and 200K miles with no filter!!
03-12-17, 04:05 PM
#125
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alabama
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Same!
I just installed one in my 92. Beck/Arnley 042-2107 w/activated charcoal. Quality seemed good but it was pain to install due to loose fit. The upper filter wouldn't stay in place to allow the lower to slide in. In the end I had to use a bit of duct tape on the tab to hold it up. There was lots of swearing and my ribs are bruised.
03-13-17, 09:10 PM
#126
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Thanks for the video, like many mine didn't have a filter there and I got out as much debris as I could. I can get the upper filter to slide in but not slide up, any suggestions?
03-20-17, 05:04 AM
#128
Driver School Candidate
Slide a thin stick or something like a ruler or a long pencil below the filter (after the filter is slided in). Using this stick move it upwards until it is completely up and locked in position.
11-27-17, 03:13 PM
#129
Driver School Candidate
Well, I have owned my 2001 ES300 for 3 years now, I checked the past maintenance records from new and see NO mention of cabin air filter replacement, so today I went in search of said filters. What I found is what I believe to be ORIGINAL filters in place. I called 3 local chains and no one had it in stock. I said F it , and vacuumed it then carefully washed it, when done it looked new. What's the worst that could happen, gotta be better than the mess in the picture. Sorry no pics after cleaning. BTW this car has 100,000 miles.
Last edited by fpliny; 02-15-18 at 07:52 AM.
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02-13-18, 01:57 PM
#131
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Join Date: Mar 2017
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Is there any brand cabin air filter I should be leaning towards? Getting ready to order it but they list a few different manufacturers. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
02-13-18, 02:11 PM
#132
Lexus Champion
Denso with the charcoal/carbon. That's what I use it looks exactly like the original I pulled out when I got the car. The Amazon link above you looks like the charcoal version.
09-01-20, 12:30 PM
#133
Well I just installed a filter where there was none and I am asking myself WHY?
The only way I could get to it was to lay upside down on the front seat with my head under the dash like a contortionist. The filter I bought was in 2 parts upper and lower and the upper would not stay there while I installed the lower; the moment I let go it dropped in the way, occasioning a certain amount of cursing. Finally I un-contorted myself, got out backwards and cut a 1" piece of tape to hold the cussed thing in place. After that it was easy.
I am asking myself why I spent the time and effort when I was perfectly happy with no filter atal for years. This was about the stupidest thing I have ever done car repair wise, and that's sayin' a LOT!
If you're thinking of changing your cabin filter I can't recommend it.
The only way I could get to it was to lay upside down on the front seat with my head under the dash like a contortionist. The filter I bought was in 2 parts upper and lower and the upper would not stay there while I installed the lower; the moment I let go it dropped in the way, occasioning a certain amount of cursing. Finally I un-contorted myself, got out backwards and cut a 1" piece of tape to hold the cussed thing in place. After that it was easy.
I am asking myself why I spent the time and effort when I was perfectly happy with no filter atal for years. This was about the stupidest thing I have ever done car repair wise, and that's sayin' a LOT!
If you're thinking of changing your cabin filter I can't recommend it.
09-01-20, 02:23 PM
#134
Pole Position
Well I just installed a filter where there was none and I am asking myself WHY?
The only way I could get to it was to lay upside down on the front seat with my head under the dash like a contortionist. The filter I bought was in 2 parts upper and lower and the upper would not stay there while I installed the lower; the moment I let go it dropped in the way, occasioning a certain amount of cursing. Finally I un-contorted myself, got out backwards and cut a 1" piece of tape to hold the cussed thing in place. After that it was easy.
I am asking myself why I spent the time and effort when I was perfectly happy with no filter atal for years. This was about the stupidest thing I have ever done car repair wise, and that's sayin' a LOT!
If you're thinking of changing your cabin filter I can't recommend it.
The only way I could get to it was to lay upside down on the front seat with my head under the dash like a contortionist. The filter I bought was in 2 parts upper and lower and the upper would not stay there while I installed the lower; the moment I let go it dropped in the way, occasioning a certain amount of cursing. Finally I un-contorted myself, got out backwards and cut a 1" piece of tape to hold the cussed thing in place. After that it was easy.
I am asking myself why I spent the time and effort when I was perfectly happy with no filter atal for years. This was about the stupidest thing I have ever done car repair wise, and that's sayin' a LOT!
If you're thinking of changing your cabin filter I can't recommend it.
The problem is that the cabin filter affects the quality of the air not only for the people inside the car, but also for the HVAC system itself. It seems like you are lucky to drive in a place with little to no dust and other particles around, but in places with a lot of leaves, sand and stuff like that, you will not only get a bunch of unwanted dust in the cabin (which, in itself, results in all sorts of problems) but you will also be in risk of clogging and damaging your HVAC system, and to fix it, you will have to take the entire dashboard out, which is a bit trickier than a regular filter maintenance.
In short, the filter is there for a reason, and while it is tricky to get to, it is absolutely worth checking, especially considering the fact that you don't even need to do it that often..
Hope this helps and best of luck!
