LexLS

Opps, I should have made it more clear in my previous post. You can get either filter, you don't need to buy both!!!!

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

my 97 doesn't seem to have one in there? I stuck my hy fingers in there all all there was, was an empty space? Some cars have them and some don't right?

lexusk8

That's right Tony. My '01 ES came with an A/C filter when I bought it used a couple years ago. I'm thinking this filter is an optional item from the factory, and I'm not exactly sure at which starting model year for the ES the A/C filter became a standard item

gcrim21

All filters, engine and cabin, can be ordered at a reasonable price from "Irontoad.com"

LarryParker

Starting with the Lexus part number for a cabin air filter, I did some internet digging, and finally found an online seller of the cabin filter for my 2000 ES. http://www.rockauto.com/ They had six choices, ranging from $16.34 to $35.79. Now that's a range! Just for kicks, I checked lexus-parts.com, and their price for, of course, the Lexus cabin air filter pair, was $47.30 + shipping. I ordered the second cheapest WIX 24895 for $19.66 + 6.68 shipping.

Whether or not the WIX will look to be a decent replacement, and whether or not I will be able to actually get it installed are questions yet to be answered I gave up trying to fight the carpet removal and lack of working room, since I did not have the replacement filters on hand. When I do get them, that will have to be my incentive to handle the task of the removal and installation of the cabin air filters.

Here are a few replacement cabin air filter part numbers for the Toyota part number 88880-33020, or the almost exactly identical 88880-33040:

Purolator C25450
WIX 24895
Hastings AF1228
Cofbel ACA-4915
Fram CF8638
Denso 4531004

lexusk8

This is great info for those of us with a 2000-2001 ES300

superpats

I will be ordering one soon. Thanks for the info.

LarryParker

The WIX filter arrived and it looked fine. At one third the Lexus price it looks very good No one will say, "You know, dahling, I don't think this air has been filtered through a Lexus™ cabin air filter".

I tried to remove the plug as shown in the second photo in this thread. I could feel the tab on the back, but I depressed it and could not unplug the plug, so I got wire cutters and cut the black plastic tie strap also visible in that photo. That tie strap was not holding anything secure anyway. Then I was able to move the wires so I could pull off the filter access door.

I got the filters out and saw that they were in need of replacement. I got the WIX top filter back in but couldn't get the bottom one back in. So here's me reclining the seat back, tilting the steering wheel all the way up and laying on my back on the driver's seat so I could get a better look at the problem. The top filter was not all of the way up, so I moved it up and got the bottom filter in, the access door back on and the carpet replaced. It took me about 20 minutes because of the limited room to see and work. I even started the engine and cranked up the A/C to be sure. All is well, including my wallet

lexusk8

Nice job getting the A/C filter installed Larry I know what you mean about the uncomfortable position some of us including myself have to face when DIY replacing the filter, but this is definitely something we must all do once a year, especially around the summertime where we most utilize the A/C. It's amazing how much pollen, bugs and dust these filters collect over a year's worth of use or so.

element51

any chance of this working for the 96 es? pretty much the same steps?

lexusk8

Should be the same steps for that year ES. Same location of the filter, same everything.

redzeppelin

Thanks for the right up, I am planning on doing the same for my car. It has never been changed and with the windows closed all the time and the air on, it gets a little stale.

element51

yes, i looked today, only to find a bunch of leaves and a twig. pollen filter, here i come! the air gets very stale without it, i always wondered why. anyone have any ideas how to clean all those dam leaves out of there? its a tough spot to reach.

danelen

I ran across this very helpful DIY and was surprised to see how many people mention they didn't have this filter. So I checked mine out and no filter there for me either. Not too big of a surprise until I got to thinking that I seemed to remember something to do with this in one of my services at my local Lexus shop a while back. So then I went through all my old receipts and sure enough in one of those very expensive services on the list of things that was supposedly checked (thus ostensibly justifying the very high price of the glorified oil change) was the a/c air filter.

If they actually checked it they might have noticed it wasn't there!

marcmindte

Just did mine on my 98 es300, and when I got it opened, mine didn’t have a filter installed. I guess some cars have them, and some don’t. When I opened it up, there was a ton of dirt, leaves, pine needles etc.. So I shoved my vacuum in there and got it all clean. Then I installed the new one. I used a Wix filter $18 and it fit like a charm.

Thanks for the DIY