LS430inDE.

Hi guys. Sorry about the low quality of the images..but I finally broke down and replaced the underseat filters (at $29/each) and the main cabin/ac filter. My car has 45k miles on it, and was in PRISTINE CONDITION. There isn't even curb rash on the rims. Anyway--my point being, I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FILTHY THE CABIN FILTER WAS! I mean..I was not only disguisted, but also INFURIATED, because I took it to Lexus of Chester Springs, PA for a presale INSPECTION! FROM HEAD TO TOE...and their inspection results were---needs oil change, missing cigarette lighter, and .5mm chip in paint on front of hood. How is CHESTER SPRINGS, PA. LEXUS going to tell me my OIL is dirty, yet NOT CHECK AN AIR FILTER THAT TAKES 3 MINUTES TO GET TO???It takes less than 4 minutes to change the cabin/ac filter. The seat filters are a little bit of a pain because there is so little room underneath of the seat. And before anyone posts...NO. I DO NOT feel any difference in the airflow of the a/c seats!! At least they are clean. FYI..the cabin filter is supposed to be replaced every 12k miles. Not sure if I will ever replace the underseat filters again. Ehh..maybe at 200k miles..lol.

Again..sorry for the crappy pics..but they were taken with my camera phone...just hoping I can attach multiple images...NOPE. Of course not. It says I've uploaded maximum images?...oh well....

THIS IS THE CLEAN SEAT FILTER....

LS430inDE.

here is the dirty seat filter...

LS430inDE.

here is the clean cabin/ac filter

LS430inDE.

here is the filthy cabin/ac filter...

LS430inDE.

filthy cabin/ac filter!!

LS430inDE.

Dirty cabin/ac filter!!...

AlexusAnja

Wow, that's a pretty dirty cabin filter to have missed. Also, like you said, it's only a one minutes tops item to replace. Clear the glove box, remove the cover, pull the filter out and replace the element. Atleast they didn't charge you for it...

BlackUltra

Thanks for the pics. Had no idea that that mush "stuff" congregates in the cabin. Is the cabin air filter covered under warranty?

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

No, it's considered a maintenance issue.

If you don't find any pests or rodents in there, just tap it on the sides and you're good to go

There's a DIY. Go to home depot/lowes and buy those AC filters. Cut them out to size and you're good to go

found it:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...h-picture.html

hoonunya

Was there anything that told you that the cabin filter needed replacement?
Did “Change A/C Filter” appear on the multi−information
display or did you just feel the time was right? it probably gets pretty funky before it shows uo in the dispaly.

ebolger

Is this something that is normally part of the 90K service?

LS430inDE.

Honestly, I really didn't realize the cabin had a filter, let alone that it that was EXTREMELY EASY to change! I only looked further into it when I received a warning on the dash under the speedo saying CHANGE A/C FILTER SOON or something like that.

After seeing that warning, I searched on this site, and found out it was a veryyyy simple DIY. It is even easier than changing the ENGINE air filter. AlexusAnja mentioned it's a minute, and it literally IS. It took more time to empty the glove box and set the paperwork aside than it was to replace the filter..although once I had everything apart, I was just amazed at how nicely the pieces fit together like a laser cut jigsaw puzzle..lol...the sound dampening/insulation, etc! I even took a damp papertowel and cleaned the housing area of dust, pollen, etc..and then I just sat in the passenger seat admiring how, the Japanese people (in general) are so precise with their engineering...and just observing and taking in how perfectly the pieces FIT together.

The warning was probably just a 12,000 mile resetable timer. I very seriously doubt if the car knew of poor/blocked airflow.

hoonunya

I don't know if that one is mileage or not. The manual isn't clear.
The online version says:
If the “Change A/C Filter” appears on the multi−information
display, change the air conditioning filter as soon as possible
because the air filter might have clogged.

and then tells how to reset the indicator as:

After the replacement, push and hold the “OFF” button
for the front air conditioning for more than 4 seconds to
reset the air filter clogging data. The “A/C Filter Reset”
appears on the multi−information display and a tone
sounds to inform you that the data has been reset.

They must have out-sourced their design of the seat cooling.

good info you posted.

KILLERGS4

lot of slackers at dealerships, no surprise here...

AlexusAnja

McFLY... you'll always be a slacker !!!!

I don't think it's the Japanese are any more precise that others, it's their philosohy in auto building is different. I don't believe the domestics COULD NOT build a car as good as the Japanese, it's the corporate bean counters that ELECTED not to do so. Now that they're making an effort, it's too late. All the horse came out of the shoot and finished the race and went back to the barn and the domestics are just starting out of the gate.