Maintenance Discuss common Lexus maintenance questions here.

AC Filter????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-03-02, 11:53 AM
  #1  
ap0718
Lead Lap
Thread Starter
 
ap0718's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default AC Filter????

How hard is it to replace the AC filter by yourself? I need to replace mine....can anyone give me some pointers on how to do it? Is it hard? Is it easy?

Any help would be much appreciated!!!!

Old 06-03-02, 12:26 PM
  #2  
wwest
Lead Lap
 
wwest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: woodinville WA
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default A/C filter

Open the glovebox

The top panel of the back of the glovebox is removeable, remove it.

With a flashlight you'll now be able to see the plastic door covering the filter, the door has an "UP" arrow on one side indicating which way it goes back. Remove the door.

Slide the filter tray out of the A/C plenum.

Note: the centrifical blower is just below and the inlet air duct and the recirculate mixing vane/flap is just above.

You can buy a replacement filter at Lexus for about $50 or you can go to home depot and buy the largest top-of-the-line furnace filter (3M filtrete) for about $15 and take it apart and use a pair of scissors to make three Lexus replacement A/C filters.
Old 06-03-02, 02:06 PM
  #3  
CSHFLW
Lexus Test Driver
 
CSHFLW's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

But isn't the Lex AC filter better at filtering smells, dust, pollen, ect? What is the job that a furnace filter do?
Old 06-03-02, 02:21 PM
  #4  
wwest
Lead Lap
 
wwest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: woodinville WA
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Jobs

Go to home depot and read the label on a 3M "filtrete"(sp?) furnace filter. I personally suspect it will be a betetr overall filter than the one Lexus sells.

Becuase of some design flaws (by Denso) in the Lexus climate control system Lexus' owners in the southern states suffer from a horrid musty mold odor and those of us in the northern states must live with incidents of sudden windshield fogging.

In a climate wherein the average overnight ambient is above 55F the thousands of square inches of damp and dark surface of the A/C evaporator within A/C plenum provides an excellent breeding ground for all types of mold and mildew. It's likely that the primary design purpose of the A/C filter is to deprive them of airborne food for growth.
Old 06-05-02, 10:01 AM
  #5  
kreativ
Advanced
 
kreativ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: California
Posts: 573
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

You can buy a replacement filter at Lexus for about $50 or you can go to home depot and buy the largest top-of-the-line furnace filter (3M filtrete) for about $15 and take it apart and use a pair of scissors to make three Lexus replacement A/C filters.
Wow, Lexus charges $50 for one? Geez, what a rip.

How do you go about making your own filter? Once you cut out the filter piece you need, do you have to attach it to the frame of the old A/C filter?

I probably should take a look at the A/C filter first to see what it looks like...
Old 06-05-02, 11:15 AM
  #6  
altaf
Pole Position
 
altaf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I just purchased an A/C filter from Carson Toyota - $30. They will ship to you.

(310) 522-2300 or (800) 90-TOYOTA
Old 06-05-02, 11:17 AM
  #7  
damnboy
Pole Position

 
damnboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 360
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Anyone knows the replacing interval for AC filter? 6 months? a year?
Thanks!!
Old 06-06-02, 05:48 AM
  #8  
altaf
Pole Position
 
altaf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally posted by damnboy
Anyone knows the replacing interval for AC filter? 6 months? a year?
Thanks!!
Every 15k.

-Altaf
Old 06-06-02, 09:24 AM
  #9  
wwest
Lead Lap
 
wwest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: woodinville WA
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default replacement

I'm not so sure using a fixed time period is really appropreate.

The A/C air filter will become clogged sooner or later depending as much, or more, on "atmospheric" conditions (dusty roads, springtime pollen) as on time. Wouldn't hurt to check it more often, it's a really simple and easy DIY task.
Old 06-06-02, 09:30 AM
  #10  
damnboy
Pole Position

 
damnboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 360
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the replies.
I checked my A/C filter yesterday and it looks ok. I try to clean it a little bit and I wonder can I wash it and keep using it!? Anyway I'll try to DIY my filter like you guys did.
Old 06-06-02, 10:31 AM
  #11  
BananaGS
Tech Guru
 
BananaGS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I washed mine several time already, works fine

Last edited by BananaGS; 06-06-02 at 10:32 AM.
Old 06-07-02, 09:05 PM
  #12  
markpaco
Rookie
 
markpaco's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default is there a a/c filter for the 1st gen GS?

My repair manual shows one but it says 'D Opt' next to it. I can only imagine it stands for Dealer Option. Any ideas? There aren't any detailed instructions or any direct reference to the a/c filter.
Old 06-07-02, 10:48 PM
  #13  
SharpLS-96
Lexus Champion
 
SharpLS-96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: California
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default I doubt it but you can try this.

I don't think there is... but if there is it would be located right behind your glove box. Open your glove box and look to see if there is a removeable black piece in the rear to get to the A.C. filter. If there is remove it and see if there is anything behind it. If not then you don't have one! Hope that helped.
Old 06-18-02, 07:21 PM
  #14  
jgrooms
Driver
 
jgrooms's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Florida
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: A/C filter

Originally posted by wwest
Open the glovebox

The top panel of the back of the glovebox is removeable, remove it.

With a flashlight you'll now be able to see the plastic door covering the filter, the door has an "UP" arrow on one side indicating which way it goes back. Remove the door.

Slide the filter tray out of the A/C plenum.

Note: the centrifical blower is just below and the inlet air duct and the recirculate mixing vane/flap is just above.
Is this procedure the same for a 97 ES300? If not, how do you replace the A/C filter?

Thanks
Old 06-19-02, 09:56 AM
  #15  
SharpLS-96
Lexus Champion
 
SharpLS-96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: California
Posts: 2,991
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Thumbs up

It should be the same procedure for the 97 ES!


Quick Reply: AC Filter????



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:00 AM.