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Lexus IS: How to Change Cabin Air Filter

Accessing and changing the cabin air filter is an easy, do-it-yourself maintenance item on the Lexus IS. Keep the air in your car clean with the help of this walkthrough.

By Kate Halse - December 23, 2014
Contributors: Digger08

This article applies to the Lexus IS (2005-2014).

From congested city streets to dusty environments, your car is subject to a lot of dust and debris build-up over time. You might purchase an air filter for your living space, particularly if you suffer from allergies. Just as you take measures to keep your home clean, it's also important to check your car's cabin and air filters periodically. Over time, these filters become clogged with debris and build-up and need to be replaced to help adequately filter out the car's interior and keep its engine cleaner and running more smoothly. Whether your Lexus is a 2006 or 2014, changing the cabin air filter is a generally simple task.

Materials Needed

  • Cabin air filter replacement

Step 1 - Turn on the re-circulation mode

Before you start replacing the air filter, it's crucial to make sure your car is on re-circulation mode. Failing to do so can result in thousands of dollars worth of damage, as the computer control damper will be forced open, ultimately damaging the vehicle's HVAC system. To do this, simply press the "re-circulation" button or mode.

Figure 1. Lexus IS 250 air re-circulation button.

Step 2 - Find and open the access door

The access door is hidden towards the back of the glove compartment, so clear out the area before starting to look for the door. This L-shaped shelf is easy to spot just by looking into the glove box. Once you've found it, remove it. Behind it is the cabin air filter door. Gain access to this door by using a minimal amount of finger pressure to pull the door out and away.

  • Figure 2. Pull the bracket shelf from the glove compartment.
  • Figure 3. Pull this door up and out by hand.
  • Figure 4. Press in these plastic clips to release the cabin filter.

Warning

If you forgot to turn your car's system on "re-circulation" mode, you'll come across a third door. Do NOT try to open this door, as it can break, leading to expensive repairs. Instead, simply select your vehicle's "recirculation" setting and wait for the door to open.

Step 3 - Find and remove the filter cover and filter

Once you uncover the second door, you should see either a filter cover or a filter basket, depending on your vehicle year and model. Remove the item as soon as you find it. Gently pull on the cover or basket to remove it, which will also remove the air filter. During this process, keep an eye on the filter's position, which indicates how you should put the new one in. Some filters have arrows or words to guide you.

Figure 5. Find and remove the air filter.

Step 4 - Replace the filter and reassemble

Discard the old filter once you've successfully removed it. After doing this, put the replacement filter back the same way in which you removed the existing one. Simply reverse the previous steps to finish the installation process.

Figure 6. Install the new cabin air filter.

Featured Video: How to Change Cabin Air Filter in Lexus IS

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