Take the car in for service. They'll get it fixed. I would not mess with it...

 

i checked the owner's manual. in the DIY section, it mentioned the first step is to turn of the engine and nothing around the recirculation. if this can screw up big time, the manual should state so. i have replacemed it myself a few times without issue.

i think is a silly question, you guys replace the filter with the engine on?

 

The cabin air filter replacement instructions in the 2013 GS350 owner’s manual are exactly the same as in the 2012 RX350 manual, down to yanking out the shelf. I replaced the RX350’s cabin air filter a year ago, took pictures, and saved the instructions in Evernote so I wouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel next time. Nothing mentions the recirculation button.

 

I notice that the car sometimes selects a different aircon setting that i last used. I usually think it is the car being smart - turing on the seat coolers, or setting the temp to compensate for extreme ambient conditions. Example - in the winter, the seat heater may self-activate and the temp may be set higher than when I parked.

 

If you have set it to auto that is probably why but even than it will/should not auto turn on the seat cooler.

 

Found this TSB...

http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/...dPdf?id=174217

 

^so there is a problem but is not about not activating the recirculate button?

 

Glad I ran across this thread. Was planning on doing this replacement as the first thing I do when I get the car. This is personally crazy to me that it would have to be on recirculate first, and it can cause $1700 in damages if you dont! Never had this problem in my LS. I will say in a ES300 its one of the absolute worst cabin filters I've ever replaced, a total pain to get to near the gas pedal.