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AC Filter????

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Old Jun 3, 2002 | 11:53 AM
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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!!!!

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Old Jun 3, 2002 | 12:26 PM
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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.
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Old Jun 3, 2002 | 02:06 PM
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Default

But isn't the Lex AC filter better at filtering smells, dust, pollen, ect? What is the job that a furnace filter do?
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Old Jun 3, 2002 | 02:21 PM
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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.
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Old Jun 5, 2002 | 10:01 AM
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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...
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Old Jun 5, 2002 | 11:15 AM
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I just purchased an A/C filter from Carson Toyota - $30. They will ship to you.

(310) 522-2300 or (800) 90-TOYOTA
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Old Jun 5, 2002 | 11:17 AM
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Anyone knows the replacing interval for AC filter? 6 months? a year?
Thanks!!
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Old Jun 6, 2002 | 05:48 AM
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Originally posted by damnboy
Anyone knows the replacing interval for AC filter? 6 months? a year?
Thanks!!
Every 15k.

-Altaf
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Old Jun 6, 2002 | 09:24 AM
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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.
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Old Jun 6, 2002 | 09:30 AM
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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.
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Old Jun 6, 2002 | 10:31 AM
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I washed mine several time already, works fine

Last edited by BananaGS; Jun 6, 2002 at 10:32 AM.
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Old Jun 7, 2002 | 09:05 PM
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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.
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Old Jun 7, 2002 | 10:48 PM
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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.
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Old Jun 18, 2002 | 07:21 PM
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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
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Old Jun 19, 2002 | 09:56 AM
  #15  
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It should be the same procedure for the 97 ES!
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