Thomas, that’s a very good question. It might have something to do with it but if so then why are the ducting and receptacle there?

I suspect it was an active feature on 1991-1992 Toyota Soarers but just not so in the U.S. and Canada. I feel it may have been because Soarers even had the option of a rear air ionizing system that SC’s never got.

This rear air ionizer was mounted in the rear package tray in place of or next to the stock subwoofer location in both cars.

If Soarers got such an option from the start of production I’d assume an even cheaper cabin air filter would have been standard. Soarers also didn’t get passenger airbags until 1992-1993.

It’s just so weird that these cars would have the little receptacle for a factory cabin air filter from the first model year but would have them unused until year two or three of U.S. & Canadian production.

 

Here's something that I just remembered. I purchased my cabin filter from the local Lexus dealership in person and this is what I received. With it was a large packet containing instructions on how to install the filter, however it notes the 1993+ GS300 and not the SC. Is it possible that the SC was never intended to have a cabin filter, however it just so happened that the GS300's cabin filter fits perfectly in that space and was added on starting in 1993?

 

My '94 didn't have a cabin air filter. I don't recall if I ever checked on the '95 or '98. My understanding was, US cars never got the filter. It's more likely a previous owner installed one in a '93+ than it is they removed it and didn't install a fresh one, seeing as how no one even knows they're there in the first place.

 

^^ This may be the case after all, t2d2. I was sure that at least the 1997 or 1998 refreshes finally added the cabin air filter when the cars were new but maybe that wasn't the case?

The SC's were clearly designed from the beginning for a factory Denso cabin air filter even if they never got them initially (or at all?). If anything it would have been a cost-saving measure to keep the same ducting in place as the Soarer (but flopped) and NOT spend more money to redesign it for less function. Soarers must have received the cabin air filters from the factory or as a dealer add-in option. Maybe Lexus USA just decided it wasn't a feature worth spending the money on activating with an allocation of the Denso air filters? At least not until late into production?

 

I was going to post a link to the old thread in my notes, only to read through to page four and realize it's the same thread!

I guess I'll have to check my '98 now and see if it has the filter... Earlier comments in the thread say US models never got one from the factory.

 

Let us know if your car has wingnuts holding the door in, too. My '97 had regular screws and a filter in it. Lots of dirt and debris fell out when I replaced it earlier this month.

 

I checked on my '98 and there's no filter. Like others, a healthy amount of pine needles fell out. (I almost wonder if it was designed as a clean-out, and the fact that a filter fits it is a bonus that was taken up by some markets.)

I'm sticking with the earlier line of reasoning that it's highly unlikely someone would: a) know of the mysterious cabin air filter, b) remove it, and c) not replace it, so I'm 99.99% sure no US-spec SC came with one.

Mine has wingnut bolts. It sounds like someone added a filter to yours and somehow lost the original bolts in the process.

 

That is what I am thinking as well. Thank you for checking.

 

You're welcome. It probably doesn't help any, but here's a couple pictures showing the proper bolts, and non-filter:

 

Hello everyone, I greet you from Lima-Peru

Today I started to check if my SC400 had the AC filter or not and I was surprised that it does not have any filter and the worst thing is that the metal cover is not there either. I looked for the part number on the web but can't find it. Does anyone know what it is?



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There are a few SCs at the junkyards here that most likely have that panel still. I can pull one for you, but international shipping tends to be expensive.

I don't know what the part # is or if you can buy them new...

 

Seems the filter is discontinued anyone know which one can be got in it's place

 

I bought a OEM one back in April. Looks to still be available on bell lexus part site. Part # 88880-30040.