Why a cabin air filter?

when I tried to find one (cabin filter) for my 09, I could never find one to purchase. I have an 11 now, but is there any assistance on how to change them?
New to this site, any assistance would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

sounds more trouble than it's worth, I avoid recirc, when I worked in dealer land anyone coming in complaining of the car smelling musty were the ones who left recirc on all the time

 

Just use Auto. It does a good job of switching between outside air and recirc when appropriate. No need to worry about your car being in recirc all the time (unless you live in a very particular climate).

 

32k,
Can you reference where you came up with this info?:
It also switches to 100% recirc instead of the usual 80% recirc. Really helpful for passing through dusty or smoggy area as no outside air gets in


I thought there is always some outside air coming in for safety reasons and is a federal regulation.
It provides positive pressure on the inside the cabin. Also the battery cooling system has to have air to pass through the HV battery and dump outside the cabin.

So the "plasmacluster/ionizer" and "microfilter" buttons are always the same but only certain trim levels get the ion generator?

I'm just trying to clarify things for the asthma sufferers and the people with stinky AC systems.

 

When the 2010 debuted, the "micro dust and pollen filter" wasn't really fully explained in the manual so a few of us gleaned additional information from various sources including Toyota service manuals. Lots of threads with more information if you'll do a search.

Yes, that's why there's a 3 minute time limit.

No, two different things. The Plasmacluster ionizer is persistent and there's no way to turn it off. It's not part of the "microfilter" system but is located in the driver's side vent. See Plasmacluster | PriusChat

 

I never saw any reference that says the Ion generator is always on. And I believe 100% recirc is not legal.
My owner's manual may be different that later years. It describes that button differently than your description.
I believe I can run my 'ion generator/microfilter' and use outside air/no AC and be basked in the ionic fumes for 3 minutes.

But alas, who can make sense of this subject from the various and vague manuals?

Anyways,,, Hopefully the OP realizes now that it would be a bad idea to run the system without the one and only airfilter in the system.

 

Wow, so many things wrong with your post that I'm not even going to bother. Just because the manual doesn't say something doesn't mean it's not true, as it's pretty much dumbed down. You've clearly not read the link I provided or done any search on this subject.

 

I read the link after link.
They all sound like opinion pieces. No references.
Maybe the constant ions are dumbing me down, but I'm pretty sure they are not on constantly.
I'm going to stop pressing that silly misunderstood switch and see if symptoms improve.

 

Someone did post excerpts from Toyota tech documents on this and it all makes sense to us as you can't smell jack squat on a flying rock while passing through an area consistent with 100% recirculation while the pollen filter button is in operation. If you have documentations to indicate otherwise, please post them. The owner's manual is really vague on a lot of things.

 

The owner's manual doesn't mention the humidity sensor, but the brochure does.

 

I'm not 100% sure of anything, but what about this scenario?

You are parked, very hot day, using AC, HV battery fan is running on high, you repeatedly press that silly button.
IF there is no source of fresh air coming, ( 100% recirc), the cabin is now at a negative pressure because of the battery cooling fan sucking air out. Now outside air, at a higher pressure, is being forced in through minor gaps and seals,, such as the hatch seal just above the exhaust pipe, or dirty cabin air exhaust flapper valves.

I'm pretty sure the Federalies do not allow this configuration, even for 3 minutes.

Wow, how'd we get so far off topic??

Back to cabin air filters,,, Do the activated charcoal ones really remove odors for more than a few weeks?

 

We had this debate a while ago but with regards to running out of oxygen if you repeatedly push the button every 3 minutes but nobody is stupid enough do that and it'd take quite a while given that the Prius has 93.7 and 21.6 cubic feet of passenger and cargo volume, respectively (do the math).

I'll continue to rely on actual documentations rather than your belief that the Federalies would not allow this configuration. A quick search brought up the following (there might be more but I don't have time for that):

RRxing posted an excerpt from the tech info on the Micro Dust and Pollen Filter button:

Moreover, fellow member jim256 found additional information from a Lexus dealer salesman training site (as other Lexus models have this same dust and pollen filter button as well):

The manual is pretty clear that Plasmacluster is a separate system and is in operation whenever the fan is on (regardless whether you have the AC, defroster, heater, etc. on).

 

Good grief,
Reading the links to posts from mid-2009 are just as confusing and full of rumors and hearsay as this thread has become. (were Gen3's on the road in July of 2009 ? )
Those are not references from those two members, just more opinions.

You may be convinced you understand the operation of this button and the ion generator,,,,
But I am not.

We need someone with access to an 'Ozone sniffer'.
We need someone to gain access to the flapper that controls fresh/recirc air to see if it has 3 positions.
This would prove all these various theories.

 

Yes, the 2010 came out early.

They're indeed references. An excerpt right out of a Toyota tech info document and information taken from a Lexus dealer training site. Yours, on the other hand, is merely an unsupported opinion.

 

As posted they are not references. ( But I'm a stickler that way. )
Just rumors, hearsay and gossip from the past...

What about the charcoal cabin air filters that cost extra?
Are they worth a hoot?

(Trying to get back on topic...)

 

You're a funny guy. You refuse to believe information taken from Toyota tech info and a Lexus dealer training site but claim to be a stickler as they're not supported by links, yet are more than willing to believe your own unsupported claim.

 

The "extra" cost shouldn't be more than a few dollars. Yes they are better filters, but mostly because they are made better than the cheapo paper ones. Heavier material that looks a bit like cotton. If you hold one next to the cheap paper one, you'll have no trouble deciding which is the better filter. The charcoal is what it is.

 

Okay, back on topic. I ordered the standard filter (87139-YZZ08), unaware of the different part number for the premium charcoal filter (87139-YZZ10). The standard filter is definitely more filmsy but I can't tell the difference in actual operation. Price difference is $16 vs. $28 for the more expensive one.

 

32k,
And I trust your honesty after you said, "I can't tell the difference in actual operation".

So few here will install a premium product and not make amazing claims about it.

Anyway, you got to admit that owner's manual if full of 'Chinglish'.
I don't see any clear answers to questions raised here. Only the testing I mentioned above will be definitive.
And some post of a dealer's sales train site makes me laugh,,, who trusts the things those guys say?
Maybe they get trained with the BS and it's not all their fault...