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Replace Cabin Air Filter

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Rangerdavid, Jan 24, 2017.

  1. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    The first I came across was in the 2005 JB KIA Rio - that's the one I asked to see when it was being replaced - filthy.

    I'd had a couple of older cars which we removed the A/C Evaporator - the build-up of dirt, dust and odd stuff I suspect was grass seeds etc makes me happy to have a filter.

    Does anyone know if the filter is before or after the heater/a/c block on PRIUS?
     
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  2. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That's a really good question. I hope someone knows.
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Off-topic, but kind of similar: on our house's forced-air central heating, I put in replacement grills on all the return air intakes, that have filters. You're supposed to change them yearly; I was doing that, with the occasional vacuuming within that year. Now I've figured they look about the same as new after vacuuming, I'm stretching the year interval. Anyway, between the introduction of those filter, and the sealing campaign I mounted on the all the ductwork: the regular filter at the furnace never gets dirty.
     
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  4. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Keeps your ductwork clean, but now you've got to clean all these filters rather than one.
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, it's easy though: the grills are hinged. Four in total, maybe 3 times a year.

    The duct system when I first looked into it, was incredibly "porous". Also had some "Escher" elements, ie: unconnected, nonsensical branches.
     
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  6. mdmikemd

    mdmikemd Member

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    I got so tired of being tracked down at the dealership and have to say that I didn't want to change filters. Eventually, I bought a cheap filter from Pep Boys and would change the filter at every oil change just so they would leave me alone. In the parking lot, I would put the better one back right away.
     
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  7. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    What are the filter part numbers? Engine and Cabin please. Dense (Toyota) and any others that are actually correct fit?
    Thanks so much!
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    lol. Yes it can be filthy in 6 months. Ask me how I know :eek: :cry:. I try to take it out, empty out the loose dust/sand/insects to extend the interval. Some places take a year and some 6 months. It depends on your environment. A place that uses a lot of sand (instead of salt) in the winter can leave a dusty filter (among other contaminants)

    It might be the minimum charge (charge in 1/2 hour intervals).

    I don't wash mine. I'll just knock out the loose dirt and maybe if I have a vacuum handy, I'll vacuum it. Otherwise, I'll change it every 6-12 months depending on how bad it looks.
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I believe you tideland. It just gods country here. :whistle:

    Actually, I think we broke record for rainfall in March, as of today: must keep the dust down
     
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  10. Sooner Al

    Sooner Al Active Member

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    I found this awhile back on the Toyota site. It maybe of help providing it's accurate which I presume it is...
     

    Attached Files:

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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    I recently bought filters online from a dealer. I can check when I get home.
     
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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    To add more information to Sooner Al's post:

    The standard Toyota cabin air filter is a "dust & pollen" filter. The "premium charcoal" Toyota version is a particulate filter. Depending on the area you live in, a dust & pollen filter might work well. If you're in an area with a lot of industrial buildings (by area, I don't mean neighbourhood but more like city-size cause pollution does travel a good distance) or a place that uses sand for winter grip or a place that has a higher concentration of diesel vehicles (usually goes hand-in-hand with the industrial buildings but not always), then perhaps consider a particulate filter.

    Here in Canada, the aftermarket ones used to be particulate filters for the same or less price than the OEM dust & pollen filter. Canadian Tire changed their cabin air filter model to FRAM cabin air filter. It works down to 5 micron (particulate filters will work down to at least 2.5 microns which is the size of soot, certain types of dust and allergens).
     
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  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    The cabin filter on my 2016 looks like a carbon one, so I would assume it is more than a dust filter. I have not checked my new one.

    Stupid typo and no edit. 2017 not 2016.

    I need to verify what I purchased. Since the dealer did not list 2017, I chose 2016 Prius. The new filter is not a carbon filter, so I need to verify the part number. Here are the Toyota parts I got.
    Cabin filter: 87139-28020 Element, Air Refiner
    Air Filter: 17801-21060 Element, Sub-Assembly
     
    #53 Prodigyplace, Mar 29, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 30, 2017
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    This is our original engine filter, at 66,000 kms, been in there since the car was built, in August 2009:

    IMG_6340.JPG

    Looks almost new to me. (n)
     
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  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    How does that help us with Gen 4?
     
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I guess what I'm trying to say: don't be too hasty in ordering filters, they can last.

    Didn't realizing I was intruding on an exclusive fraternity btw.
     
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  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Sorry. Your posting appeared right after mine about part numbers. Since your picture appeared to have a part number, I mad a faulty assumption.

    Most of us do not live in the clean country of the north :D
     
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  18. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh you're talking engine air filter. I was talking about the cabin air filter. :oops: lol.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Well Prodigy mentioned getting engine air filter for his 2017; I couldn't resist.

    The cabin filter does seem to get dirty faster, but not much riding on it.
     
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  20. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    The clean air filter is after the inlet control damper but before the blower and evaporator. Both fresh and recirculated air pass through the filter. (See the “Mode Position and Damper Operation” diagram in the air conditioning section of the Repair Manual.)
    Though it says it was updated for 2016, the “Air & Cabin Filter Information” document from Toyota kindly shared by @Sooner Al is out of date, since it lists the same part numbers for all 2010 and later Prius cars; the fourth generation definitely uses different filters.

    The part numbers from @Prodigyplace agree with Toyota’s parts catalog, which says they are common to all fourth-generation (ZVW5# series) Prius cars worldwide. The prices below are U.S. and Japanese list prices.

    Clean Air Filter (Cabin Air Filter)

    As @Tideland Prius notes, Toyota sells two versions of the clean air filter, the original one and a more expensive charcoal-impregnated one. See bulletin T-SB-0142-13, “HVAC Odor Maintenance,” for when to use the latter.
    • 87139-28020 – Filter, Clean Air (Pollen Filter, OE Part) ($20.99, ¥2,000)
    • 87139-58010 – Filter, Clean Air (Deodorant Filter) ($50.15, ¥4,000)
    Aftermarket substitutes:
    Engine Air Filter
    • 17801-21060 – Element Sub-Assy, Air Cleaner Filter ($18.00, ¥2,600)
    Aftermarket substitutes:
    • Nippon Micro Filter Co., Ltd.: A1433
    • Pacific Mfg. Co., Ltd.: PA-1806
    • Toyo Element Industry Co., Ltd.: TO-192