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Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by efusco, May 5, 2006.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Well, it's your lungs!
     
  2. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    might want to take a look at what the filter is trapping before coming to any conclusions here... the leaves aren t an issue imm...
     
  3. David

    David Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Just returned from having my local Toyota dealer change my oil. They showed my my rather filthy air conditioning filter and said they could replace it for $59 parts and $28 labor. They apologized for the pricing but said that's what they charge. I declined to have them do it and am offended enough I probably won't go back there.
     
  4. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    $59??!!

    wow...i have bought two... dont quote me, but seems like the cost for TWO was around $60 after taxes...

    install it yourself, its a 3 minute job...if you are real slow
     
  5. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    A low-cost option for replacing the filter is to wash it. Be gentle, use hot soapy water, rinse well, and be sure to let it dry thoroughly before putting it back in. You'd be surprised at the dirt that comes out, even after vacuuming. I'm sure the dealers would have something to say, but it seems to work so far.
     
  6. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    that is why i bought two. i quickly realized that in summer it only takes a few months for the filter to catch a lot of garbage. so i reverse blow it with air thoroughly and then soak it in mild dish soap solution for an hour, then rinse well and hang to dry until its turn comes up again. i usually wash and replace once a month in summer, heavy pollen times and once during winter (we get huge amounts of wet here which helps keep dust down)

    filters have undergone a few rotations now, dont look any worse for wear yet
     
  7. mcbrunnhilde

    mcbrunnhilde Opera singin' Prius nut!

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  8. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    the one for $23 is the only one that looks like what i have, like i said, bought mine about 2-3 years ago... i really dont remember how much they were and i did buy directly from dealer so i know that adds about 30% but back then, there was no other place to buy Prius parts
     
  9. northwest

    northwest New Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Gosh, and it was only a few years ago that we all drove around without a/c, without filters and the windows open breathing who knows what horrible things

    And, yet, we all managed to survive....Haven't the medicos now determined that "too clean" of an environment is leading to a big upswing in asthma in the US? I am still driving two rigs built BCF (before cabin filters). Only downside that instead of getting stopped by the filters, the mice usually end up building their nests in the blower fan and I have to put up with chopped "mice" on occassion.....and yes I know about Hanta virus and the incidence of it is so low that no I am not worried about it...:eek:
     
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Wrong. LOL Did you get that from listening to Rush Limbaugh?

    Due to the price of new filters I'm going to try washing mine. Since they are not paper based I see no problem as long as one is not rough with the filbers.
     
  11. northwest

    northwest New Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Show me where I am wrong, Oh Obi, Wan Kanobi, and I will admit my defeat, but until you mention, what and where, we are all left wondering....
     
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Essentially assuming that since many people are alive the evironment must be clean enough or that there is such a thing as too clean an "environment". Since this is not a thread for such talk I'll leave it at that. If you would like to chat about it further post up in the appropriate forum. ;)
     
  13. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Well, it's not just a Prius thing. I checked the cabin filter in my 2007 FJ Cruiser, and it was *plugged*

    That perhaps explains the poor defrosting performance yesterday with our -33 C low

    A bit over 10,000 km on it, but driving out to the hobby farm I have to take a lot of gravel roads. Perhaps that is why
     
  14. Pinova

    Pinova Junior Member

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    Cabin Filter Buyer Be Aware!

    Here's an equivalent filter from a Salt Lake City parts house on line:
    http://www.logical-source.com/Produ...tedId=14762&Make=TOYOTA&Model=PRIUS&Year=2006

    By the time shipping is added, it's still under $13 and replacing it is a no-brainer. Here's the definitive on-line pdf for that:

    John's Stuff - Toyota Prius Maintenance - Air-Conditioner Filter

    MY dealer only charged fifty bucks. What a rip off, even at that price. This filter is a particulate-only item and serves no healthy or heavy-duty service at all. It doesn't filter smoke, smells or much in the way of airborne dust. But it does catch leaves and macroscopic particles.

    I asked for the "old dirty bad" filter and they did provide it. I knew from some small, unusual veggies in there that it was indeed mine. But cleaning it is a snap. A vacuum cleaner blow does about 80% and a gentle Woolite soak n dry will restore it to 95% new.

    Y'know, this could be done while you go a day without it, too...

    -iNova
     
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    This thread helps lol. Every time I see it in the "New Posts", it reminds me to check the filter. Just replaced it a few weeks ago!
     
  16. chimohio

    chimohio New Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    I replaced both my cabin air filter and engine air filter today (30K on the car) - bought from Metro in Cleveland for $36 total which included shipping. Both needed replacing - guess I need to check the cabin filter more often. No dirt roads that I drive on but lots of pollen. Took a total of 10 minutes for both jobs.
     
  17. xsmatt81

    xsmatt81 non-AARP Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    The 3m filter's are the best, used them several times in other cars. Bosh also. I would think denso filters are good, but I guess they arent real denso? after reading some comments.

    Anyway doesnt matter, i will probably change mine here in a couple of months, but i barely run air at all. And crack my window to save on gas. I have allergies too(headache kind)..but gotta man up !

    i'll only runt he air when it's 100+outside..love these spring months
     
  18. Winston

    Winston Member

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  19. davenjean

    davenjean New Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Check out Walmart. They have a FRAM called FreshBreeze with baking soda to absorb odors. The number I found was CF9846A @ $19.13 includes taxes. I found the OEM filter to be a bit on the thin side. The FRAM filter is heavy duty. I just bought my 2008 Prius two weeks ago so I really don't need to change it yet. However I did take the glove box door off just to check it out. I did find particles of dirt in the filter already. I had a miserable time getting the door back on. So I won't be changing the filter anytime soon. I can not tell you how the filter will actually work yet, I will change it at some late time. Right now I just have it as a spare.
     
  20. davenjean

    davenjean New Member

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    Re: Check your Cabin Air Filter Today!

    Check out Walmart. They have a FRAM called FreshBreeze with baking soda to absorb odors. The number I found was CF9846A @ $19.13 includes taxes. I found the OEM filter to be a bit on the thin side. The FRAM filter is heavy duty. I just bought my 2008 Prius two weeks ago so I really don't need to change it yet. However I did take the glove box door off just to check it out. I did find particles of dirt in the filter already. I had a miserable time getting the door back on. So I won't be changing the filter anytime soon. I can not tell you how the filter will actually work yet, I will change it at some late time. Right now I just have it as a spare.