changing cabin filter -- I SWEAR, I checked several places already??

Not too hard. Shine a light in on the sides and upper edge to get an idea of how far you're pushing to get past the "catch" or "detent" or "pokey outey thingy" and watch as you push in on each side. (The right side mounted damper is off its post already and the entire lower glove compartment just kind of hangs straight down, right?)

I doubt you're too weak, likely you're afraid of breaking something, just like the rest of us.

Edit: It doesn't hang straight down until after you squeeze the sides past the catch. Sorry, stupid me.

 

There is video of the glove box removal steps if you look for EV button installs.

Edit: here's the link
http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/27344-coastal-ev-mod-install-video.html

 

I push hard, though maybe not all are as tough as mine. I aint no weenie. In my day I could bench press over 425lbs. Ah to be 20ish and stupid again. It's the same push strength as out Lexus cab filter box too. It does take a bit of inward oomph.

 

Sometimes you just need to be slightly fearless and willing to use a little force... Persuade it!:boxing:

 

Man, how dirty can your filter be already in a 2008?? Where you driving, lady?

 

feel free to wiggle it. i've pulled mine out several times so i'm familiar with it. mine was one to stick on the first several times.

once you have it out, be careful. don't tap the white tray.. you can break the clips off rather easily. (bad experiance with an rx400h)

 

Maybe you want to try this sober, in the daylight next time. :boink:

 

Remember, you are bigger than they are. :yo:

 

The lower glove box dampener? That just pops off both ends. Unless you have *extra* pieces, it should just snap back on. Use the hole toward the middle of that dampener to attach to the dash, and the hole at the end of the arm slips over the post on the glove box.

Or are we talking about something totally different?

I need a drink.

 

Those stinky mice. They bring up other potential issues. If they were nesting in your car (i) they might come back and (ii) they have to eat and have been known to cause serious damage by chewing on engine compartment wire/cables.

Regarding their possible unwanted return, I understand that there are spray-on products out there specifically to repel mice and rodents from your engine area. Relatedly, and this may be urban legend, I heard that mice and rodents particularly liked to chew on Hondas' and German cars' wires/cables. Something about the coating/covering Honda and German car manufacturers use to cover wires/cables. Haven't heard the same thing about Toyota. But that doesn't mean that Toyota's wires/cables are immune.

Has anyone else heard about any of this, especially the spray-on rodent repellants? I don't have a mice problem. But I live and park squirrel central (seriously, I think there are more squirrels on the grounds of my NYC apartment complex than there are in the woods), and have heard stories of the squirrels eating out the wires and cables of Hondas and German cars parked here.

 

Where is hubby during all this? He needs to "man up" and come to your rescue.

 

Mice and squirrels eat the wiring and harnesses in just about any automobile -- they don't seem to have a preference. The rodents (just referring to them as an animal class) start out making a nest because the car's interior and engine compartment are drier and warmer than outside. I've also seen squirrels use engine compartments as a nut warehouse for the same reason. Vehicles that sit idle for a long period of time are big targets. The gnawing happens not too long after the nest is built.

Here is a link where other folks are discussing some solutions: AnandTech - Mice nesting in engine compartment

Two solutions that seemed interesting were mothballs and Bounce dryer sheets. I would try the Bounce sheets first since putting mothballs next to your air filter might make the cabin smell like your grandmother's closet. One poster's suggestion of dousing the engine with gasoline and setting it on fire every other day would probably work but then we would have more posts on the "My Prius Spontaneously Combusted" thread.

On the more comical side, my neighbor let his Ford F350 sit over the winter and squirrels made a nice nest in there. They snacked on the wiring insulation all winter and had a great party until spring. He found the squirrels and the babies that were born sometime during the process but couldn't get them out -- he didn't want to hurt them. I finally saw him go back inside and bring his cat out. He called his cat a de-squirelling tool and wasn't sure if Ford mechanics had anything like it in their toolboxes. The cat refused to go into the engine compartment (smart cat). He finally resorted to a garden hose with a nozzle on the end. We both felt sorry for the squirrels until he got the bill to replace all the wiring harnesses.

 

This entire thread needs to be printed and sold.

Title: Changing Filter-thingie (using many super technical word like things)


I don't have much to add though. I changed my cabin filter and don't recall any problems. But, then again, I don't think I had been drinking.


Long live the Toyota electrical gas mix car type thingie!!!:grouphug:

Thanks for the laugh; I needed it.