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Thin Plastic Alert! Cabin Air Filter Cover

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mr Incredible, Nov 23, 2012.

  1. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    Be advised, removing the cover on the cabin air filter can easily break the tabs.

    The cover has two tiny ears on the left side that fit into tiny little hoops on the housing. These hoops are EASILY broken, especially when cold. This is not the place for impatient bullinthechinashop mechanic techniques.

    You have been warned.
     
    #1 Mr Incredible, Nov 23, 2012
    minkus likes this.
  2. Ryephile

    Ryephile The Technophile

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    Thanks for the heads up. When I had my interior apart doing my stereo wiring, I went and removed the cabin filter just to see how it went together. IMO it was easy and a non-issue, but then again I default to tip-toeing around unknown bits instead of going straight for the sledgehammer.
     
    #2 Ryephile, Nov 23, 2012
  3. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    It probably wouldn't have been an issue if that was all I was doing and it had my full attention. As it was, I'm lucky I didn't break both tabs. I'm sure the delicate nature of that setup was a great weight saver.

    It shouldn't be much trouble to develope a fix for the broken hoop whenever I'm in there next time.
     
    #3 Mr Incredible, Nov 23, 2012
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    There's a universal solution: duct (or duck) tape. Toyota managed to take a simple procedure on the Gen2 & transform it into a PITA. I suppose their next step would be to just eliminate the door.
     
    #4 JimN, Nov 23, 2012
  5. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    I have a pile of broken anvils behind the shed.

    I can easily screw something up by thinking a little differently than the designer of whatever it is I'm working on. That, plus COLD plastic and it's a guaranteed catastrophe.

    I was thinking of fixing it with a piece of sheet plastic, cut out in the appropriate shape, and a drilled hole as the receiver of the male tab. Then, whatever would be appropriate to modify the receiving area. Then J-B Weld. I've had great luck with that stuff. That, and Gorilla Tape.
     
    #5 Mr Incredible, Nov 23, 2012
  6. Ryephile

    Ryephile The Technophile

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    LOL! You're quite a character. Thanks for the chuckles. JB Weld is fun stuff, as is Gorilla Tape :)
     
    #6 Ryephile, Nov 24, 2012
  7. KaliforniaKid

    KaliforniaKid 2013 Prius v Five 2012 Priuc c Four

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    The only acceptable use of Gorilla, Duct or Duck Tape for vehicle interiors, especially the Prius C...

    [​IMG]
     
    #7 KaliforniaKid, Nov 25, 2012
  8. crebble

    crebble Member

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    I just changed my cabin air filter as well. The thoughtful techs at Toyota left the white cover loose after I refused their kindly offer to change it at the 15K service. Yes, the white cover is very flimsy. Weight savings=better MPG.

    I used the STP CAF1816P. $13.99 at Autozone.

    Hardest part of the whole job was compressing the glove box enough to clear the 2 tabs. I was waiting for the crunch as the plastic broke.
     
    #8 crebble, Nov 27, 2012
  9. John D. Hoge

    John D. Hoge New Member

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    I had great difficulty, too, getting the tabs on my glovebox to disengage. I thought that they might well break before I finally got them both disengaged. I also could find no mounting supports for the pneumatic plunger arm. Sure it was attached to the glovebox lid, but there was nothing up inside the dashboard for the other two mounting holes to attach to. I don't think I'm crazy here. I used a good flashlight and could find nothing to which the body of the plunger would mount. Help me out if you can! P.S. After doing the filter change, I got to thinking about using my Drimmel to cut down the size of the tabs on the lid. Maybe next time!

     
    #9 John D. Hoge, Dec 23, 2012
  10. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    There is a tab on the right side (as you look at it). The trick is to get the ------ thing to stay on during reassembly. I haven't found a way to do it so the plunger rides in the lower glovebox.
     
    #10 JimN, Dec 24, 2012
  11. Siva Ganesh

    Siva Ganesh Junior Member

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    I was trying feel around there for lose bits as there was some rattle coming from there, and accidently pulled-off the pneumatic plunger arm off the base! Took the car back to te dealer and it took about 5 minutes for the mechanic to fix it!
     
    #11 Siva Ganesh, Jan 1, 2013
  12. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

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    If I recall correctly ( a major victory, if true), as I was fooling with getting the glove box door back in, the plunger thingy was the least of my worries. The two tabs/ears were the toughest without breaking things.

    I believe I found a secret handshake for that, but I haven't remembered to try it again to see if it worked -- Remove the bottom of the door first, then the two tabs are easy to remove and insert. Then, when replacing the door, put in the tabs first and then the bottom of the door last.

    I will try mightily to try this soon. The temp is way down here, and I've never had good luck with any cold plastic parts. I'd have to put the heater WAY high for a while.
     
    #12 Mr Incredible, Jan 2, 2013
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  13. paul_p

    paul_p Junior Member

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    Yes, I am about to try this and agree that with NH temps in the 20s, plastic parts are at significant risk for breaking. Will wait until its warmer - regardless of dirty cabin air! :)
     
    #13 paul_p, Jan 4, 2014
  14. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Thanks for the warning.
    I haven't had to do this yet. But now, I'm nervous about it.

    Now I don't know if I should do it myself and take the responsibility when I inevitably break the tabs. Or should I allow the dealership service department to over charge me for the service, then be indignant when I discover THEY broke the tabs?
     
    #14 The Electric Me, Jan 4, 2014
  15. jharwd

    jharwd Junior Member

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    Go To Youtube and watch the video on how to change the cabin filter.
     
    #15 jharwd, Mar 25, 2014
  16. jack520

    jack520 Member

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    What a kludge of a design.

    I broke the bottom part of the left hook,,,has anyone figured out how to fix it ?

    I think you just superglue it ?

    Thanks ahead of time.
     
    #16 jack520, Jul 29, 2015
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    only thing i've seen is a piece of duck tape, but superglue is worth a try.
     
    #17 bisco, Jul 29, 2015
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