Cabin air filter waste of money?

[jambo101]

Time to have the dealer do the 60K maintenance, the cabin airfilter seems like a total waste of money at $35 + $35 for labor when i drive around with the windows down most of the time anyway. any one tossed that cabin airfilter due to it being irrelevant, useless, and expensive?

[ddongbap]

In America, most don't come with it, imo.

[BLH]

My 2007 didn't have one from the factory.
I bought one at a local auto parts store and installed it myself.

[CTScott]

Don't run without one. If you don't want to spend $35 go to an autoparts store and pick one up for $12-$15. If you run the blower with outside air coming in and without the filter, then airborne "stuff" goes right into the air box, where if there is any condensate, it will become a stinky mess. If you look at the threads on stinky AC, you'll see what I mean.

[markitect]

Go get one from an auto parts store, it's only about $15, and pretty easy to install.

[eTiMaGo]

or find BailOut's DIY for rolling your own, cheaper and easy!

[derickveliz2]

.

I build my own, check how I found out the issue...

LINK (http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=462753&postcount=157)

.

[UTVitz]

Don't pay the dealer 3 times the price the auto parts store charges for the same thing. I get mine at PepBoys for $12. Installation couldn't be easier-$35 for a 2 minute job, wow, sorry, but that is crazy. It's right behind the glove box which simply pulls up off the tabs it's mounted on and there's a little panel you'll see to slip the filter in. I actually figured it out the first time using the owners manual. I love t he filter so much I change it ever 10K-very dusty here in the west. My vents stay nice and clean.

[Yaris Hilton]

I've just got rectangles cut out of a house air filter in mine. They don't make any difference in the cabin air, especially when you run with windows down, but they do keep crap out of your air conditioning that can cause funky odors and other problems.

[nemelek]

I used Bail Out plan and change the filter every time that I do the oil change.

[firemachine69]

Interesting on the A/C thing.


Guess I'll go buy one after all...

[bobolinko]

Lowes and Home Depot have the media you can use, (I did) with a charcoal added filtration for like 9 bucks. the whole thing makes about 9 filters. enough to last you a long time.....
http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances-Air-Purifiers-Filters/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zb9bh/R-100011568/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

here's a link so you can make your own. It's easier than driving the car... LOL
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51431

Aloha From Hawaii :)

[Kaotic Lazagna]

I made one for my car and my gf's Civic for $20 using a reusable house filter from HD. hehe.

[jambo101]

Couldnt be detrimental to the system if most Yaris come from the factory with no filter.:iono:

[RedRide]

The cabin filter filters the air coming into your cabin, can that be bad?
It also prevents any object from falling into the fan, that must be good.
Just install one, it really a no brainer.

Hey, if Yaris Hilton says it is a good thing you better believe it! :biggrin:

[Astroman]

Try this: put one in and check on it in 3 months. It's gross how dirty the air is even if you run with the windows down (I do in the warmer months, not a A/C fan).

I made my own using bailouts method. 10+filters for about $15 bucks.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb3/astroman87/airfilter1.jpghttp://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb3/astroman87/airfilter.jpg

[xbr3akd0wnx]

omg that is so disgusting. i've been driving without a cabin air filter for over 2 years. im going to home depot to make myself a cabin air filter RIGHT now. literally. RIGHT now. bye

[Astroman]

lol I usually get that response every time I post the pic up of my first cabin air filter. I'm now on my 7th one in almost 4 years.

[sleey0]

Just bought one from autozone for $14.

For that price, it can't really be a waste, can it? lol

[Astroman]

It is when you can go to home depot or lowes and wal mart and for that price make 6 with the diy method. That's like 5 free.

[Steveh27]

I thought my 2010 had the filter as I saw the filter cover. But, I just opened the cover & nothing is there! Reading my manual and looking at various threads including the scion one, it seems there is to be a tray on which the filter rests. Is that correct? If so, what do I do without a tray? Buy a tray from a dealer? Just use an OEM filter without the tray? Make my own filter & use it without the tray?
:help:

[CTScott]

I thought my 2010 had the filter as I saw the filter cover. But, I just opened the cover & nothing is there! Reading my manual and looking at various threads including the scion one, it seems there is to be a tray on which the filter rests. Is that correct? If so, what do I do without a tray? Buy a tray from a dealer? Just use an OEM filter without the tray? Make my own filter & use it without the tray?
:help:

A tray isn't necessary. The filter area has ledges that support the filter.

[Steveh27]

Scott, I do have the curved plastic cage above the filter area. It must be to prevent things from the glovebox getting sucked in. But I will definitely add a filter. If something did get sucked in is it possible to remove it?

[CTScott]

Scott, I do have the curved plastic cage above the filter area. It must be to prevent things from the glovebox getting sucked in. But I will definitely add a filter. If something did get sucked in is it possible to remove it?

If it only made it as far as the fan, then you can reach down through the filter slot and pluck it out. If it made it past the fan, you'd need to remove the blower stack (which requires removing the whole dash) to get into the airbox.

[Steveh27]

Appreciate the info. I think the curved cage prevented any paper from my glovebox getting sucked in. Something from outside is possible, but haven't heard anything yet. I did see how it all works. Now to get a filter in there. Think I'll try one of those cut up home filters.

[Steveh27]

I just finished the cabin (AC) air filter DIY & install. I did trim the cardboard edge back another 3/8". Air flow seems good. I look forward to finding how dirty it is in a few months. I sprayed a touch of Lysol Disinfectant spray first & ran the fan a few seconds just in case any mold or mildew was present even though I've had no odor problem.

[alan1828]

Just do it yourself, nice and cheap. or like me get a reuseable performance one.

http://www.knfilters.com/air_filter/toyota_yaris.aspx

or DIY: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/09/cheap_yaris_cabin_air_filter_replac.html

[birdman]

I have terrible hay fever. With the filter my symptoms are greatly reduced.