DIY Cabin Air Filter

[jpadua]

Hey guys, I also made a DIY filter from simple materials, might be cheaper. You can also replace the filter element. The one I made is a bit crude but it works hehehe , but I'm planning to build another one but this time instead of cardboard I'll use plexiglass, but this will do for now.

Materials:
Aircon filter and nylon screen which you can purchase at any home/hardware store

Small cardboard giftbox which is roughly about 7" x 9" x 1"

How I built the aircon filter holder:

1. Cut out 1" from the long side of the box.
2. Re-enforce the box flaps with elmers glue
3. Cut out a hole about 1" from the sides in the middle of the box and the lid
4. Cut enough nylon screen to cover the hole on both the box and the lid
5. Staple the nylon screen to the box and lid, then reinforce with some Masking tape
6. Reinforce the box with more masking tape
7. Cut a piece from the aircon filter just enough so that it can fit inside the box

You will have something like this:



8. Place the aircon filter on the box


9. Place the lid upside down so that you will have a screen-filter-screen sandwich.



Installation:

10. Remove the glove box.



11. Remove the aircon filter cover.



12. Insert the DIY filter lengthwise.



You will have enough filter material, for several replacements.

[eTiMaGo]

as with any DIY project, it should be done at your own risk. Use a filter too dense that it fries your blower motor, too bad.. Though I'd think you might notice that the vents are barely blowing any air...

[Lafiro]

Does anyone know if the major service include a cabin air filter, or for that matter any of the major services that are done at the dealership?

I just did this DIY and found that there was NO cabin air filter.
And this made me really mad, and now I see the reason why when I slapped the seats the other day driving, the biggest clouds of dust kept coming off them like I have never seen.

I have since then installed an cabin air filter, and vacuumed my seats clean.

If the services were to include the cabin air filter, then I will be going there soon and demanding refunds or free cabin air filters.... because that was not right.

[1stToyota]

Originally Posted by Lafiro

Does anyone know if the major service include a cabin air filter, or for that matter any of the major services that are done at the dealership?

I just did this DIY and found that there was NO cabin air filter.
And this made me really mad, and now I see the reason why when I slapped the seats the other day driving, the biggest clouds of dust kept coming off them like I have never seen.

I have since then installed an cabin air filter, and vacuumed my seats clean.

If the services were to include the cabin air filter, then I will be going there soon and demanding refunds or free cabin air filters.... because that was not right.

We don't get one from the factory, but I think checking/replacing the cabin filter is scheduled every 15K miles under normal conditions.

edit: I lied. That's for the engine air filter, not the a/c filter. No mention of the cabin air filter in the maintenance book that I could see. Only mention of the cabin/air conditioner filter is in the owner's manual; just says a/c filter should be replaced often to maintain proper a/c efficiency.

[nemelek]

My dealer is real proud of their price.

[The Spectacle]

Originally Posted by nemelek

My dealer is real proud of their price.

holy fucking shit.

[talnlnky]

the toyota people won't even look at the air filter location unless there is a sticker in that lil glovebox/compartment area on the passenger side (by the knees under the dash). I believe the stick denotes when it was installed and when it should be replaced.

If the service person doesn't see the stick... it means there was never a filter installed by the service dept.

[Lafiro]

What is this A/C filter you are talking about?

I know where the air intake filter is in the engine bay.

I also know where the cabin air filter is behind the glove box.

But where is this A/C filter??

Also it still smells wierd at times when the A/C is used/just turning off, its wierd and people don't like it one bit.

Thanks for the help.

[YarisSedan]

Originally Posted by Lafiro

What is this A/C filter you are talking about?

I know where the air intake filter is in the engine bay.

I also know where the cabin air filter is behind the glove box.

But where is this A/C filter??

Also it still smells wierd at times when the A/C is used/just turning off, its wierd and people don't like it one bit.

Thanks for the help.

Maybe theres mold growing on your cabin air filter. How many miles you have on the car chances you never changed it

[jpadua]

Originally Posted by Lafiro

What is this A/C filter you are talking about?

I know where the air intake filter is in the engine bay.

I also know where the cabin air filter is behind the glove box.

But where is this A/C filter??

Also it still smells wierd at times when the A/C is used/just turning off, its wierd and people don't like it one bit.

Thanks for the help.

I think that the cabin filter and A/C filter are the same, thats the only place I know you where you can replace the filter.

[1stToyota]

Originally Posted by Lafiro

What is this A/C filter you are talking about?

I know where the air intake filter is in the engine bay.

I also know where the cabin air filter is behind the glove box.

But where is this A/C filter??

Also it still smells wierd at times when the A/C is used/just turning off, its wierd and people don't like it one bit.

Thanks for the help.

Same thing. In the owner's manual Toyota calls it the A/C filter, probably to make it seem more vital. If Fram makes one for our car you might try one of theirs. They're protected with baking soda. Or a WIX/Napa filter...they're treated to help against mold and meldew.

"NAPA Cabin Air Filters Are Treated w/ Enviro-Shield ! A Patented Chemical Treatment That Inhibits The Growth Of Mold, Mildew, Algae + Bacteria. The Media Traps These Harmful Microbes To Keep Your Vehicle 100% Odor + Allergan Free - EPA Approved"

[Lafiro]

Oh, my car NEVER had a cabin air filter until I made and installed one two days ago.

Still smells though. Im thinking of taking it out, and turning on the fan to max, and throwing bits of baking soda powder to the fan......
probably a bad idea...
Or someone suggest what I do please.

[YarisSedan]

ive posted this a few times already but purchase febreeze antimicrobial and spray it into the air ducts as it goes through your a/c system it will kill all the bacteria and also give your ac system a fresh clean scent for a few days.

[Lafiro]

ok, will do, thank you.

My friend also has an ozone machine for the car to kill off stuff/give it that fresh car smell or something. It is really strong, makes my Sharper Image Ionic Breeze smell like nothing compared to it lol.

I will do both.

[Astroman]

What a great reminder I need to cut up that new filter I bought for the cars. I just took out the last one I had installed

[Lafiro]

Alright, so I did this my way first.

Sprayed the antimicrobial in the car, vents, intake while a/c and heat were on, and then seats/floors.

Then left the ionic breeze on high in the car, and sprayed it again everywhere before closing the windows as much as possible and leaving it in the car.

So I left that since 9pm last night, and wont touch the car until 5pm or so tonight.

If it aint perfect after that, I will do the ionic breeze again tonight, and then when I can drive the 26miles to my friends shop, I will use that Ozone machine.

[Lafiro]

Wow, I should not have done that second spray of antimicrobial, BUT the car smells brand new.

My friends Mercedes S600 smells the way mine does now, and I don't know how thats possible, but I love it now LOL.

[RedRide]

I have been making the same type of cabin filters for my Celica for years.

Now, I know how to do it (the exact dementions needed,etc) for my Yaris.