No Cabin Air Filter! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ScoutOut · 02-05-2012, 06:11 PM

Went to replace my Cabin Air Filter since I haven't replaced it since I bought my car in April last year and there wasn't even one in to replace! So check your cabin air filter...they are located behind your glove box. Anyway just thought I'd post that. Not a huge problem to not have one but still.

***JohnGD*** · 02-05-2012, 08:06 PM

You mean there was a place for a cabin filter but nothing was installed?

ScoutOut · 02-05-2012, 09:12 PM

Yep. Pulled the cover off and it was empty. First time ever opening that compartment too. But my car did have an in-take filter installed when I bought it, which I had a K&N Filter (oiled too) ready to go and replaced the stock filter before I even drove the car off the lot.

***JohnGD*** · 02-05-2012, 09:46 PM

I hope somebody didn't just pilfered it. Now people need to go through the delivery list and check everything.

***Edmond*** · 02-06-2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGD

You mean there was a place for a cabin filter but nothing was installed?

When I bought my '08 Scion tC brand new, I went to check the cabin filter about a year after I got the car. There was nothing there. The car was brand new, got it with 18 miles on it and I put 7 of those miles on the test drive.

hardtopte72 · 02-06-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edmond

When I bought my '08 Scion tC brand new, I went to check the cabin filter about a year after I got the car. There was nothing there. The car was brand new, got it with 18 miles on it and I put 7 of those miles on the test drive.

Toyota specifically says do not put a cabin filter in a Scion tC. The blower/evaporator box appears to be the same from other cars but on the filter replacement it read:

"Do not install a cabin air filter into Scion tC. Installation may result in damage to the A/C system."

I am not sure how true it is but they designed the car. The 08 xB was actually the first scion to be equipped with an A/C filter.

As far as OP did you buy the car new? I have never seen a Camry not have one. It is possible that if you bought used someone took it out and forgot to reinstall it (I have seen people forget to reinstall them in Gen 5 and Siennas that have an entire holder for the filter and then we have to call the customer back or even sell them a new one if we found it that way.) all the time.

somick · 02-07-2012, 12:29 PM

If fords can survive without cabin filter, Toyotas definitely will!

You Tube

Sam

2011SECAMRY · 02-07-2012, 02:37 PM

Not all Toyota's come with them. My 2002 Celica back in the day did have a spot for one but it had to be purchased separate. My 2011 Camry had one installed from the factory but I am not sure if it was because my car is loaded out... Either way not all and most likely not all Camry's will come with a in cabin filter.. You can pick one up at Toyota for around $22 bucks or so.

HotRod53 · 02-07-2012, 07:02 PM

I typically buy my cabin filters in multiples on Ebay, about $8-$10 each for my Tacoma and my Gen 5 Camry. Look at them closely before you buy, many are about the same as OEM, but there are a few cheapies out there too.

midnitevil · 02-07-2012, 07:10 PM

Not uncommon. Back when I was working at jiffy lube, we'd see new toyotas, hondas, and nissans come in without cabin air filters in the slot. Most of them would just buy one off of us, others preffered to go to the dealer to find out why their cars (lease or own, didn't matter) didn't have the filter. Maybe it's something the dealership has to install before the car rolls off the lot? -shrug-

ScoutOut · 02-08-2012, 12:07 AM

I bought my car April 2011 used off a Hyundai dealership. Got a STP filter from Autozone for $13.

hardtopte72 · 02-08-2012, 04:58 PM

All Gen 6 Camrys come with one. No doubt it was not reinstalled after a check or maybe previous owner saw it was dirty and trashed it.

johnfrisco · 02-08-2012, 06:17 PM

What is the purpose of a cabin air filter--and if you don't have one (on a car that should) or never replace it---does it damage anything?

Yuko · 02-08-2012, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnfrisco

What is the purpose of a cabin air filter--and if you don't have one (on a car that should) or never replace it---does it damage anything?

(Depending on location) The cabin air filter minimize debris such as leaves and bugs from clogging up the evaporator. But best of all, it helps eliminate outside dust from being blown into the cabin. Many older vehicles don't have it (such as my 01' Camry) and rarely have any problem. But I have seen some vehicles with cabin air filter that have collapsed into the fan from being soaked and clogged for years. That will cause problems. Toyota's are nice because they usually have a frame to support the filter while other just have the filter slid into the box.

leakyseals · 02-08-2012, 06:49 PM

Other than filtering the air we are breathing would appear the location - On the Camry I'm glad its there, catching all kinds of leaves, dust, etc that could end up on the electronic circuit boards located in the general vicinity. On the Corolla it doesn't have a CAF, doesn't have all the electronics under there either.