How to change cabin filter

[brown0809]

How do you change the cabin filter on our cars?

[Callum3]

hahaha no such thing, unless you drive a 9th gen.

[brown0809]

Oh so that's it, I look like an ultimate noob right now.

[ganda1f]

Yes there is. At least on Euro spec rollas. It sits inside the duct going to the left from the blower motor assembly, behind the glove-box.
Take off the passenger side scuff plate on the doorstep. One plastic sort of nut on the right side of the footwell. Rest are clips. This is necessary to gain access to one of the screws that holds the glove box. Next remove the glove-box. Three screws on the top, one on each side, then one in bottom left corner, and two in bottom right corner area.
The duct is held by 3 bolts I think. Pretty easy to spot, top right, bottom right, bottom left and a hook at top left. The duct can be wiggled down and a bit towards the rear of the car. The filter sits where the duct is connected to the heater housing. It is a paper filter very similar to the engine air filter. The duct also has a water drain hose attached to it, that goes through the firewall. It is a bit awkward to disconnect from the duct but it can be pulled into the car.

I can tell you that after 16 years and 140k miles, that filter is CLOGGED, to a point that it will noticeably restrict the airflow into the cabin.

[Callum3]

Sorry for assuming, but I didnt think you'd have a Euro spec Corolla in the states, cuz I sure a hell know my 7th gen american spec Corolla doesn't have a cabin air filter...And I wouldnt worry about looking like a noob, its more the fact that you didn't do your research, cuz im 99% sure this question has already been answered, no biggy tho.

[brown0809]

Does this mean that the US corollas do not have a cabin filter? I thought all cars have a cabin filter.

[ganda1f]

Well, I would not expect Euro spec Corolla in the states either, what I meant to say was that the 7th gen has the possibility to be equipped with a cabin filter. I don't know the exact differences on the 7th gen between various regions of the world. Having said that, I sort of doubt that Toyota would fit different ducts on cars w/o the cabin filter, given that the duct that has the filter can be installed both with and without it. After seeing the filter I would be surprised why Toyota would skip it and allow all the dirt to end up in the heater core, which is by far more difficult to remove and clean than replacing the filter.
If you cannot find the filter in your car, perhaps the previous owner just took it out when it got clogged and never bothered to replace it.
Otherwise a Toyots dealer should know whether or not the 7th gen in America was equipped with a cabin filter. It may depend on the trim as well, like CE/DX and whatever they are.

Either way, to know for sure, just take out the glove-box and have a look

[speedy25]

Originally Posted by brown0809

Does this mean that the US corollas do not have a cabin filter? I thought all cars have a cabin filter.

I think you have to get in the 200x models to have a cabin filter in the USA. They have not been in use for very long here.

-SP

[PhatRoyale]