Recently brought my 2005 Matrix XR into the dealer for 15K service. I sucked it up and got their service plan, just to assure myself I was not neglecting my new car.
Anyway, they "recommended" replacing the cabin air filter, which would have added $130 to the cost. I declined, figured it must be a cheap part and easy to do. Sure enough, the filter is $10-#20. But I am unsure how to replace it, I am not much of a motorhead. Can anyone provide some guidance.
They also recommended "T-Body Service", something about fuel efficiency. Again, I declined. Anyone know anything about this? They were not too pushy, just recommended it.
Just take everything out of the glove box, you will see some phillips screws. Unscrew them. On the right side of the glovebox is a little arm that gives resistance to the movement of the glovebox so when it opens, it goes slow instead of fast. It is just pushed onto a little joint connected to the dash. So reach over the glovebox, feel for the arm and pull it away from the right side of the vehicle until it pops out. Then I think the filter might have either clips, or more phillips screws. Either way you can figure it out from there. Never heard of a form of maintenance called T-bone or whatever. If you want to get better gas mileage, just use the highest grade and go to either shell or chevron. Ive tested many types of gas from all kinds of companies and they give the best efficiency/performance.
Octane ratings are a measure of a gasoline's ability to resist engine knock. It has no effect on gas mileage because octane rating and energy level of the fuel are not related . See Chevron's page here:
Pollen filter is really easy to repalce pretty much what joe said except there should only be one phillips screw on the right hand side for that little shock he was talking about.
As for a Throttle body service we don't rec. that service at our dealer till the second air filter replacement, or about 50k.
It's funny how an oil change costs like 4 times less than changing out the cabin air filter when all it takes is about 5 min (not even) and a screwdriver.
Open the glovebox, pinch the sides in, and it will open all the way down. Behind the glovebox, you'll see a piece of plastic oriented horizontally, about 8 or 9 inches wide, and maybe 1 inch tall. Depress the tabs at either side of this piece inwards, and pull it towards you. There's your filter.
At least that's the way it works in my 06 XR.
You guys have a little arm or something that gives resistance to the opening of the glovebox? I sure don't have one of those. Weird.
As for the idea of charging $130 for the filter...are they insane? At my dealership it's a $45 part (Canadian) and that includes installation. Even at that price it's a total rip off, though.
Jim
Last edited by monkeyracing; 10-09-2006 at 02:57 AM.
Jim, you were right, no screwdriver needed. It took about 10 seconds to replace. I use more effort putting gas into my car. Bought a Bosch premium cabin air filter at AutoZone for $15.99, even comes with instructions as Jim indicated.
We all know dealers mark up parts and service, but this seems very extreme, especially for the ease of the work, which required no tools or effort (getting under car). It makes me question the honesty of the service department. What is everyone's view on this? Luckily, I assumed correctly. What about those who go by what the dealer recommends?
they mean well but $130 to replace a cabin filter? i mean they don't even break a sweat changing that simple service.
By the way, in my honest opinion - the best forum is matrixowners.com. That is only my opinion, but everyone is welcome to be a guest and visit - just remember to use the search function as that will answer most of your questions.
But I found a way to work around the problem. Just last week I went in for some parts, and for example I was looking for the cupholders for the rear passengers that is built into the center console. I bought my cat with it broken off. And all you do is go into the parts dept. and ask about your parts and they will have an entire computerized parts manual with a breakdown of everything. Just ask to see the part for yourself and look at the middle right side of the screen and youll see a little box with three prices. Manufacturer price up top, dealership price in the middle(the cost they sell it to you for) and employee price on the bottom I think. For just the cup holder the manufacturer makes it and sells it to the dealer for $45, then the dealerhip will sell it at $88. I dont remember what the last price was. I confronted the guy and said, "Man thats like 50% profit." and he said that they usually cost things at 100% more than what it costs the dealer to get the parts. But the way you work around this is write down the complete part number and just google it and you can usually get it from the same people that the dealers buy it from.
My friend owns a Scion and he bought a big piece of air conditioning filter from home depot for like 8 bucks, he then cut a piece the same size as his filter and still has enough left like 8 more replacements. That's how we do it in ghetto jersey.
I just got done looking for the idle speed control valve that was $250 at the dealership. Found at it jcwhitney for $140, more than a hundred dollars less than the dealership. It was a pain finding the correct part number. Just so you guys know for futre reference, toyota uses its own part numbers as compared to the manufacturers. So they buy a bunch of idle speed control valves from KEM p/n 214-1100 and then give it their own part number, 22270-0D040 which they use in their manuals. So if you ever need a replacement part somewhere besides the dealerships, look at the actual part itself and youll get a part number that you could actually search the internet for because toyota parts will come up with nothing.
Octane ratings are a measure of a gasoline's ability to resist engine knock. It has no effect on gas mileage because octane rating and energy level of the fuel are not related . See Chevron's page here:
There are many variables that will affect fuel economy, but octane rating isn't one of them.
Have you ever tried it? Because I have and I check my fuel efficiency every time and I have taught people how to check it and to use higher octane and every one of them have told me that it helps improve gas mileage.
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