cabin air filter

[ALLEGRO]

I wish I had saved mine now to do my own comparison.

I made one from a Filtrete filter like this one

I did check it for flow by blowing some air through it and it seemed to have little or no blockage. I can't imagine the OEM filter flowing BETTER than the HVAC filter.

 

[jharris2]

You can get a home furnace filter that's too restrictive. We had a member try a carbon filter and it nearly stopped the airflow.

The Toyota filter is probably comparable to the inexpensive spun-glass filters for your home. I have been using good quality home air filters (similar to the Filtrete Allegro has in his post) to make my 4Runner filters. Airflow has been great, and the filter does a better job IMHO than the Toyota filter.

 

[Annoyed]

The one I tried to cut one from was a 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen, performance rating 1250.

It may very well have been a more effective filter, stopping smaller particles, but it was too restrictive. Maybe there are other ratings available, but I'm not going to worry about it. Maybe next time, I'll look at other filters, but for now, the factory job was only $22 bucks, so that will do.

 

[charlier180]

You can get a home furnace filter that's too restrictive. We had a member try a carbon filter and it nearly stopped the airflow.

The Toyota filter is probably comparable to the inexpensive spun-glass filters for your home. I have been using good quality home air filters (similar to the Filtrete Allegro has in his post) to make my 4Runner filters. Airflow has been great, and the filter does a better job IMHO than the Toyota filter.

I too have used the 3M Filtrete Filters and have not noticed significantly decreased air flow.

BTW, did anyone notice that the 3M Filters do specify that the filters are to be inserted a certain way in the home heating system?????
Kind of makes one think that there is a right and wrong way to insert them if they go to the trouble of labeling each filter with an "Airflow" arrow.
Wonder if the same holds true for using them in a 4Runner??? Personally I have always noted the "Airflow" pattern and labeled that on each 4Runner filter I have made.

One would also think that the higher the rating 3M filter one uses the more restrictive the airflow would be.

 

[jharris2]

I too have used the 3M Filtrete Filters and have not noticed significantly decreased air flow.

BTW, did anyone notice that the 3M Filters do specify that the filters are to be inserted a certain way in the home heating system?????
Kind of makes one think that there is a right and wrong way to insert them if they go to the trouble of labeling each filter with an "Airflow" arrow.
Wonder if the same holds true for using them in a 4Runner??? Personally I have always noted the "Airflow" pattern and labeled that on each 4Runner filter I have made.

One would also think that the higher the rating 3M filter one uses the more restrictive the airflow would be.

:iagree: I've used the Filtrete for a long time -- they are cheap enough to change more frequently.

Which way do you install the airflow -- with it going up or down? I can't remember which way I put it.

 

[berad]

Changed mine at 58k mi. for the first time since buying it used at 55k. The stealership was right about it needing changed but I wasn't about to bend over $50 for a 30 second job, even though it was cold in the garage.

There was a little more than some bug parts and leaves.....at first when I pulled the tray out I thought there was a dead animal in there somewhere.

 

[ALLEGRO]

Changed mine at 58k mi. for the first time since buying it used at 55k. The stealership was right about it needing changed but I wasn't about to bend over $50 for a 30 second job, even though it was cold in the garage.

There was a little more than some bug parts and leaves.....at first when I pulled the tray out I thought there was a dead animal in there somewhere.

Oh that one has a long life left in it !!!!

I would have run that another year or so.

WOW......................................

 

[<<<<]

That looks like an alien life form...

 

[cknsls@adelphia]

Why do dealers

INSIST on ripping people off over this? It's not only the dealers, I had a "major tire chain" try to rip me off and charge $79.00 to change it. The thing is I had already changed it just prior to taking it there for something else!

HEY!! HERE IS A NOTICE TO ALL DEALERS SERVICE PLACES, ETC. ETC. This is the age of the Internet. Just because you have to compete with prices on tires, oil changes, etc. DON'T TRY TO RIP US OFF IN OTHER AREAS!!

:bash: DO YOU GET IT?

 

[MikesToy]

Ewwwww! :runaway:

 

[berad]

Ewwwww! :runaway:

Yeah, I was surprised. I've changed many cabin air filters before in my other vehicles but none as bad as this. The lady that owned it before me must've never changed it. She was a smoker so I expected yellow tar on the filter...never would have thought all that crap lol.

Looks like I win the dirtiest cabin air filter of all time, or at least on T4R haha.

 

[T4RSpectreSix]

I just did this with my 'runner this past weekend, and boy the filter was nasty - so I'm glad I did it now. Although, Berad has me beat - looks like Chewbacca owned his 4Runner for awhile?

Is that damper supposed to be connected to anything? Mine was screwed into the glove box, but hanging free on the other end, sorta seemed like it had no purpose without being attached on both ends?

 

[jharris2]

I just did this with my 'runner this past weekend, and boy the filter was nasty - so I'm glad I did it now. Although, Berad has me beat - looks like Chewbacca owned his 4Runner for awhile?

Is that damper supposed to be connected to anything? Mine was screwed into the glove box, but hanging free on the other end, sorta seemed like it had no purpose without being attached on both ends?

There's a plastic post on the right side of the glove box. On mine, the lower hole of the damper snaps over the post.

 

[RHINO-99]

Re: 2004 Cabin Air Filter

When should I change the Cabin filter is there a specifed time?
I have a 2004 4runner.
Thanks

Just did mine today at 37k miles. Literally took 3 minutes! And by the looks of things, needed it. See pic below....
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28877510@N07/3229134263/" title="Air by ryanread1, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3229134263_0847cb3669_o.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Air" /></a>

 

[T4RSpectreSix]

A plastic post? Can somebody show me a picture of this? I think I may be missing the part the damper snaps into??

Dang Rhino, I think you're right on that!

 

[RHINO-99]

A plastic post? Can somebody show me a picture of this? I think I may be missing the part the damper snaps into??

Dang Rhino, I think you're right on that!

Once you take out the screw from the "arm" on the outside, you simply squeeze the top L and R of the glove box. It is a molded hollow post that simply latches into a groove, the glove box will drop down enough to remove the filter. That's it. If you have the owners manual, there is directions in there. I am an idiot when it comes to this stuff and it literally took me 3 minutes. Good luck.

 

[T4RSpectreSix]

Once you take out the screw from the "arm" on the outside, you simply squeeze the top L and R of the glove box. It is a molded hollow post that simply latches into a groove, the glove box will drop down enough to remove the filter. That's it. If you have the owners manual, there is directions in there. I am an idiot when it comes to this stuff and it literally took me 3 minutes. Good luck.

I guess what I meant to say is, the "Arm" is not attached anywhere except the screw on the glove box itself. I'm trying to figure out what the dealership failed to put back when they last replaced the air filter.

 

[JB.]

I guess what I meant to say is, the "Arm" is not attached anywhere except the screw on the glove box itself. I'm trying to figure out what the dealership failed to put back when they last replaced the air filter.

Does this help?

 

[T4RSpectreSix]

Does this help?

Yes, thank you.

Apparently that upper assembly is gone. I wonder what those idiots at the stealership do with those once they take them out of people's 4runners.

Guess I am going to have to buy another one, since my truck's previous owner never noticed it was gone. (Says dealership changed cabin air filters in the maint booklet). I was beginning to wonder what that intermittent rattle was, it must be the end of the arm moving around.

Anyone know where these can be purchased? Can't seem to find it on partznet.

 

[morphius909]

has anyone noticed that when they change the filter, there is now a odd musty smell when the heat is on? I wonder if it's from the filters themselves, crappy quality possibly? I used one of those microns.