[ArtD]

Just ordered the cabin air filter through Amazon.com (it was a third party supplier). Cost about 15 bucks with shipping. Local Schucks auto parts store wanted about 22 bucks for it.

A year or so ago, my local Toyota dealer (Lithia Toyota in Medford, Oregon) changed out the cabin air filter without asking me and charged me fifty bucks: twenty for the filter plus thirty for the labor.

I am not skilled with auto repair, but it took me no more than five minutes total. The filter came with instructions for popping out the glove box and changing the filter.

Easy job, auto dealer ripoff!!!!

 

[grandmama]

I'm pretty sure I bought them here:

http://www.logical-source.com/searc...sults.asp?make=TOYOTA&year=2005&model=SIENNA&ItemsPerPage=10&StartItemNumber=11

$3.90 for the CE model and $6.67 for the xle.

Shipping to Canada for 4 of them was $14.18 and they arrived USPS in my mailbox without any brokerage or GST charges.

Cool .... but $24 shipping for those of us in Canada, vs $3.91 shipping for the US (I checked with qty 2)

Anyone seen something like this in Canada?

No, but if any of the online suppliers ship by standard US Postal Service (mail), instead of a special USPS services or a freight/courier company, it would likely be much more reasonable... I can wait a few days for delivery of this sort of item.

$4.00 for the filter, that's pretty cheap

 

[brian_bp]

...
A year or so ago, my local Toyota dealer (Lithia Toyota in Medford, Oregon) changed out the cabin air filter without asking me and charged me fifty bucks: twenty for the filter plus thirty for the labor.
...
Easy job, auto dealer ripoff!!!!

That's incredible. The dealers around here include the labour of checking the filter - and changing it if necessary - in the flat-rate "Maintenance Service", which is an oil change plus the various other 16,000 km (10,000 mile) inspection services.

If I had not signed anything asking for the filter change, I would likely refuse to pay it for the labour. I might even take a shot at not paying for the filter, offering that they could remove it if they wanted to keep it... that would provide an illustration of just how quick it is to change!

 

[topspy]

I'm with [brian].....in most states, it is illegal to perform "additional" automotive repairs/services without express authorization....or rather, it is illegal to charge the customer for them without prior consent/approval. You will normally get a written estimate for the cost of services to be performed up front which will require your signature signifying your approval. Later, as the services are being performed and additional issues are identified the estimate may need to be modified/adjusted to include other or different services, but these also usually require your pre-approval and consent before they are performed. This usually comes in the form of a phone call advising you of the new situation and change in the estimated costs and an inquiry as to whether or not you will authorize them. Good recordkeeping by the repair shop will usually note who placed the call to you, the time, the revised cost estimate or amount of increase, and a notation with your "verbal" approval over the phone...it is even better if they get you to sign a revised cost estimate in-person.....especially if it is a substantial cost increase. Anything done without such an approval from you generally means you get a "freebie". I would be extremely wary of "trusting" a repair shop that made it a practice to do such things on a regular basis and then tried to charge you for it after the fact.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)

 

[05xle6]

I just purchased two of the Fram cabin filters for my XLE from Amazon for $13 each. It's supposed to have baking soda to help absorb odors. It's free shipping for any order over $25, so I bought two to bring the total to $26.

My local dealer (Daly City Toyota) wanted $45 for it, and my local Kragen Auto Parts was $26. These prices are before tax. Absolutely nuts. I didn't go the DIY way, just because I'm lazy.

 

[shineysideup]

...
A year or so ago, my local Toyota dealer (Lithia Toyota in Medford, Oregon) changed out the cabin air filter without asking me and charged me fifty bucks: twenty for the filter plus thirty for the labor.
...
Easy job, auto dealer ripoff!!!!

That's incredible. The dealers around here include the labour of checking the filter - and changing it if necessary - in the flat-rate "Maintenance Service", which is an oil change plus the various other 16,000 km (10,000 mile) inspection services.

If I had not signed anything asking for the filter change, I would likely refuse to pay it for the labour. I might even take a shot at not paying for the filter, offering that they could remove it if they wanted to keep it... that would provide an illustration of just how quick it is to change!

Things on the west side of Canada must be more on the up and up. Living in Ontario and asking my wife to get an oil change... the dealership pulled out the cabin air filter "showed" my wife how dirty it was and proceeded to replace it. I was a while ago now but it was OVER $50 to have this done... Needless to say, I explained to my wife that the filter probably did need changing, just not for $50+ at the stealership. I can buy the paper part of the filter for $15 at crappy tire. After reading a few posts on Sienna Chat this is still a ridiculous price! I couldn't ask for a refund, my wife did give permission to change the filter. So, I $40 oil change ended up being over $100. I was not impressed. They would not have tried this with me. I was charged labour and they would have had to put the old filter back if my wife had declined. What a joke.

 

[brian_bp]

The dealers around here include the labour of checking the filter - and changing it if necessary - in the flat-rate "Maintenance Service", which is an oil change plus the various other 16,000 km (10,000 mile) inspection services.

Things on the west side of Canada must be more on the up and up.

Probably not. The Maintenance Service is substantially more expensive than the regular oil and filter change, and the extra cost is the labour to do things such as checking the cabin air filter... so I've already paid for the work.

Since I no longer use a dealership for routine service - they have driven me away with laziness, incompetence, and dishonesty - the cabin filter change labour charge is no longer an issue.

 

[mikesienna]

Going to buy a couple of cabin air filters online. There are many choices. Has anyone had any experience with the following brands: TYC, Kinsen and NPN? I may try the homemade version, but wanted all options. Called the dealer and they want 29.99 for the filter. I knew it would be expensive, but was curious.

Thanks

 

[junkone]

look up on ebay. it is cheaper to buy in sets of 4.

 

[ASCAPE]

I haven't had a chance to pick up a maintenance manual for my 2004 Sienna yet. Where is the cabin filter located?

 

[romualds]

The cabin air filter is behind the glove box. See this video guide by 3M:
http://www.3mestore.com/xc003869382.html
The video is not for Sienna, but the only difference is that Sienna doesn't have any screws to remove.

 

[mikesienna]

On the OEM filter, there is an arrow and the word 'up'. Question is does up and air flow mean the same thing? Reason I ask is most non OEM filters such as the fram with baking soda has an airflow and the down arrow. I assume that air flow down and the up on the OEM have nothing to do with each other and it is ok to use the filter that says air flow down.

Thanks

 

[Family Buggy]

BTW, this may already have been mentioned...if so, sorry. But if you go to your favorite parts store, you'll probably find out that the cabin filter for the LE is actually quite a bit more expensive than the one for the XLE/Limited. I've discovered this over the years at both AutoZone (STP brand) and Advanced Auto Parts (Purolator brand). At Advanced a couple of years ago I laid them down side by side. For whatever reason the LE filter had some slightly reinforced sides. Besides that there was not much difference. So, I run the "XLE" filter in my LE. $15 compared to $30....pretty easy choice for me. :

 

[bcwang]

This is very interesting that the XLE filters are different from the LE/CE yet the fit exactly the same. Has anyone compared the XLE HVAC unit behind the glove box with the LE/CE version and seen if they are any different? Are the filter trays identical?

I wonder if they are the same and toyota maybe put a "better" filter from the factory into the XLE. Looking at the photos, the XLE filter looks better, and I did notice it is cheaper than the one for the LE/CE as well.

 

[robo5]

This is very interesting that the XLE filters are different from the LE/CE yet the fit exactly the same. Has anyone compared the XLE HVAC unit behind the glove box with the LE/CE version and seen if they are any different? Are the filter trays identical?

The trays are the same. I am sure the HVAC unit will be different due to the XLE is auto

I wonder if they are the same and toyota maybe put a "better" filter from the factory into the XLE. Looking at the photos, the XLE filter looks better, and I did notice it is cheaper than the one for the LE/CE as well.

I think that is the reason

 

[bcwang]

I just noticed how dirty the blower fan and bottom assembly below the filter is. I think the LE style filter has too many holes and gaps around the edges for dust to get by. I'm hoping the XLE style filter will fix this.

Maybe I should unscrew the bottom and clean out the fan first. My blower makes a bit too much noise on low, I wonder if the dust has bunched up somewhere or it needs an oiling.

 

[robo5]

I just noticed how dirty the blower fan and bottom assembly below the filter is. I think the LE style filter has too many holes and gaps around the edges for dust to get by. I'm hoping the XLE style filter will fix this.

Maybe I should unscrew the bottom and clean out the fan first. My blower makes a bit too much noise on low, I wonder if the dust has bunched up somewhere or it needs an oiling.

Maybe a leaf or part of fell down upon removal.

 

[bcwang]

I just noticed how dirty the blower fan and bottom assembly below the filter is. I think the LE style filter has too many holes and gaps around the edges for dust to get by. I'm hoping the XLE style filter will fix this.

Maybe I should unscrew the bottom and clean out the fan first. My blower makes a bit too much noise on low, I wonder if the dust has bunched up somewhere or it needs an oiling.

Maybe a leaf or part of fell down upon removal.

I read there was a newer blower that is quieter in a TSB, too bad my van is out of warranty already though. I probably have the old "louder" fan. It simply sounds like a fan motor that is no longer running well, not specifically broken sounding, but louder than it has to be. I don't know if there is anything I can do to help fix it, maybe oil the center shaft?

 

[am12]

I just ordered two of these, $18 shipped to Ontario.
I'll report back when they get here about the installation and any other thoughts.

I'm pretty sure I bought them here:

http://www.logical-source.com/searc...sults.asp?make=TOYOTA&year=2005&model=SIENNA&ItemsPerPage=10&StartItemNumber=11

$3.90 for the CE model and $6.67 for the xle.

Shipping to Canada for 4 of them was $14.18 and they arrived USPS in my mailbox without any brokerage or GST charges.

Cool .... but $24 shipping for those of us in Canada, vs $3.91 shipping for the US (I checked with qty 2)

Anyone seen something like this in Canada?

No, but if any of the online suppliers ship by standard US Postal Service (mail), instead of a special USPS services or a freight/courier company, it would likely be much more reasonable... I can wait a few days for delivery of this sort of item.

 

[am12]

Hullo,
I just installed this in my 2010 Sienna CE (Canadian Model) this morning. I snapped some photos, and thought I should finally report back here, as I promised.

First, the filters arrived with no Duty or other charges. The order process was a bit on the slow side, I forget exactly but I think 3-4 weeks total?

1- first photo shows the package (2 in the box) and the instructions. The instructions are clear, illustrated, and reasonably simple.

2- 2nd photo shows the arm that you remove from the side of the glove box. I did find that you need to apply a fair bit of force to push in the sides of the glove box to clear the other tabs. It is a good thing that there were illustrated instructions, because I was afraid of breaking something, so it was good to be reassured that I was doing the right thing

3- Third photo shows the new filter beside the dirty filter, still in the frame
4- Fourth photo shows the new filter installed in the frame, beside the old dirty filter. This filter is after about 14-16 months of use in Southern ontario, 20,000km of usage. I am a bit late in changing the filter, I admit. Still, it wasn't BLACK, just grey. To my eye, the new filter has about HALF of the pleats of the original factory filter. So the original filter will have far more filter surface, and should therefore last much longer.

These 3rd part filters are certainly inexpensive, but I would think that they should also be changed more frequently, compared to the factory units, based on the less amount of filter area. I think I should keep looking to see if there is a supplier of better cabin air filters available.

5- Final photo shows the new filter being slid back into the housing in the dash. Closing up the glove box after that was a matter of a few moments.

In summary, I think it would take a pro less than 5 minutes total to swap out these filters.