Hey guys:
Can anyone please enlight me on this issue?? My wife took my xA to the dealership for an oil change and to check on the air filter. Well they told her that she needed to chance the "cabin air filter". Pardon my ignorance, but I've never heard of such a thing. To ad insult to injury, they charged her 69.00 dollars for that thing. I'm not a cheap skate, if the car needs it, so be it. But in the other hand I don't want these people to take my wife as a sucker. The reason why I don't take the vehicle myself, is because I'm a soldier and I'm overseas. Thanks for your help guys.
Julio.

 

the xB comes with an empty cabin air filter slot, that you can make your own filter for a few bucks or you can pay for the Toyota filter for like $22 and i guess $47 for install.I am assuming that the xA is the same. You got shafted. You don't need the filter, it just keeps dust from coming in through the vents when you have fresh air coming in.

 

Thanks for serving! What he said. Xa is the same. Your poor wife was ripped off. Please identify the dealer so they can be shamed in public.

 

DUDE!! this is one of the reason why soldiers go mental when they get back home. (Which I will be in 15 days)

 

The cabin air filter keeps dust out of the ducts, fan, dash surface and rest of the interiour. The OEM filter is gauzy so as not impede airflow, and pleated for maximum surface. It is installed by removing the glove compartment, which pulls out. You have to know how to do it, and mine takes a lot of force; it might be possible to mash or break a tab, or lose a felt bumper. There is a DYI guide at:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20753

I think the OEM filter is better than we can make, and it was not worth my time to buy other filter material and make my own. It is not likely that your wife could have made her own and installed it.

The dealer charged evidently billed $25 for the filter plus $44 for labor, which probably is 1/2 hour. This is not a rip-off. It is a normal dealer charge for such a service.

Whether you all feel that having a cabin air filter is worth it, is another question.

 

Since it doesn't come with one, they totally lied and ripped her off. I'd demand a refund.

 

The DIY is just as good as the OEM, it is just a lot cheaper and unless you have mechanical deficiency issues (some people do) you can do the whole thing in about 20 minutes (including making your own filter).

 

It does NOT take 1/2 hour to install the filter. Maybe 5 minutes if you stop and take a phone call halfway through. They shouldn't have charged for the labor.

 

They obtained $ under false pretenses. They installed a filter, they did not replace a filter! It may well be an accepted business practice in other parts of the country, but down here that's fraud.

 

Thank you for your service!

Rip Off - $22 for the filter no problem.
$47.00 for the labor - less than five minute job and the dealer knows it. And dealers wonder why people don't trust them . . .

Let the service manager know how you feel. It's amazing these guys can sleep at night.

 

dood it does not take 1/2 an hour to intall it...unless you doing it with your ELBOWS


$47 for intall is a rip off, bring the machine gun when you go there




JK

 

Thanks for the DIY link. Ive got some hepa filters here that i can cut down to size.

 

Yes, that's about how long it took me. Nevertheless, the dealer is going to charge flat rate for everything they do. The book flat rate for the filter could be based on a time period of 1/2 hour. I doubt if the dealer installs any parts they sell for free.

 

I don't get it. What's the difference between installing and replacing?

 

It does not come with a filter, so there was nothing to replace. Therefor it was installed. You don't have to have the filter, it just keeps outside dust down inside your ride.

 

I noticed that when I installed my filter. But what is the difference that makes charging for installing the filter a fraud?

 

The could be a downside to home-made filters, particularly HEPA-material filters, and that is airflow restriction. I think HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters may be designed for use only in powerful vacuum systems. There are HEPA respirators, but I think they require a powered fan.

The purpose-made cabin filters by OEM and Purolator a made of gauzy material to pass air easily, and have pleats to increase the surface area. These combine to put no strain on the fan when it is used at low road speeds, and allow good airflow without the fan at higher road speeds.

Most home-made filter materials and HEPA filter materials are more going to be more restrictive to airflow and/or not filter as well as the OEM and Purolator filters.

 

Double post *EDIT*

 

Because the dealer told her that it needed to be replaced. There was not one there, so how could they replace it. The dealer should have asked her if she wanted to have one installed. Then she could have made a decision on having one or not, but when someone says it needs to be replaced it makes you think you have to do it.
_________________

 

You really need to post the dealer's name so people in your area will be conscience of this ruse.