Celica Forums Install Guides and Technical Articles Interior Guides Cabin Air Filter - Custom

Custom Cabin Air Filter
Originally summarized by "Victor GTS 6 Speed", September 1999
Revised with additional text and photos by Isaac DeCoursey, February 2004


Want cleaner air inside your Celica?

This simple mod will get you cleaner air for you to inhale inside your Celica. It will also reduce the dust and grim build up inside your car.

As you may not already know, the Celica comes with an air filter holder behind the glove box but does NOT have a filter installed to it.

From Toyota Parts Department, you can go buy a filter to put in the holder but they will charge you $21.95 or more. It's the same one that is used in the Toyota Solara.

Things you need to make your own air filter:
*3M furnace air filter (buy the best you can find) $7 - $11
*Good pair of scissors - garden clippers work best





Filters can be found at an home improvement center (HomeDepot, OSH...etc) for about $9. Buy the largest size since it is about the same price as the smaller sizes... And you will have enough material for about 4 filter changes (This works out to about only $3 per filter!)

The filter manufacturers claim it takes out 99.9% of all airborne particles including smoke particles.
That sounds good


Procedure:

Open your glove box...







Remove all the stuff from it...





3. Drop the glove compartment down by twisting the plastic knobs off inside the box - A half turn will get them into the correct position and then they just pull out. They are located near the top and sides of the glove compartment...







Remove the filter holder behind the opening...










Mine has the old filter from last time I did this - but yours will most likely be empty if this is your first time...




Without the filter...




...
...



Brand new filter...





Now prep your filter for cutting by taking it apart...





Since I bought a large filter, I cut mine into four parts so I could have another one ready when the old one needs to be replaced...








Cut the furnace filter so it will fit inside the holder. If you need to, clip the ends and clean up your filter's edges - just be sure not to cut your filter smaller than the actual tray. Try to make a good fit without any space on the sides where air can sneak past...



















When installing to the try, make sure the metal mesh is on the bottom. The air flows from the TOP to BOTTOM on the Celica...





This picture shows the filter upside down from the bottom...




The airflow direction should flow as directed by the filter manufacturer. Remember the air flows from the top to the bottom in the Celica.

Open side UP...





Grilled side on the BOTTOM...





Install filter hold back inside the Celica and put the glove box together. You are done

The air flow will be slightly less than before because of the added filter. But On the plus side, the blower noise is greatly reduced! If you have allergies, You will probably have no more runny noses and itchy eyes due to pollen when driving your Celica now. A worthy mod to do indeed!



Toyota recommends that the cabin air filter be changed every 15,000 miles if installed - but I would suggest changing when its no longer white and is now gray (in SoCal, that's about every 4 to 6 months)

Here is a pic of the filter after a couple months



Side by side...






More photos can be found at...
https://celicahobby.com/gallery/index.php/category/inst-cabin-air-filter

I live on a dusty dirt road and had to dust my dash at least once a week until about a month ago when I did this install, since then I haven't had any crap build up on my dash. It's as easy as the S2000 antenna install; my only question is why does Toyota not have the Celica come with the filter? Could it be so that they can cash in on the extra money (not like they need it), or could there be any chance of added where on the blower? Thanks and enjoy (I have) [/color]

it also comes as an option for $24 extra at the Parts Department... Toyota recommends that the cabin air filter be changed every 30,000 miles if installed - but I would suggest changing when the filter is no longer white and is now grey (in SoCal, thats about every 4 to 6 months )

if you do not use the 3m filter and you just use the furnace filter it wont work after a while, it will jam the in/out switch so you cannot switch inbetween using outside or inside air...

CelicaRacer05, that is FALSE information...

The only way to have happen what you've described, is if the filter was installed UPSIDE-DOWN

ANY Brand will with a grill work - does NOT have to be 3M - All brands have some type of grill to keep the filter in the desired form

Since the air flows from TOP to BOTTOM, the correct installation is...
https://celicahobby.com/gal3/inst_cabinfilter

Open side UP...


Grilled side on the bottom...

Great and easy mod...

One thing i did a little extra is put one of those flat and sticky air fresheners in there... No one can figure out how my car smells so nice and where the scent is coming from...

Later,
Los

What's up isaac?

I installed your cabin filter mod today, your instructions were great, very easy! Time will tell to see how dirty Minnesota's air really is, lol... Later man.

Did this today and it only took 10 minutes! Very easy to follow instructions!

damn .. ecelica is priceless.. i would have never thought about somthing like this. im hoping this will help keep the dashboard and everything a lil cleaner also. thanks isaac

Nice post Isaac, 11.99 for 4 cabin filters. Could be better filtration as well!?!

Yo, UPDATE:
I was clowning the L.A. guy for how dirty his filter was, but now I've got nothing to clown aboot.
And I'm in Seattle! and heres what mine looked like after not even a month. (granted when I read this thread and checked mine, there was NO filter, but still, ECCK!)

Does anybody know what the part number for that plastic thing that holds the filter or how I can get one. I opened mine up and discovered mine is gone

Celica "Cabin Air Filter Cover Plate" part number - 88899-41010.
It's also know as a "Cabin Air Filter Holder" or as a "Cabin Air Filter Tray"
This is the part number for the filter holder only. It does not include a filter.
The filter tray is white, made of plastic, and has a foam bumper-pad along the top drawer edge.

It's the item in the top-left of this picture:



Although the air blower assembly and filter tray were part of all 7th gen Celica, Toyota did not include cabin air filters in the Celica until mid 2004, and only as a new vehicle "upgrade package option" or as a "recommended service" for an additional $52 part + cost of install. Since then, they have lowered the OEM part price, lowered the labor charge. In addition. several aftermarket brands are now available for around $16 USD.

The tray can be purchased from your local Toyota parts department for less than $20. This blower unit assembly design and its related parts has been used in other Toyota vehicles (Carola, Camry...etc) over similar years, so the cabin air filter tray part number will be the same across many different models. Many Toyota parts departments should already have these on inventory, if not, the part is common and should be quite easy for them to order for you.

Thanks Caffeinekid!

I went to do this today and the previous owner removed it lmao. Wonder it gets so damn dusty so quickly in there 👀

iirc, the actual air filter media wasnt included with new 7th gen Celica until 2004. Toyota dealership repair & parts departments began offering the filter during 2003 for crazy prices in the $50 and $75 range. This is why we have DIY how-to guides like the one you're reading now.

Then third-parties (such as Fram) began producing then, and they were selling at local auto parts stores for $7 - $15.

I personally have an Amazon "subscribe & save" setup for delivery every 6 months. It arrives and i change it.

FRAM CF9846A Fresh Breeze Cabin Air Filter
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0010DZZVK

Bosch Automotive 6056C HEPA Cabin Air Filter
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01JYSX06Y