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Car Forum / Toyota / Camry / October 2007Did I Get Taken?
Brought my 2007 Camry XLE into the dealer for an oil change at 15K. (Don't usually do changes at the dealer but they had sent me a coupon for 10% off and a $10 gas card so their oil change with synthetic oil cost me under $30.) Good deal, I think. Anyway, while waiting for the car, service advisor comes out and shows me a VERY dirty air filter and says I should replace it. I normally do this myself but didn't even check it since the service schedule says to replace it at 30K. Anyway, I agree to change it since it is very dirty - dirtier than any I'd ever seen. Even while agreeing to have them replace it, I figured I might be getting taken but what could I tell them : "No put it back and I'll do it myself" ? (If they'd shown me a filter that wasn't mine but was a dirty one they had in the back, they'd just put that one back in anyway.) Anyway, they didn't charge too much ($17 + $5 for labor) but I'm skeptical that I really needed the new filter. Anyone have any idea how dirty these filters get? Thanks. - Dave Both my cabin air filter and engine air filter is still good at 15k miles. Actually, I just lighlty tapped away the dirt from my cabin airfilter, since at my 15k mile oil change they said it needed to be changed but I turned them down. > Brought my 2007 Camry XLE into the dealer for an oil change at 15K. (Don't > usually do changes at the dealer but they had sent me a coupon for 10% off [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > - Dave > Both my cabin air filter and engine air filter is still good at 15k > miles. Actually, I just lighlty tapped away the dirt from my cabin [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > - Show quoted text - I boughtmy `02 Camry-4 in 2006 and the cabin filetr had never been changed. Rather than fork out $20.00 at the time I removed it and washed it in dish detergent and hot water . I used a washing action simil;ar to panning for gold but a little more active. When it was dry it looked fairly clean and I was able to see daylight thruout in all aspects . This is the common method fro determining if a fair filter is valid. so far no problems . Oh yes there was one problem ;The impeller was literally choked with dog hair. , not the filter, but the impeller housing.. The opening was just large enough to reach in and clear the hair out. The fan has worked fine since. I bought a cabin air filter at Auto-zone (Bosch ) and it was around $20.00.In case I ever want, or need to actually replace the cabin filter due to old age etc. So if you got themn to actually REPLACE a cabin filter for less I would check and make sure they actually did it / and not used another old filter . "mred" <mred@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at Auto-zone (Bosch ) and it was around > $20.00.In case I ever want, or need to actually replace the cabin > filter due to old age etc. > > So if you got themn to actually REPLACE a cabin filter for less I > would check and make sure they actually did it / and not used another > old filter . I didn't have them replace the cabin air filter. I was talking about the engine air filter. They definitely replaced it from the one that was shown to me - that was filthy. The new one is clean. (It IS possible it was my original one but that probably wasn't brand new looking since it did have 15K on it.) Oh well, next time I go there, I'll have the filter marked and call them on it if they try to pull a fast one on me. Here's a price quote I got from a Toyota dealer, engine air filter is $39.50 and the cabin air filter is $79.50 > Anyway, they didn't charge too much ($17 + $5 for labor) but I'm skeptical > that I really needed the new filter. > Here's a price quote I got from a Toyota dealer, engine air filter is > $39.50 and the cabin air filter is $79.50 Any guy who cannot replace their own engine air filter should crushed by a giant beer can. Dealers often have sales on these parts (check their web site) and they should cost $20 at the most. It is important to replace the air filter often, so purchase 2 of them. > > Here's a price quote I got from a Toyota dealer, engine air filter is > > $39.50 and the cabin air filter is $79.50 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > site) and they should cost $20 at the most. It is important to replace the > air filter often, so purchase 2 of them. Heres a question for all: I have a `02 Camry -4 and if I wish to change the air filter it seems its more than just flipping a couple of clips. Theres so much other stuff attached to the intake-exhaust of the air filter housing I really dont know where to start >? Having done my own simple maintenance for over 55 years , this contraption has me stumped as to how to remove safely the attachments that are on the air filter housing (exhaust to the engine ), without damaging them? ( I dont even know what theyre for ? or what they do? ) Anybody ? and TIA for any help at all. > Heres a question for all: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Anybody ? and TIA for any help at all. If it's like my old '98 was, you just loosen the clips, pull up on the filter housing and slide the filter out, reversing the procedure with the new filter. Of course, it isn't as fast as reading this but shouldn't take more than a minute! > Heres a question for all: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Anybody ? and TIA for any help at all. Look in the Owners Manual. You do not have to remove the attachments to the air filter housing. > > Heres a question for all: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > - Show quoted text - theres nothing in there about the attachments or changing the air filter , at least on cursory inspection ? Will try again to see if there is more detailed instruction on this beast. I never saw a 98 Camry Air cleaner, but on a 98 RAV4 its has relatively awkward airfilter compartment that you have to wrestle a bit, but still only clips are holding them. > > Heres a question for all: > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > - Show quoted text - Nothing in the owners manual on procedure .Just says change the filter every so many miles /kilometers I will have to go to Clymers to get the proper procedure . Like I said before there are so many electrical attachments and hoses I dont want to break something just to change a filter . There HAS to be a proper procedure to do this. >> Here's a price quote I got from a Toyota dealer, engine air filter is >> $39.50 and the cabin air filter is $79.50 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > site) and they should cost $20 at the most. It is important to replace the > air filter often, so purchase 2 of them. I hope that you aren't directing the "crushed by a giant beer can" comment at me. I always have done my own air filter changes. In this case, the dealer allegedly pulled the filter out before I'd gotten a look at it. > "mred" <m...@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Oh well, next time I go there, I'll have the filter marked and call them on > it if they try to pull a fast one on me. OOps my mistake . I sincerely apolgize for my gaff >> "mred" <m...@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > OOps my mistake . I sincerely apolgize for my gaff No insult taken. > "mred" <mred@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at > Auto-zone (Bosch ) and it was around [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Oh well, next time I go there, I'll have the filter marked and call them > on it if they try to pull a fast one on me. Other than making waves with the service manager, this trick will do nothing for you, since they'll still charge you for the new filter and labor, and you may wind up with a target on your back at the dealership....allowing for all sorts of nasty behavior on the mechanics' part. I don't think you'd like it if your car were disabled in some way by a spiteful mechanic. They could even run a key down the side of your car and claim that it was that way when it entered their shop. Your proposed trick of marking the old filter could come back and bite you.....they're holding all the cards, not you. >> "mred" <mred@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at >> Auto-zone (Bosch ) and it was around [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > trick of marking the old filter could come back and bite you.....they're > holding all the cards, not you. I guess I'll have to take pictures of the car before I go in then. They can only charge me for a new filter if I agree to have them replace it. If, on the other hand, they approach me with one that is not the one I had in there when I went in, I'd get the dealership's management in there with me immediately, make them go to the car with me and watch over it as they put my filter back. Then I'd drive out of there, report them and not be back again. >>> "mred" <mred@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at >>> Auto-zone (Bosch ) and it was around [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > put my filter back. Then I'd drive out of there, report them and not be > back again. Once again, you're making a fuss (perhaps to get back to the dealer on solid or not so solid grounds). I'd simply not patronize that dealer again, and leave it alone. Nobody likes a smartass who's out to discredit them (even if they're trying to pull a fast one on you with an ancient filthy filter) , and when they have the ability to do you (or your car) some harm, I wouldn't fool with them. It's like mouthing off to a policeman who carries a nightstick and a gun. Not wise. > "mred" <m...@295.ca> wrote in message > I bought a cabin air filter at > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Oh well, next time I go there, I'll have the filter marked and call them on > it if they try to pull a fast one on me. 15,000 miles is nothing if your driving in urban areas and on paved roads all the time , however having said THAT // if you drive on dirt roads or live in a dusty place like New Mexico or Arizona then yes it would need replacing. I actually saw an air filter taken out of a Chevy pickup in New Mexico at a Pennzoil oil change station and it was a wonder that the truck even ran ? It was coated with at least a half inch of dust . Now this area in New Mexico is on the high plateau and the wind NEVER stops blowing and raising sand and dust storms . Somehow the dust even gets through sealed windows to collect on the inner sill (Motel) I was passing through NM and was due for an oil change and it was the only place I saw in the area where I could get a quick oil change. if you drive in a dusty area it is possible that the air filter was dirty. if you do a lot of city driving it should be good for a least 25000 miles > Brought my 2007 Camry XLE into the dealer for an oil change at 15K. (Don't > usually do changes at the dealer but they had sent me a coupon for 10% off [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > - Dave > Brought my 2007 Camry XLE into the dealer for an oil change at 15K. (Don't > usually do changes at the dealer but they had sent me a coupon for 10% off [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > - Dave If you had driven 15 K miles over dirt roads, I guess it's possible, but the air filters I have just become gray from dust, and there's only the occasional detritus in the bottom of the filter assembly that I vacuum out. ....and I guess they have to charge something for labor, even if it only takes a minute to unclip the assembly, pull out the old filter and replace it, and clip it closed again. At five bucks a shot, I could do that all day long and make about $300 by mid afternoon. In the 'old days' they probably felt they made enough on the filter to do it for free. But there ain't no free lunch any more. Yeah, depending on the air where you drive, it may be 30K or 15K. I don't go by miles, but just kinda eyeball the filter to decide if it needs changing, which means I tend to change them out earlier because I don't want to see them get too dirty. Mine are changed around 15-20K miles. > Brought my 2007 Camry XLE into the dealer for an oil change at 15K. (Don't > usually do changes at the dealer but they had sent me a coupon for 10% off [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > - Dave Operating conditions will always determine air filter changes (both engine air and cabin). While the fine dust disrupted by the engine cooling fan on a heavy diesel tractor (you know - the tractor-trailer variety) can't be compared to the operating scenario of most passenger vehicles, I have seen vehicles that would start setting engine codes and losing air conditioning function within two working weeks on job sites such as road construction and lumber mills. I am always amazed by the amount of crud these filters pick up. We have altered the "functions as designed" situation with air filters over the past two decades as we demand finer filtration for a variety of reasons. Best advice I can give is - check them regularly. If they look dirty and restrictive, replace. Everything about the functions of your engine and HVAC system will thank you. > Yeah, depending on the air where you drive, it may be 30K or 15K. I > don't go by miles, but just kinda eyeball the filter to decide if it [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > > > - Dave |
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