Cabin Filters

[Pete W]

Hi, i have a 2000, 2.0 VVTI avensis estate. I want to change the cabin filters, and have taken the old ones out. I got a replacement set from the factors but they won't fit. The tab on the side is on the wrong side of the filter, as if it goes into the passenger side instead of the drivers side. I have tried a couple of parts firms, and they have all been the same. Has anybody else had this problem?, and will it be a trip to see Mr T , and a big withdrawl from the cash machine. Hope you can help. Thanks. Pete.

[Thermal]

Hi,

They supplied you with LHD parts instead of RHD.

[Pete W]

I did sugest that to them, but they said thats what came up on the conputer for my car. It seemed strange that several factors had the same ones. I asked if there was any others, but was told they were the only ones. Oh well looks like it down to Mr T .

[Thermal]

There has been mention before on this forum of this problem.

Probably because of an error in a parts database somewhere, or a mistake while ordering, the UK (RHD) factors market is now swamped with LHD filters and Mr. T. is the only one who has the correct ones.

[Pete W]

Sounds about right for this country at the moment. Many thanks.

[Konrad C]

Sounds about right for this country at the moment. Many thanks.

If you see my post earlier this year, I had the same problem. I had to buy genuine Toyota parts. It sounds like other motor factors are stocking the wrong left hand drive parts, and not realising it.

The mark 1 Avensis is one of the rare cars that is left or right hand side specific, for this part.

The stockist must realise something is wrong when they hardly sell any, and have returns.

[Pete W]

I think like most big buisness nowadays, they don't care, and customer service has gone to the wall. Can you remember how much you paid from Mr T. Thanks.

[Konrad C]

I think like most big buisness nowadays, they don't care, and customer service has gone to the wall. Can you remember how much you paid from Mr T. Thanks.

Off the top of my head I paid £37-£38 including vat.

When you buy the filter, you have to remove part of the excess plastic at the top before fitting. It is made that way and is not difficult to remove. The filters went in easy.

It seem that third party Mk1 aircon filters are only available in left hand drive and the stockist do not know or check this. Has anyone bought a third party, none genuine, MK1, right hand drive version in UK recently. If so, where from?

When I bought my cheaper filters and found out they were wrong, I thought about cutting the handles off to make it fit. I would have to worry about removal next time!

Mr T get this right in both meanings, and you pay for it.

[timson]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Toyota_Avensis_1.8_2001/p/Car-Parts/Service-Parts/Regular-Service/Pollen-Filters/?507820040&1&aceae929d65dd0d8b661fc7a6f64dfe749d34093&CBNF

The last one came from Andrew Page

[Konrad C]

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Toyota_Avensis_1.8_2001/p/Car-Parts/Service-Parts/Regular-Service/Pollen-Filters/?507820040&1&aceae929d65dd0d8b661fc7a6f64dfe749d34093&CBNF

The last one came from Andrew Page

Actually Eurocarparts were the vendor I had problems with. I bought mine from Catford branch and tried the huge Wembley Store and no luck. The actual price varies from £22 to just over £30!

I would like to know if they have now realised this, and updated their stock since I visited them earlier this year.

[Pete W]

One of the ones i tried was andrew page, and they were wrong, also a local one to me called A.E. Cook, and they were also wrong. The price was about £20.00 from each of them.

[Pete W]

Well i bit the bullet, and bought some from Mr.T., they cost £35.73 inc vat, but they did fit nicely. I spoke to a local mechanic, and he says it is the only one he knows where they need handed filters, and says he had the same problem with the factors. He says he spoke to them about it, and they admited that they were getting the filters back, but weren't bothered about the reason why. What chance do we have when no one cares. Oh well all done now, so onward and upward.

[carinfront]

Sorry to sound a bit daft, but when you refer to cabin filters, what filters are they? How many are there? I've only ever changed my pollen filter (located in front of passenger if I recall correctly)

I got my Pollen filter from www.puravent.co.uk in case you are thinking of getting that sorted. Delivered for under £20.

Cheers

Mike

[Pete W]

Hi, cabin filters and pollen filters are the same. On most cars there is only one, but on my avensis there are two of them. They go in a pocket in the drivers side footwell, in the side of the dash board. Yours was probably in the glove box, my other car is a fiat, and they are under the bonnet, so it varies from car to car.

[Konrad C]

Sorry to sound a bit daft, but when you refer to cabin filters, what filters are they? How many are there? I've only ever changed my pollen filter (located in front of passenger if I recall correctly)

I got my Pollen filter from www.puravent.co.uk in case you are thinking of getting that sorted. Delivered for under £20.

Cheers

Mike

Yes we are refering to cabin filters.

The first generation Avensis which this post is about, has a pair of cabin filters. The problem is that the filters have to be the correct version for left or right hand drive cars. The installion is always by the drivers side.

On Avensis from 2003 onwards, the cabin filter is a single version and looks like a standard panel air filter. It is generic to both left and right hand drive!

So you owners of the later cars (and those with left hand drive mk1) have it easier.

My issue is that aftermarket third party motor factors in the UK, seem to be stocking the left hand drive version, and do not realise this.

I asked in my earlier post, has anyone bought a non Toyota(Denso) ie third party cabin filter recently. Blue print is not included!