YotaTech Forums

Toyota Tacoma: How to Change Cabin Air Filter

Cabin air filters take that dusty, pollen filled air outside and transform it into clean, breathable air inside. If you're like most people and tend to forget to change your cabin air filter frequently, check out our step-by-step guide on how to do the job.

By Brett Foote - January 26, 2016

This article applies to the Toyota Tacoma (1996-2015).

Pretty much everyone is aware that you need to change your oil and air filter on a regular basis to ensure a long lasting, healthy engine. What a lot of people don't think about is that you also need to change out your cabin air filter frequently as well. Much like how the air filter on your engine keeps your engine breathing easily, cabin air filters keep all the dirt and other junk that flies through the air from entering your vehicle. This is especially nice if you suffer from allergies, but nobody wants to breath in any more pollutants than they have to. Thankfully, changing out the cabin air filter on a Toyota Tacoma is easy, and they are dirt cheap to buy as well.

Toyota Tacoma How to Change Air Filter

Material Needed

  • Flat head screwdriver

Step 1 – Remove the old cabin air filter

The cabin air filter is located in/behind your glove box on the passenger side of the vehicle. Open the glove box and remove the piece shown in Figure 1, which is connected at the top and the bottom by a plastic clip. This is important because the clips can break very easily if you try to remove the glove box without removing this piece first. Next, squeeze in on both sides of the glove box door as shown in Figure 2 and the glove box will drop down free from the dash. Pull down on both of the tabs protruding from the cabin air filter box to open the door and slide the cabin air filter out.

  • Removing glove box catch
    Figure 1. Remove the glove box catch.
  • Releasing glove box door
    Figure 2. Push in on the sides of the glove box door to release it.
  • Releasing glove box door
    Figure 3. Push down on tabs of cabin air filter box to release it.
  • Removing old cabin air filter
    Figure 4. Pull the old filter out.

Step 2 – Install new cabin air filter

Slide the new cabin air filter in place, making sure that the arrows are pointed up. Close the cabin air filter box door and make sure the tabs lock into place. Push the glove box back up until it clicks back into place. Reinstall the glove box catch piece and make sure both ends are in place. Close the glove box and you're done!

Installing new cabin air filter
Figure 5. Install the new cabin air filter.

Featured Video: How to Replace Cabin Air Filter on Toyota Tacoma

Related Discussions