Installing a Cabin Air Filter in a 1st gen Tacoma (Tundra, Sequoia, & 3rd gen 4Runner)

Early generations of the Tacoma, 4Runner, Tundra, and Sequoia were great trucks, built to take a beating and keep on ticking. In those days, climate control systems were options, and none of these vehicles included a cabin air filter to keep the dirt and dust of the daily grind at bay.

Today, cabin air filters are an expectation, and the AdventureTaco in-cabin air filter is the best of the bunch.

Parts

There's only one thing to purchase to make the air in your cab cleaner, just be sure to select the appropriate vehicle: AdventureTaco in-cabin air filter.

Tools

I've done my best to make installation a breeze. In fact, I suspect that some will want to run the filter when on dirt but not when on pavement, and for that reason, every filter kit comes with most of the tools that make installation super easy.

For the first installation only, you will need to supply one of the following, to remove the screws that secure the blower motor to the housing.

• T20 Torx screwdriver
• 8mm socket

Installation

Installation is straight-forward.

1. Park your vehicle in a location where you can fully open the passenger door.
2. Ensure that the fan for the climate control system is OFF and the key is out of the ignition.
   

   

3. With your body out of the vehicle, lay your head in the passenger footwell and look up under the glovebox to locate the three 8mm/T20 Torx screws that secure the climate control blower motor to its housing.
   

   

4. Using a T20 Torx driver or an 8mm socket, remove the three screws.Note: be very careful to support the blower motor as you do this, so it doesn't fall out; or worse, strip the final screw as it is removed.
5. Carefully lay the blower motor - which will still be connected to the wiring harness - in the passenger footwell.
   

   

6. Locate the outer ring of the AdventureTaco cabin air filter and orient it so that the lip is pointed down.
   

   

7. Push the outer ring up into the blower motor housing and use your fingers to secure the six plastic clips securely into the metal frame. It is easiest to secure a couple of clips, and then use a thumb on the bottom of the ring and fingers on the top of the metal frame to "clamp" the ring into place, engaging each clip.

   Note: it is CRITICAL that all six clips be secured and that the outer ring be fully seated in the metal frame. If it is not fully seated, the filter can contact the fan blades on the blower motor.

   When the ring is correctly installed, you should be able to run your fingers around the bottom outer perimeter and feel a uniform surface on the bottom of the metal frame.

   

8. With the ring installed, thread the filter cartridge into the ring with the small grid facing down. Be careful to not cross-thread the cartridge. Screw it in until the lip of the cartridge contacts the face of the outer ring; do not over tighten.Note 1: You'll need to remove the cartridge to change the filter, and over-tightening can result in breaking the grid when removing.Note 2: When the cartridge is correctly installed, run your fingers around the mating surface of the cartridge and outer ring; they should present a smooth surface.
   

   

   

9. Locate the three screws that you removed in step 3 and the three thumbscrews that came with the AdventureTaco Cabin Air Filter kit.
10. Insert one screw into each thumbscrew, and use a screwdriver (or other narrow tool) to fully seat the screw. It should be a tight fit.
    

    

11. With your body out of the vehicle, lay your head in the passenger footwell and look up under the glovebox to position the blower motor into the housing.
12. Install each of the three thumbscrews, being sure to support then blower motor with your hand until at least two screws are sharing the load. Note: you should be able to feel when the thumb screws are snug; do not overtighten.
    

    

13. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the ON position.
14. Quickly turn the fan ON and then OFF again, listening for any contact between the blower fan blades and AdventureTaco Cabin Air Filter.If you hear any contact, or if the fan does not spin at all, then the outer ring is likely installed incorrectly or the filter cartridge is not fully threaded into the ring. Go back to step 7 to ensure correct installation.
15. After an initial test results in no noise/contact, conduct a longer test at various fan levels.

You're done!

Replacing/Installing a Clean Filter

With the thumbscrews and frame already in place, installation of a new filter is even easier than the initial installation and requires no tools at all. Please refer to the installation steps above for photos.

1. Remove the three thumbscrews, being careful to support the blower motor while removing the final thumbscrew.
2. Unscrew the filter cartridge from the frame, being careful to not break the grid.
3. Use your fingers to gently pry the large grid out of the groove that secures it to the top of the filter cartridge.
4. Remove the filter and replace it with a new one.
5. Carefully insert the large grid into the groove in the top of the filter cartridge.
6. Thread the filter cartridge into the ring with the small grid facing down. Be careful to not cross-thread the cartridge. Screw it in until the lip of the cartridge contacts the frame; do not over tighten. Note 1: You'll need to remove the cartridge to change the filter, and over-tightening can result in a breaking the grid when removing. Note 2: When the cartridge is correctly installed, run your fingers around the mating surface of the cartridge and outer ring; they should present a smooth surface.
7. Install each of the three thumbscrews, being sure to support then blower motor with your hand until at least two screws are sharing the load. Note: you should be able to feel when the thumb screws are snug; do not overtighten.
8. Perform a quick "no contact" test to ensure that everything is correctly installed.