The Automotive Thread

[kevo_55]

^^ Youtube OP.

 

[Master slacker]

Guys.  Serious question (since I never do car stuff): how hard is it to replace an engine filter/cabin filter on a Corolla? 

I have a 'rolla.  These two jobs are thuper thimple!

 

[JayKay PE]

Thanks guys!  I'm going to order the parts and see if I can attempt it without anyone's help!  I want to learn more car stuff, and this will be the super, super, tiny, small, step I'm taking towards it.

 

[MA_PE]

Guys.  Serious question (since I never do car stuff): how hard is it to replace an engine filter/cabin filter on a Corolla?  The dealership tried to get me to do it today for $106+ and I felt like that was ridiculously high?  I looked at some videos, but the guys who do that stuff on youtube know what they're doing and thus it always looks easy...I'm thinking of maybe attempting the replacement of the filters this weekend?

It's funny you mention that.  I'm taking my 2016 Elantra in for service.  I used to do a lot of my own stuff but as I get older (read lazier) I pay people to do it.  The only things that says "replace" instead of "inspect" for the 15,000 mile service is the oil/filter and the cabin filter.  I had the oil changed at the tire dealer when they mounted my snow tires and figured I'd have the dealer do the recommended service tomorrow when I take them off.  I just youtubed the cabin filter on my car and it's literally a 5 minute job that doesn't require any tools.  Same as the air filter.  I'm not going to have the dealer do it.  I suspect a newer corolla will be just as easy.  @JayKay0914you can do it piece o' cake.

 

[Ranger1316]

Engine air filter is always crazy easy: Pop off the cover, remove old, put in new, replace cover.

Cabin air filters are harder to get to but still good to do yourself. Just make sure the flow arrow is pointed the right way lol.

 

[Ramnares P.E.]

What a crap week for cars.  First the issues with my Ford Explorer then yesterday while on the phone with my wife she has the front, driver side tire blow out on her, most likely due to some debris from an accident.  Ended up scrambling to replace that late yesterday.  Eff this week.

 

[Road Guy]

this sucks! hope it doesn't come in 3's!

We cosigned on a 08 Rav4 last weekend for the 19 year old - its that "champagne" color but it was one of the few V6, 4WD ones around with less than 60K miles.  He is back at school for a month so I am driving it around a bit, peppy little car, but I feel at 6'2" I am about 2" to tall for it....

 

[JayKay PE]

Surprisingly, I have a Corolla and my brother (who is 6'3" and 250-lbs) fits really well in it.  Maybe it's the bucket seats combined with a moon roof?  I always thought Rav4s were a little bigger?

 

[Road Guy]

Its like the seat needs to be able to move back a few inches - it doesn't feel bad for an hour drive but after that my legs need to be able to extend all the way to stretch-

 

[MA_PE]

It's funny you mention that.  I'm taking my 2016 Elantra in for service.  I used to do a lot of my own stuff but as I get older (read lazier) I pay people to do it.  The only things that says "replace" instead of "inspect" for the 15,000 mile service is the oil/filter and the cabin filter.  I had the oil changed at the tire dealer when they mounted my snow tires and figured I'd have the dealer do the recommended service tomorrow when I take them off.  I just youtubed the cabin filter on my car and it's literally a 5 minute job that doesn't require any tools.  Same as the air filter.  I'm not going to have the dealer do it.  I suspect a newer corolla will be just as easy.  @JayKay0914you can do it piece o' cake.

@JayKay0914just another shout out for the timely post regarding the filter replacement question.  you prompted me to not be lazy and take a look at it.  Had oil changed at dealer and for their "multi-point inspection" the two things needing "immediate attention" were the air filter and the cabin filter.  I expected as much as recommended maintenance said to replace.  There charge for the service was $22 for air filter and $77 for cabin filter , so $100.  I told them not to bother.  I was having some difficulty locating the exact part numbers so I just went out and physically checked them by removing the filters and reading the numbers off the parts (or in other words physically doing the work involved to change them).  Literally less than 10 minutes with no tools.  Ordered filters on Amazon.  OEM Hyundai air filter $12.88, aftermarket cheapo cabin filter $11.78 with tax and free shipping $25.40 for both and will be delivered on Friday.  I'm pretty stoked.

Not sure how they justify the cost of the cabin filter.  It's kind of a PITA to access as it's behind the glove box and you need to do it by feel instead of looking directly but it's still a 5-10 minute job at best and the filter is cheap.  Anyway, thanks for the kick to get me off my a$$.

 

[JayKay PE]

@Road Guy Ah!  I def understand!  Yeah, the corolla seats go back pretty far, and since it can be shifted up/down and angled, he has enough space to spread his legs and still have my purse next to him.

@MA_PEYay!  Timely reminder for the win!  I ordered mine online, going off of the Amazon/Autozone suggestions for what fits.  I'm lucky because most things that fit one Toyota fit another, so I'm like 99% sure what I ordered will be fine/won't be too difficult to install?  The cabin filter is the one I know I can install!  Just pop off the glove box and for Toyota's it's right there/no real removal needed.  I'm worried about the air filter just because...well.  It requires going under the hood.  And last time I talked about going under the hood I got in my accident, lol.  XD

 

[MA_PE]

@Road Guy Ah!  I def understand!  Yeah, the corolla seats go back pretty far, and since it can be shifted up/down and angled, he has enough space to spread his legs and still have my purse next to him.

@MA_PEYay!  Timely reminder for the win!  I ordered mine online, going off of the Amazon/Autozone suggestions for what fits.  I'm lucky because most things that fit one Toyota fit another, so I'm like 99% sure what I ordered will be fine/won't be too difficult to install?  The cabin filter is the one I know I can install!  Just pop off the glove box and for Toyota's it's right there/no real removal needed.  I'm worried about the air filter just because...well.  It requires going under the hood.  And last time I talked about going under the hood I got in my accident, lol.  XD

@JayKay0914 air filter is easier than the cabin filter as it's right on top and easily accessible.  I don't want to read about any accidents. 

 

[FLBuff PE]

@JayKay0914 air filter is easier than the cabin filter as it's right on top and easily accessible.  I don't want to read about any accidents. 

This one time, @DVINNY wen to Big Lots...

 

[jeb6294]

On the diesel, you get the usual spiel about the air filter at oil changes, but you also get the fuel filter every 15,000 miles.  Big deal to make sure you've got clean fuel with no water in it in a diesel...some nonsense about having 16:1 compression and 30,000psi of fuel pressure.

They'll hit you up for a few hundred $$$ for new fuel filters, I think it's usually about $150 for the parts and about the same for labor.  There are two that come as a set that you can get for about $50 online, and that's for genuine Motorcraft, not some Chinese knockoff.  One is mounted underneath on the frame and the other is under the hood.  Both are easy to get to and changing them out takes, max, 30 minutes for both if you're moving at a leisurely pace.  For a grease monkey who already has the truck in the air and the hood open for an oil change, it'd probably be an extra 10 minutes.

 

[Road Guy]

 looking for some shade tree advice..

I was trying to change the oil & filer on the wifes highlander- it has a canister oil filter that uses a special tool (below) - the tool attaches to a 27 MM socket via 1/2" socket drive, I tried using a breaker bar ( steel pipe) and cant get this thing to budge.. tried "gently" hitting it with a block of wood and rubber mallet, penetrating oil and nothing will make this thing budge..



I haven't tried an impact gun yet? Is that my only alternative you think?  Last time I changed the oil I didn't have this special tool so I didn't get the filter, and couldn't get it off this last time, I am wondering just how long this damn thing has been on? My wife used to take it to a small shop that we used to trust until about  a year ago when I just lost faith in them, which makes me wonder if they ever took the thing off either??

 

[Supe]

How big a cheater bar did you try?  I have had a few that took SIGNIFICANT force to remove, usually because whoever installed did not lube the top of the gasket prior to install so it sticks to the block.  You should be OK with an impact so long as the finger grooves don't round over.  Once you get to that point, you're going to be driving a long screwdriver/punch through the filter housing.  

 

[Road Guy]

It was probably 18 IN? The only steel pipe I had laying around.  its in a horrible place to get leverage on it.

I hate to give Chrysler props, but the one on the jeep is on the top of the engine and comes of very easily - this thing is F'd up!

I just don't want to **** up where it attaches to the engine block

 

[Supe]

You won't.  If its like all the other cartridge filter types I've seen, the housing is plastic, the block is (at least) aluminum. 

 

[Master slacker]

I learned something the first time I changed the filter in my 'rolla.  The plastic housing has "gussets" all the way around the base of it where it meets the block.  These "gussets" are actually little tabs to keep the damned thing from unscrewing as they hit a metal arm on the block itself if it begins to unscrew.  Before I noticed the arm, I thought I was going to break the plastic housing.  Once I pulled the arm away, I could easily unscrew it.  YMMV

 

[Road Guy]

hmm I will look and see if there is something holding it back - I hadn't looked before - didn't you also have a rav4? did it have the same mechanism?