Rear Seat Cool

[Eric]

Of course the Toyota Century puts a priority on the rear seat passengers. But did you know they have a separate Air Conditioner!?

Picture heavy post incoming! Skip this post if you don't like detailed pictures of rare Century secrets

Looking at the top of the rear seats you see three audio speakers. Right?



Wrong!

The center is a subwoofer and the two side grills are actually vents. One air intake and one cooled exhaust.

Let's take the back cover of the trunk off. You see the fuel tank. But on top?



A separate air conditioning unit for back seat passengers! Complete with air filter, blower motors, and condenser.

[Eric]

My 1997 has this rear seat filter. Starting in 2001 the Toyota Century came with "Air purifier AKA ion generator". Mounted in the roofing area near the vanity mirrors.

A view inside the filter box. You can see the grill from the top of the rear seats.



Here is more details of the rear seat filter.

FILTER
88926-3A520

Apparently shares part numbers between: Lexus LS400 Toyota Celsior Toyota Century Toyota Crown Toyota Crown Majesta

More details of the filter:




I will update with fresh filter pictures once my delivery arrives!

[Eric]

Here is a reminder on the filter housing:

ロフィルタは通常1年または15,000km毎に交換してください。
ただし使用条件により異なりますので早目の交換をおすすめします。
REPLACE FILTER EVERY YEAR OR 10,000 MILES.
UNDER SEVERE CONDITIONS, MORE FREQUENT
REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED.

When's the last time you replaced your filter?



I forgive you for neglecting to change the filter.
But as custodians of the Century, can we forgive ourselves?

More details of how the filter is put together. Using two "comb" like rails.

[Eric]

Pictures of the diagram:
(The Toyota Century book has very thin pages. So each page ghost image bleeds through.)





Treat yourself right and order a handful of these clips:
They're everywhere in the trunk.

[pugwonk]

I wish I'd had this before I changed mine! It's worth adding that this filter can actually be changed without removing the whole of the trunk lining - you can just take the right-side hanger off, then undo only the top clips on the carpeting. You can then just pull the carpeting down just enough to get into the air filter, and replace it.

[Eric]

Just an update, with pictures, of what a new filter looks like.



Notice the bead of glue to hold the filter in place. Quality & Attention to Detail

[supermaneuverability]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but aren't both vents besides the subwoofer intakes? I think the rear system is for air purification from cigarette smoke, and the rear system exhausts to the small vents on the roof near the rear windows. I think if you turn the system on, it will only suck air from the rear parcel shelf intakes.

[pugwonk]

If the manual is to be believed then the air comes out of those vents (or, err, perhaps only one of them?!).