*** Old thread resurrected ***
I found out today while browsing through the owners manual (2008 pg's 252-254) that I have an A/C filter! I did a search here first before posting this wonderful piece of information and found this thread.
On page 254 it says and I quote "
When using the air conditioning system make sure that a filter is always installed. Using the air conditioning system without a filter may cause damage to the system".
Well I trotted out to the garage and removed the glove box and open the little hatch and lo' and behold! No filter! I called my Toyota mechanic buddy at the end of his shift today and said "guess what I found out about the A/C filter!" and he said "you don't have a filter". RIGHT! I said. He said he would bring one home for me tonight. Excellent! He said that when they do a 15,000 mile service they always check for one and typically they are not installed (on the low end models). When they are there he said they are always "disgusting!". I can only imagine the crud they are filtering that would otherwise get into the car.
I will install it as soon as I have it and report back with any issues. We're in the mid 90's to low 100's this time of year so I'm using the A/C on a daily basis in some stop-and-go traffic.