The LS460 has an air filter for each ventilated seat. Replacing these is inexpensive. The front ones are quite easy, the rear ones were fiddly but there is a caveat I will explain below. Seat ventilation went from barely working, if at all, to very effective. No idea when mine were changed but the car is 17 years old so I really hope they're not original.
Parts required: 2-off 88921-50020 (fronts), 2-off 88923-50020 (rears)
Tools required:
- 14mm hex socket
- Ratchet
- Extension
- Torque wrench that can measure 37Nm
- Small flat-bladed screwdriver or narrow thin prying tool
- Optional: APC or other cleaner for the plastic garnish on front seat tracks. Mine was a bit grotty from accumulated crud over the years.
- Optional: vacuum cleaner. Although when you see what I saw you will want to.
Rear air filters
For the rears, the easiest approach is to first lift the seat cushion. I didn't realise I could do that until after I'd already finished. To do this, first put the seat to its fully upright position, then recline it slightly, then grab the front of the cushion and lift sharply to unclip it from the two clips at the front. Alternatively, if you are worried about breaking something, I actually managed it with the seat cushion in place.
The air filters are just visible, peeping out from under the seat cushion, near the door on each side.
The filter has a clip at the top and bottom (top one circled red, bottom one not visible), and you'll see the top edge has sloped edges (blue arrows pointing to the sloped parts). This orientation is necessary for fitting the new parts.
Use the small flat-bladed screwdriver or prying tool to unclip each clips, and then pull the filter free. The duct it clips to is quite flexible, so there is a little give if you need it.
Admire the grossness, then clip the new filter into place. If you raised the seat cushion for access, clip it back in.
Front air filters
First, slide the seat forwards to reveal the "garnish" at the rear of the seat track. Remove this by prying up the rear corners to release the clips. There is then a "finger" on each side that engages in a slot in the track. Here is the underside of those garnishes to show you. Blue circles around the clips, green circles around the "fingers", red circle around the letters that tell you where the garnish goes. R/I/R is Rear, Inner and R/O is Rear, Outer.
Then, use the 14mm socket to remove the single bolt at the rear of each track.
Slide the seat fully back, and tilt fully-upright. Then, remove the two garnishes and two bolts at the front (same deal as the rears). You can now lift the seat tracks off the bottom of the car, and then tilt the seat rearwards to lean against the rear bench. Careful not to strain the cable underneath. Look for the filter in the underside (red circle) and OH MY GOD WHEN THE HELL WAS THIS LAST CHANGED?!?!. Oh, also note the peg in the green circle. This is a locator peg to make sure you put the seat back correctly. I can't remember if they were on all four corners or just the front two.
The filter unscrews, and the replacement screws on.
Take the opportunity to hoover under the seat. Seriously, I had no idea how inaccessible this area was with my workshop vacuum until this moment.
Relocate the seat, taking care to locate the pins correctly. Add the front bolts, do to snug. Slide seat forwards, and add the rear bolts. Torque rear bolts to 37Nm, and replace garnish. Move seat back, torque front bolts to 37Nm, replace garnish.
