Air/Cabin Filter Replacement Arrow/Clips

The air filter only goes in one way, for the top to fit correctly.
And there are no clips for the back, the top hooks under the bottom. You slide them in at
an angle. It won't be super hard to fit the top, but it will be snug. Or should be...
Look at the old filter and see if you can determine the correct way to install it. If it's a plain filter,
it really doesn't matter. You could go to the parts department and ask them. They should be able
to look it up on their computer and tell you. Or the service department can.

 

Slide in no clips they're. Pleats go down gasket up if ya will.

 

where did you buy the filters? they are likely counterfeit. mine from the dealer have always been marked with the toyota logo, air direction arrow and 'up'

 

Or does it say "FLOW DIRECTION", with an arrow, something like that. Which begs the question: which direction is that, lol.

I've a hunch it doesn't matter, just don't flip them after a while, but not sure: there's mention above, of a gasket on one side only.

IIRC the cabin filter on our 2010, but the original and replacement from Toyota, were plain paper, no extra gasket, and both sides looked about the same.

Further: go back 20~30 years, nobody had even heard of cabin air filters...

 

the flow is down, otherwise it would be pushing backwards. if it isn't obvious, you could turn the fan on, but watch your fingers

 

Unfortunately what's pictured in the original part of the post is the air filter housing on a gen 3 engine and the slide in locators in the back and the clips in the front and I guess if you put the air filter upside down and it doesn't look right to you then maybe not changing the air filter might be in the cards or something the pleats go down the gasket is up at the top when you drop it in the hole if that makes any kind of sense

 

You can look at the dirty filter and see which side the dirt is on.
That's where the air in coming FROM....