Changing the air filter - Page 3

Trena · 09-18-2008, 06:08 PM

Got my k & n, tried to replace it. guys at autozone said (after i bought it), 'you're going to love this filter. you'll get better mileage and horsepower immediately. i love mine.' got the carpet peeled back, but is there a way to hold it back? had hubby hold it for me this time... got cover off, engine still hot, so used bulky old work gloves big enough for a horse (or my hubby, that is), which made removing the screw on the intake hose difficult

. unfastened the two visible clips, and couldn't get any further! silly me, didn't read this thread til we'd given up and spent 3x the time putting it all back together than taking it apart! hubby even had a very difficult time getting the intake hose put back on the filter case. geesh, what a PITA!!

but now that i've read the thread, should have no problem....erm, well maybe LESS problems doing it next time, and you know what they say...practice makes perfect!

...will try again tomorrow evening. i now understand the high labor prices i am hearing about!

i can't believe they don't put all this in the manual. never had a car that needed a bionic mechanic to change the air filter before--ridiculous. i do very much echo the sentiment of whoever said they hope k & n starts making a model for the cabin filter.

mvaldes · 09-18-2008, 07:11 PM

I found it easiest to first remove the intake hose and then the 3 clips (the one on each side and the one under the hose.) Then open the box, remove the old filter and clean any junk out of the box. Put in your new K&N, reconnect the intake hose and then put the lid back on, seat it and then close the 3 clips. (You can reach the one under the hose easily to close it even with the hose attached.)
PS A piece of string attached from the handle at the rear edge of the carpet and around the head rest section of the driver's seat has worked well for me when rooting around in the engine compartment.

msjohnson1974 · 09-18-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvaldes

PS A piece of string attached from the handle at the rear edge of the carpet and around the head rest section of the driver's seat has worked well for me when rooting around in the engine compartment.

So, you know that little hook on the carpet in the cargo area on the passenger's side... it fits nicely into the slot on the passenger's side wall of the cargo area holding the carpet out of the way when you're working in the engine compartment.

On the parts side, I have a friend that works for one of the big US parts companies that is working on sourcing oil, air, and cabin air filters for the smart. I'll let y'all when they are available and where.

mvaldes · 09-19-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msjohnson1974

So, you know that little hook on the carpet in the cargo area on the passenger's side... it fits nicely into the slot on the passenger's side wall of the cargo area holding the carpet out of the way when you're working in the engine compartment.

On the parts side, I have a friend that works for one of the big US parts companies that is working on sourcing oil, air, and cabin air filters for the smart. I'll let y'all when they are available and where.

Maybe I wasn't using it correctly because the carpet kept coming out and landing on my head

so I changed to using a piece of string and the problem was solved.