Changing the air filter (major pita)

yellow-smart · 01-25-2009, 03:17 PM

The instructions at FQ101 : Smart Car Modifications

for changing an air filter, while ok, don't do this procedure any justice (unless I've missed something).

1. Taking the hose off and the unclamping the top was easy.

2. Removing the top of the air box, removing and replacing the filter, was easy.

3. Trying to put this thing back together, not so easy.

3a. I chose to reclamp the top of the air box before connecting the hose because I could not get the teeth on the front of the box in place with the hose attached.

4. I had the remove the torque bolt holding the silencers in place so I could get the hose to move toward the rear of the car, while at the same time using a hammer to move the air box forwards towards the front of the car in order to reconnect the hose to the air box. (Several times I had the desire to use the hammer to "fix" this by beating it to death. For purely sane reasons I refrained from this)

5. Using the actions in step #4 allowed me to finish this up pretty quickly.

Still, I was at this 2+ hours.

Is there a better way? The how-to above doesn't address this at all.

Anyone got a video?

Yellow-Smart

**jwight** · 01-25-2009, 03:29 PM

K&N install but same idea; putting the intake hose back on is definitely the hard part, especially when it's cold.

K&N filter install photos

yellow-smart · 01-25-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwight

K&N install but same idea; putting the intake hose back on is definitely the hard part, especially when it's cold.

K&N filter install photos

I remember this thread from back them. I waited until the Breathless filter came out and then looked at reviews.

Yellow-Smart

mvaldes · 01-25-2009, 04:09 PM

Was closing the box the difficult part? if so, what kind of filter were you using? (with the both early K&N and then with the BPP I put in, it was about a 10 minute job each time. That's why I wonder if there was some problem with the fit of the filter into the box.) BTW, re-attaching the air hose, as you did, before replacing the cover is really the only trick.

JimDantin · 01-25-2009, 04:24 PM

I had the same problem -- try loosely reattaching the hose before clamping down the lid. It was very easy that way.

mvaldes · 01-25-2009, 05:57 PM

I think either FQ101 or Evilution talks about how impossible it is to get the hose back on once you've closed the cover on the filter. As JimDantin suggests, a slightly loose reattachement of the hose to the cover BEFORE you put the cover on makes a huge difference. I tried it once after putting the cover on and was having trouble when I remembered the hint from those guys. I took the cover off, attached the hose and was done in minutes. I've changed twice since then and each time has been a breeze.