[BUBBIE]

Opened the air filter box today REALLY Tough Job... Took off the rubber connector between the Manifold and Airbox... That was a chore in it's self... Then some Careful Push n Pull for the top off n filter accessible. Back together Not so easy again...

The way I did it IS Not the Proper Way I AM Sure...

What is the procedure to do it properly...

Looked on the forum (no joy as some say) finding nothing that looked like my 2010 451 fortwo...

Oil and filter were easy peasy...
But the air filter out Not So...

signed....BUBBIE

 

[ca smartone]

That's the way I do my 2009
Was your engine hot or cold? I always have it warmed up, it makes the rubber bollow more pliable and easier to remove...

 

[jimvw57]

Always worked for me...

 

[BUBBIE]

On my 2010, it is totally different Not that easy as shown here on the vid...

The Air box is same place BUT the manifold connection IS right off the air filter box, and is Only a few inches away (between them) connected by a Rubber Hose type connector that Does Not give enough room to remove it easily... There probably is a way to disconnect the Air Filter box so you don't have to fight the hose in between... A couple more times Bending and Pulling on that connector hose would probably crack or tear it...

Mine does Not look like the one in the Vid... I have NO elbow where connected it is straight back, Just about *** 2 inches of Open space between the Box n Manifold... once the 5 to 6 inch rubber is removed... Very Hard to remove...

I should have taken pictures...BUT not the Audio part... LOL

signed....BUBBIE

My smart, 2010, says it was Built in France... Says so on the door frame sticker...... Does this have any changes from other Smart 2010's because of Where it was built? Or were they All built there?

 

[Smart Bob]

The video showed you how to change the filter on a 2008 smart. In 2009, they changed the baffle box. The procedure is essentially the same. To loosen the rubber bellows from the filter box, loosen the clamp & use a cotter pin hook or an awl with a 90 degree bend to break the seal. I use silicon spray to ease the hose back on the connection.

 

[jimvw57]

There are a LOT of videos on Youtube about just about everything. This one says it is on the newer style smart cars. see if it is more to your liking.

And yes, the Smart factory is in France.

 

[Smart Bob]

The video shows a 2008.

 

[jimvw57]

I have nothing to compare it to. the description says newer smarts. I have only owned 2-2008 an a 2009, which I have had no problems changing the air filter on. Maybe someone with a 2010 can make up a video to enlighten us all.

 

[Johannesl]

My 2013 was a PITA. I could not get the airbox lid to go into the slots at the back even without a filter. Let alone with a air filter in there.

I did install a boeschbuilt intake now, but no mater how bad I wanted to save the stock stuff, the only thing that survived was the bracket and air box lid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BUBBIE]

NO Joy with That Vid either...

There is NO elbow, just a straight shot with maybe 2" between... You have to remove that Long rubber air tube and Not enough room to do it... Rubber tube needs to come off one end at a time and Believe Me NOT EASY...

jimvw57,
your vid shows an EASY version not like mine with No Elbow to work with...

I got it done yesterday so Not to Worry...

Maybe someone will come up with the Method needed Besides the way I did mine.

Seems like Removal of the Air Box that holds the air filter would be the way to get about 2 inches more room (NEEDED) to get it apart.

signed....BUBBIE

 

[ca smartone]

She's having a tuff time also, wonder if she ever got it...

This shows a good view of the top of the engine.

 

[jimvw57]

The second video shows the air cleaner with a straight rubber tube from the air cleaner top to the plastic resonator and I could see where that would be tough. One of the write ups I saw said to remove the top first so you have an extra few inches to remove the tube from the top. You would be able to move it forward past the rest of the air box to gain a bit of room to pull the rubber hose off. Then put it back on the rubber tube first before engaging the fingers on the front side of the air box, then push down to clamp the clips in place. Never tried it but it sounds good in theory.

 

[jrubio]

I have the same kind of filter and resonator.

Hey, i just upgraded to a Injen Intake, so i learned a lot about this system on the smart. If you want to replace the filter only, you need to do this:

Loose the clamps holding the short hose between the filter box and the resonator

take the hose off the resonator side only and let it attached to the air filter box.

Release 2 clips on the sides of the air filter box

Just under the hose theres a third clip, release as well.

Lift a little bit the cover of the air filter box and pull it straight out.

Replace the filter

Put it carefully in again, make sure the edges of the cover match the air box.

Engage the clips again

Connect the hose to the resonator

Tighten the clamps

Close the hood!


Good luck, it is a pain in the a**


P.S: There is a pic of my intake, you should consider this upgrade, i promise you it´ll make you happy!

 

[Johannesl]

The second video is what I had in my 2013 smart and it was a Pain to get it all out. I couldn't get it out in one piece and didn't have the stuff needed to lower the left side of the engine (like suggested by another member here) so I ended up having to hack it up.

Did get intake installed though.

 

[BUBBIE]

FINALLY a straight tube to tube

With that Rubber in the middle... That IS a Tough One to remove...
Mine removed but I Had to muscle it out...
Glad the Gal didn't show me up,,,,,,,,, in getting it out that is...Lol

Persistence needed...

Thanks ca smartone...

jimvw57,
Now you've seen one like I said I Have...

signed....BUBBIE

 

[jimvw57]

Sorry, not like I didn't believe you, I just haven't seen every variation of car there is. The description I put up was from Evilution, about removing the cover first, then removing the rubber hose. But like I said, I have no way to try it out. Good Luck!

 

[BUBBIE]

jimvw57

Snip: Sorry, not like I didn't believe you

I know that jim... No problem showing ANY vid that will help Me OR someone else. This is a learning experience for ***me on the little cars... (***others too)

That Gal had the same Type air and Connector problem I DID but only Brute Strength got that Rubber compressed enough to come apart, One end out/off, then the other...

The screw clamps should be removed totally first... Easier working with the rubber then...

IF the air box comes off easily???? Moving forward, opening the clearance... That would solve the Too Tight Space that makes the rubber connector tube almost Impossible to remove...

LOOKING at her Video again, She never POPED the Third Snap loose, it is located "centered" , right under the Rubber Tube...
I did on mine BUT with the rubber attached No way do the "Holding Hinge Projections" on the Filter Box Lid, come out of the holding slots and back far enough to allow the filter box top to come off... Phoooooey

signed....BUBBIE

 

[jimvw57]

Sorry for the poor design. Mine have the bend in them and are much easier. They should make the guys who design cars work on them.

 

[nmlss2006]

I did this today and can confirm it - I have the 'new' air intake as well and it simply does not seem to have been designed by someone who was aware that air filters should be replaced. I could not get the top off, so I removed the rubber bellows, fiddled the top of the airbox in the least intrusive position possible and strongarmed the old filter out and the new one back in. That was obnoxious, but it was the easy part. Subsequently, I had to put the bellows back in. THAT was fun.

I have to wonder exactly what the official procedure to do this is. Obviously, the official PDF explains how to do things with the old version... and that is bad enough. With the new version, even if it made sense to remove the elbow/resonance chamber to clear the rest (ridiculous, but let's pretend it's a good idea...) it is effectively impossible because of where the bolts are. One would have to lower the engine to get to them, which is preposterous.

Anyone from a dealer who would care to comment? I am genuinely curious.

 

[BUBBIE]

Well I Guess I started a small FIRE on this subject.... GOOD

as we may get an Answer to How it is Done without Strong Arming and other Improper ways to get this job done...

Feeling much better now that Others have chimed in to Justify My Problem along with Theirs OF removing that Air Filter...

Well, Im good for a while but would like to know HOW to do it easily...

Thanks for the replies...

signed....BUBBIE