jaguargod

Okay, I have seen some posts stating that there are some difficulties getting into the air filter housing to replace the filter. I was having problems myself, but I just figured it out. Here is what I did (and be aware that I am no mechanic, so I may use fictional names for some of the parts involved):

1. Remove the engine cover (obviously).

2. There are two small plastic posts at the front of the filter housing that snap into the engine compartment. With one hand on each side I pushed the housing back and the posts out of their connections.

3. There are also two posts at the bottom of the filter housing that are difficult to see, and are virtually impossible to dislodge by pushing back. But there is a trick. At the top rear of the filter housing, there are two small platforms where the posts on the engine cover snap into place. Place a couple of fingers under each one, and pull straight up. The bottom posts will pop right out. The only thing left to do is push the housing back so that the filter housing's front intake opening separates from the engine compartment and.....voila. You can now tinker with the filter at your leisure. And no need to disconnect anything from the filter housing.

If anyone would like photos if any of this is unclear, I can try to get some. Or if someone else with better access to a digital camera and who understood my instructions can do it, even better. Hope that helps.

MI_FamilyMan

It would be great if you could post some pics...

clem

I found it easier to pull the bottom posts out first, then free up the front by pushing the whole box toward the rear till the intake opening is clear. Then it's easy to pull the whole box out enough to unclip and open it.

bxb40

I found that there is an useless plastic clip where the air box inlet gets pulled up. It looks like a little hook, no use in sight. I simply cut it and the air box now is so much easier to take out

rx8cited

Me want pics .

Dookie_Rx-8

^yes i would like pictures also

Omicron

Very slick... but I agree that pics would be good.

rotarenvy

anyone else having trouble when replacing the airbox that the lower centre rubber grommet keeps falling out the bottom into the radiator fans?
it's really beginning to annoy me as each time I put the airbox back in it falls into the radiator and I have to take out the lower tray to fish the grommet back out

Doctorr

PLEASE be careful with those grommets - if you lose one, FIND IT!

My fan motor burned out due to this, and the engine overheated badly, who knows how much 'life' my poor motor lost. There is no warning that the fan is not working...except the obvious clouds of glycol steam!

Link to motor burn-out thread...
:o
:o
:o
doc

rotarenvy

I'm glad I have been putting so much effort in to pulling them out now!
I've decide to leave the grommet out. the other three work fine and I have no problems with them. I'm going to ask the service department what the trick is with replacing the airbox.

COACHHARPER

I HAVE ALL THE DISK AND INFO SHEETS TO MY RX8, AND I SPENT TWO HOURS SEARCHING FOR A SHORT CUT OR A SIMPLE WAY TO REMOVE THE AIR BOX HOUSING. LMAO, I READ THIS ARTICLE AND REMOVE MY BOW LESS THAN A MINUTE.

THAnk you from coachharpr@hotmail.com

PBrowning

What article is Coach referring to? Don't see one previously referenced.

MOTORBONES

Does it affect the Mazda warranty if the box is Removed and repalced with the aftermarket
K&N....I want to change mine and the dealer hsant gave me a straight answer

Go48

If the dealer believes that the aftermarket system has caused a problem with your car he may attempt to void that part of your warranty. Such judgment is somewhat subjective and one dealer may void it and another may not. There is no way to tell in advance which will be the case.

BTW, you may be better off with the Racing Beat REVi intake if you must change out the OEM system. Some users have reported idle problems with the K&N. Actually, the OEM system is pretty effective as is and you should not expect much, if any, increase in power from an aftermarket system.

newcastle

iTrader: (3)

Nice DIY! I replaced my stock with a K&N today. The only problem I had was opening the box (not enough space) so I had to loosen the hose clamp which gave me more room to work with. I then opened the box all the way and removed the front portion which simply unhinges so I can blow out any loose debris with my air compressor

terretsboy

I think the idle problems are with the typhoon system from what I have seen in posts on this site.

RX8_GT

Has anyone actually had their warranty voided by the use of a K + N filter ? Seems like a major leap for a dealer to void a warranty for this type of 'upgrade'.

Go48

That depends--probably more on the dealers attitude than on anything else in your specific example. However, they can "legally" deny a warranty claim if it can be shown that the specific problem was caused by, or was in some way related to, the aftermarket component installation. They can't deny a warranty claim on a component unless such an association can be shown. In other words, they can't deny a claim say for a defective transmission because you have an aftermarket intake installed. They may try, but they have no grounds for doing that and as I understand it there is a federal law covering such things.

Another example: Let's say you installed an over-oiled air filter element and some of the oil migrated into the MAF/IAT sensor causing false readings being sent to the PCM and the resulting poor engine operation. Assuming they could diagnose the cause of the problem, they would likely charge you parts and labor for replacement of the sensor since the problem was caused by the aftermarket air filter installation.

jaguargod

Every time that I go in for maintenance, I tell them that I have a K&N drop-in, so that it doesn't get replaced. Not to mention that my price for the 15K service went from $149 to about $63 when I told them not to do the tire rotation and air filter. No one has ever said a word about it to me.

typeoneg

Drop in filters will NOT void any warranty. Add on cold air inductions will NOT void warranty, but and this is the big BUT, if your experiencing a problem that is related to the cold air system then they have the right to deny repairs. Take it from me people I know this first hand.
Now as for the air cleaner trick pushing the box rearward and sometimes prying slightly between the box and the core support, will raise the box high enough to remove the filter. The gromments under the box are always an issue. My solution is a small amount of grease pushed down into the gromments and onto the **** of the box. This also aids in removal the next time.

toxin440

thanks for this post here -- saved me about an hour of ******* around with the box trying figure out how to do it.

I put the K&N Drop in filter in today, havent driven much to notice but still always good to mod something

thanks!

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

some dealers are bouncing certain warranty items due to the K&N filter, specifically if the MAF replacement fixes an issue they claim it got oil contamination from the K&N, this from a good friend who is a service advisor at a dealership, best bet is to keep the OE filter and slap it in before getting service, you can still tell them you just put a new OE air filter in and to skip it ....

FastRX8

Well, I just followed the directions on the first post in order to drop in the K&N filter.

They worked like a charm, but everyone want's pics, so here you go.

- Cesar -

zenmoused

Any of you guys with K&N filters feel any difference?

Winning 8

I use the drop in filter, not for the HP but for my pocket.