Stock air filter removal
 

I know this sounds really sad but I cannot remove my stock air filter element. I tried following the instructions in the owner's manual and I cannot find it in the service manual. I unfastened the two clamps on the front of the cover but the cover does not want to move. I can force it just enough to get my fingers inside but no where near enough run to actually remove the element.

All I want to do is replace the filter element.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-easy-removal-air-filter-box-54827/

But the first time I tried I couldn't do it either.

I read somewhere that the trick is to simply push straight back on the cover, collapsing the corrigated tube... versus trying to just lift it straight up. Supposedly no need to remove the actual airbox this way.

The best thing to do is keep the clips in the front fastened and pull up on the back of the box to get the back 2 bottom nipples out of the rubber grommets. Then push back on the front of the air box to get the top front nipples out of their rubber grommets. then you can unclap those metal clips to get the air filter out.

before you put it back make sure the rubber grommets are in their holes.
Dont worry about pulling or pushing too hard, you really can't break anything.

put the air box back in the reverse order above.

as the above poster said, pull up on the back to dislodge the groomets then push towards the trunk really hard and the whole box will p0p out... i had similar problems at first

K got the front and back out of the holes. Undid the clamps in front but the top of the housing still won't come off to allow access to the air filter. There are two hooks underneath that are preventing this. I have pushed and pulled in every direction with no luck. Why did they make it this hard to do such a simple think as change the air filter.

Not sure what you mean by the "top", but all you need to do is open it up like jaws and reach down to remove/reinstall the filter element. You don't need to completely disassemble the box.

pics?

EDIT

ok, got that damn stock air filter out. Why is it such a HUGE pain in teh ass to replace it? Fvkcing stoopid :wallbash:

Too late for you, but this might help someone else. VIDEO

It's about 5 1/2 megs and you will need Quicktime 7

Here it is in DivX (.avi)

It's kind of hard to explain, you just have to get it right once.

damn, i had no idea you had to push it that far back. Great vid!!!!

the K&N filter is not as thick as the OE one and much easier to get in/out, it also doesn't have to come out anywhere near as often

thankx alot for that vid and the quick replys. but anything about that airbox mod thats out now...? said to put some more grunt to the intake sound. but will it harm anything? thanks again

At my last oil change, my dealer told me the air filter will have to be replaced soon. I figured I'd do this myself. If I just want to replace the air filter with another stock one, what kind is it and where can I get it?

dealer?

thanks for the info everybody. I was finally able to change the most difficult air filter in the world.

It sure looked easy in that video. I still can't get the bottom back ones out of the grommets: the car was practically shaking when I was trying to pull the box upwards as recommended, I was afraid I'd break something. Yeesh!

Your really can't break it just give it a good yank, the rubber grommets must be dry.

+1 here. Shitty design. Whoever designed this part is a total moron.

If I taped the first time i tried you wouldn't say that. :cussing:

Warning! Be careful with bottom grommets
 

It is super easy to push the 2 bottom rubber grommets through the hole and have them drop into the fans below. Chances are most people will push them through and not know it. I did it twice and they are bitch to get out. So be warned.

It's a royal pain in the arse.

is there any way of just separating the box by uncliping it without taking the whole box out of the grommets?

Thanks for the video dude, that made it clear.

yep,

but it is better the other way,, as you can get the filter out..

beers :beer:

Thanks, expo.

Has anyone ever actually managed to get the filter out as the manual says to? Meaning, unclip the sensor thing, unclip the two clamps, open up the box and pull it out?

I've read the idea of pulling the whole box out, but I'm terrified of losing the grommets into the fans as people said.

Am I just wasting my time trying to do it as the manual says? I can get it open almost enough, but not quite enough to pull it out.

someone posted a video at one point.

it's a bitch.

It's impossible to get the filter out the way the owner's manual describes.

The video is linked in post #9 of this thread.

Don't be terrified. It's really easy to unseat the box once you've done it once (finding the right angle the first time is tough.) Do it in a warm area if possible (so the plastic isn't too hard) and just push.

You need to use your caveman strength to push the airbox back far enough to lift it up and out. No being timid.

Another point, the rubber grommets that the bottom of the air box seats on are very soft and can easily be pushed through their holes, where they fall onto the radiator and can jam the cooling fans. I pushed both mine through in pretty short order (they didn't jam the fans, but I've heard of other people who had problems). If you haven't lost the grommets yet, swap the ones on the air box tray for the grommets for the engine cover. The engine cover grommets are much stiffer and won't push through the holes.

i just did this this afternoon :lol: :banghead: it took a lot of careful pushing, and the air box top will hinge open just enough to clear the filter. then the trick is to get a good enough grip on the filter and slip/pull it out really quickly. it took me several tries. i replaced it w/ the the k&n panel filter, which is thinner than the stock paper one, hence easier to go in. don't forget to clip the sensor back

i also didn't like to lift the whole thing up. my luck, i know i'd drop those grommets

Hmmm, I'll try again then! Was it a matter of strength? Or of finesse/wiggling to open it up enough? I mean I don't think I can pull/push/pry any harder than I did, but if it's a matter of wiggling it juuuuust right... maybe there's a chance for me still ;)

just take the whole assembly out, way easier

it's *finesse* and wiggling. you can push the accordion'd part of the tubing straight in a little to help, but basically you jam open the top of the airbox just enough and long enough to pull out the filter. this can be done, 'cuz i just did it this afternoon ;) but if it still doesn't work, it might be worth it to just remove the airbox per the previous instructions

Quick question I am only getting 180km to a full tank of gas all city driving would a dirty cause this such low km per tank?

Its an 05 rx8 and has about 39800 kilometres

Let me know thanks

A dirty intake wouldn't help anything, that's for sure...but I doubt it's the source of your problems.

What a PITA that airbox is. I've watched the video over and over and cannot get the thing out. A friend of mine has an RX-8 so I will have to visit him so I can be shown once. I can't get the posts on the bottom to pop out. I can free the ones in the front, but not enough for the whole airbox to lift out.

This is a good warning! One of my lower grommets came out and luckily fell through to the garage floor.

The video was very helpful, thanks. But, unlike in the video, on some cars there is also a rubber hose with metal tubes that are routed over the front of the air box inlet. This can be removed, but the plastic mount that hose goes through cannot be removed. Makes this job much more difficult.

The video was a great help - who knew you had to take the whole thing out? But honestly, once I figured that out, it was pretty easy. The manual could be *much* more instructive on how to do this. It claims the box will just open up once you get the front clips off - fail.

i just changed my air filter to a pro dry filter. i was getting around 13-16mpg and my factory filter was filthy! i just got the car and im wondering what kind of mpg others get. i did notice a small power increase on this change.

Mileage varies wildly among owners based on driving style, amount of city driving, condition of coils, etc. EPA estimates are 16/22. I've averaged 19 mpg over the past 16k miles, with almost no city or Interstate driving. When I do drive on the Interstate, best I've ever done is 26-28 mpg on three tanks and very conservative driving at 65 mph. Best I've ever seen here was 29 mpg, but any mileage calculations based on a few tankfulls is not necessarily very accurate. Lots of previous threads on this if you want to read further.

Hah! I figured out how to get it out without pulling the whole box off. It's STILL not easy, but even a weakling like me managed it.

The trick is to stand by the left tire, and reach forward with your right hand and pull the lid up and back towards you (instead of pushing it up while standing in front of it). I guess it gives more leverage, and my fingers/hands don't get in the way. And the left hand is free to grab it and wiggle it out.

Anyways, it worked for me ;)

Exactly. First push the air box straight back to collapse the corrigated tube somewhat, clearing the front coupling, and then you can rotate the front of the box up out of its snap-in grommets (similar to engine cover). Once all four grommets are cleared there's enough room to slip a short 2x4 under the box so you can open the box without it falling back down. btw: the grommets for the engine cover are better (more substantial) than those for the air box if you lose one (I got a couple spares from Rosenthal Mazda).

It's hard to do the first time as the tubing and grommets are stiff, but easier thereafter.

I just took off the whole piping and everything from the TB to the box....makes it alot easier just a pipe clamp

If I had watched this video first, I would have definitely given the Mazda dealer the extra $20.00 they wanted to do this. What an idiotic engineering design. If anyone in the SOCAL area wants to make a quick $20.00 and is within 20 miles of Manhattan Beach, post a reply & I'll come to your location with my new filter.

^ Oh come on now. Just do this (reply above):

First push the air box straight back to collapse the corrugated tube somewhat, clearing the front coupling, and then you can rotate the front of the box up out of its snap-in grommets (similar to engine cover). Once all four grommets are cleared there's enough room to slip a short 2x4 under the box so you can open the box without it falling back down. btw: the grommets for the engine cover are better (more substantial) than those for the air box if you lose one (I got a couple spares from Rosenthal Mazda).

It's hard to do the first time as the tubing and grommets are stiff, but easier thereafter.


Quote:
Originally Posted by HeelnToe
I read somewhere that the trick is to simply push straight back on the cover, collapsing the corrigated tube... versus trying to just lift it straight up. Supposedly no need to remove the actual airbox this way.

The best thing to do is keep the clips in the front fastened and pull up on the back of the box to get the back 2 bottom nipples out of the rubber grommets. Then push back on the front of the air box to get the top front nipples out of their rubber grommets. then you can unclap those metal clips to get the air filter out.

before you put it back make sure the rubber grommets are in their holes.
Dont worry about pulling or pushing too hard, you really can't break anything.

put the air box back in the reverse order above.

Oh, That's INSANE!

I'm just taking the car back to the dealer and get a refund, maybe I'll buy a Corolla - I can't do all THAT!!

k a small question. I found my two bottom rubber mounts are missing. the dealer lost them when changing the filter due to an over fill.
where are they gonna end up?
how hard to get to them?

if they haven't fallen out on the road somewhere, you could probably remove the undertray and see if you find them there.



EDIT: I could send you two of my grommets if you want, I have two air boxes...