Air filter change/you've got to be kidding!

[Giant Turtle]

OK, so I've been tearing this Explorer apart and putting it back together for a couple of months now, and I've seen some goofily bad design engineering on the way but this has to take the biscuit. Please, someone tell me I am missing something obvious.

I went to change the air filter. I removed the two clips on the inside face (driver's left) of the filter housing, slid the pegs on the outside (driver's right) face of the air filter housing out of their slots by pushing it to the inside. Then went to lift it out to reach the filter and the pegs get stuck on the fender and can't be moved far enough to the inside to get past it. The housing doesn't rise high enough to release the filter in this state.

This is crazy, but do I really have to disassemble the air intake to remove the cheap paper air filter? Does this 2 minute job now have to take a half hour because of this design oversight?

Please - someone tell me I am missing something!

 

[Millertime1987]

You should be able to get it around the fender. its a snug fit but it will move out of the way.

 

[Tavery1]

Just loosen the band to the tube from the MAF remove it and you'll be fine, first time it took maybe 5-10 minuets at most to remove tube change filter and reinstall.

 

[coonerboy]

Are you talking about removing the bottom half of the air filter box? You shouldn't have to do that to replace the air filter.

Like tavery said, just disconnect the black intake tube from the MAF sensor housing if you are having trouble manuvering the upper half.

 

[ucluglee]

Speaking of this, and I know this is an old thread, is there an easy way of removing the bottom half of the air filter box? I'd like to remove mine just to check the metal under it for any rust or corrosion.

 

[celly]

Speaking of this, and I know this is an old thread, is there an easy way of removing the bottom half of the air filter box? I'd like to remove mine just to check the metal under it for any rust or corrosion.

Reef on it. Leverage is your friend. It's held in place by two bigass plugs that will let loose eventually.

 

[kert0307]

Just pull it out, if I remember right it is just held in by some rubber "pegs"

 

[ucluglee]

Ok, thanks. I'll try again later. I was pulling so hard on it the front end was rising a little, so I stopped before it let go and I slammed myself in the face.