How to remove air cleaner box on '97 5.0 L ?

[Fire & Ice]

Hi everybody. I'm new to this forum and I hope one of you will be able to help me out. I'd appreciate it if you could tell me how to remove the bottom half of my air cleaner box on my '97 Explorer Limited 5.0L. I am attempting to install an aftermarket K&N filter intake and I am not seeing how to remove the bottom half of the old box. I don't want to break it by doing something wrong. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Turdle]

It honestly just pops out-
pry it away from the fender first, then pry upwards. It's held in with rubber push grommets.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Fire & Ice]

Jon,
Thanks a lot. That's what it looked like but I just didn't want to do something stupid by forcing it. Thanks again for your help.
Fire & Ice

 

[techieman33]

Don't be afraid to yank on it either, it takes quite a bit to get it out.

 

[Turdle]

Don't be afraid to yank on it either,

Just don't get caught.

 

[X6StringerX]

Bahahaha, nicely played Jon, nicely played.

 

[storlied]

Is it pull at the fender side, or the other side? one bottom pieces is already broken, the other has a little ice in it and won't budge at all.. it just brings the platform with it....

 

[storlied]

What's a shortcut to get this thing off? Keep in mind, the rubber gromit thing might be iced up a lil bit

 

[Turdle]

You will need to try to get something between the platform and air box-maybe a screw driver-or a small pry bar, or a handle from a pair of pliers--
It will give you more room if you remove the air tube-

 

[storlied]

i had the whole top half off, one of the bottom things is broke...

 

[Turdle]

hmmm, broke or did it come loose?-it seems like the front one was a bugger, but the rear one slipped right out.

 

[storlied]

The front bottom piece is actually broke. The other bottom piece next to it just won't come out, and the harder I pull, it starts up pull up the piece it's mounted to. Tried to pry it out with a screw driver, the screw driver didn't help at all. I THINK the problem might be ice buildup. I'm going to try when it's a little warmer out. Any other suggestions?

 

[Turdle]

Are you actually tying to get the inlet tube out of the lower box?
If so, you might be able to get it out without removing the box-

 

[storlied]

Oh yea? How so? I kinda tried.
Still need to get this box out, if it won't come out.. that'll be problematic for the Mac intake install. But the issue at hand right now is the air silencer.

 

[Turdle]

Well,
that oval tube comes out.

 

[storlied]

It wouldn't come out by pulling it into the box, and pulling it out.. there's that flat piece of plastic holding it in place near the headlight. It's not like most that I've seen though, it's a cheap thin piece of plastic. got the top unbuttoned but something below is holding it in place, can't get in there to undo it because the lower airbox is in the way.. -_-''

 

[Turdle]

Well, I do want to see you get this out-
I think if you keep messing with it you'll get it. Honestly-it does just pull out.
Like you said, maybe yours is frozen in place.

 

[storlied]

How is the platform mounted? How strong is it? What's the odd's I could break it, or bend it out of place?

 

[storlied]

Also, seeing as how that piece of plastic is broke off into the rubber piece, is that gonna be a pita to get out when time comes?

 

[Turdle]

it would be better to pry between them-
it is bolted down.if you bent it you could bend it back into shape-

you'll notice a small relay box down there on the same "shelf" piece-
try to release it first-it has 2 little release tabs and just slides up and off-
this way you won't damage the wiring-