Frankie324

I can't get the cover off of the box that houses the air filter because a few of the screws that hold it in place were simply spinning in place when I tried to loosen them, they just spin but don't come loose. I didn't crack it... this is my girlfriend's car. She bought it used 3 months ago. So i'm guessing this filter has not been changed in some time. Some ******* probably over tightened it.

HEEEELP.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Oh wow... umm, with the screw that's going in to the cracked plastic, you may have to drill it out or cut the head off of the screw. The nut that it threads in to is now free, is my guess, and would have to be removed by other means.

The rear screw looks like it may still be salvageable, but I'm not sure. I'd try an 8mm socket on them, instead of a phillips screw driver.

Frankie324

they screw freely. 8mm is not gona make a difference, it spins, spins, spins... just like you said the nut it threads in is spinning. any more suggestions before i start drillin?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Sadly, I cannot think of anything else to try. I would use a Dremel with a cut off tool, and try to remove just the head of the screw. Then, replace the hardware with some stainless steel components and some JB Weld for the nuts to sit in.

EM2abe

Get it all off some how... And buy a new housing. That's what I would do.

motegicivic

Take a pair of vise grips or needle nose pliers and grab the head turn and pull up on them, report back if that works.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

He already stated that the screws rotated freely in the housing, meaning that the nuts they screw in to broke the mounting area that surrounds them. Thus, adding vertical pressure really won't do anything to grip the nut so the screws can be backed out.

motegicivic

At this point it is broken per the pictures, at least he can get it open. replace the filter and then I would use some long zip ties or metal duct clamp and close it back down until he decides if what to replace the box or just go with a CAI.

motegicivic

At this point it is broken per the pictures, at least he can get it open and replace the filter and then I would use some long zip ties or metal duct clamp and close it back down until he decides if what to replace the box or just go with a CAI.

He can just cut off the head of the screw as well, with say a dremel or if can get in there with a hack saw.

01_civic

best bet is probably to saw off the tab and find another way to re-secure it back down