Problem changing out '03 Corolla air intake filter

[epojr]

How do I go about changing the intake air filter on a '03 Corolla? There is no mention of changing out the filter in the owner's manual, or for that matter no mention at all of the filter anywhere in any of the books and papers that came with the car. But never the less I'm sure it needs to be changed at some specified interval as a part of routine maintenance. I bought the car from the estate of a deceased elderly lady whose daughter insists that her mother always had the maintenance done at the Toyota dealership where she bought it according to the schedule in the owner's manual. But if she did there is no record in the papers that came with the car to show that the filter was ever changed. The car has 61K miles on the clock and I'm getting 36-37 mpg @ 70 mph on Interstate hwys and 29-30 in town, so the filter must not be clogged up too badly. But even so I would still like to change it out just for my peace of mind if nothing else. I have always done most of the normal maintenance jobs on my previous older model US and German made cars, but I'm not up to snuff on maintenance work for Japanese cars and there's nothing in the owner's manual about changing that filter. The black plastic(?) filter housing appears to be connected to a rat's nest of hoses, wiring, and/or electrical components that I don't recognize. I unsnapped the 2 metal hold-downs on the box, but that still didn't give me access to the filter itself and I'm afraid to start undoing the other hoses and wires that enter the box or are attached to it. Any suggestions other than taking it to a Toyota dealership and making the dealer the sole beneficiary of my 3 life insurance policies in order to pay the bill?

[flash4o]

If your '03 is like my '04:

1. Release two metal clips on the end of airbox facing the right side of the engine compartment;

2. Then pull the top of the airbox up and to the right (bc on the left side near center of engine, there are two plastic hinges that fit into eachother);

3. Once those are free, push the top of the airbox up a bit (1-3 inches) and pull out the old air filter;

4. Insert the new air filter in the same orientation as the one you took out - note that there is one corner that is slightly flanged-out, so it can only fit in one way appropriately;

5. Close (and fit those plastic hinges together) then re-clasp the metal clips.

Hope this helps.

Matt

[epojr]

Thanks for your reply. Actually I released the 2 hold-down clips you described on the front top side of the air cleaner box, but the hose, or a round tube of some kind, that is attached to the firewall side of the lid won't let it be raised more than 2 or 3 inches, which isn't enough clearance to allow it to fold back on the plastic hinges at the rear of the box. I don't want to start disconnecting tubes or anything else that I don't know anything about, and I hve no idea what that attached item that appears to be a black rubber tube does. Did you have that same situation with raising the top lid? If so, how did you get around it, by taking off the attached tube(s)? If so how did you remove it? I tried gently pulling on it but it wouldn't budge, and don't want to mess something up by forcing it open by prying with a big screwdriver.

Thanks again, and if you have more info or if I misunderstood your directions, I would appreciate hearing more from you. If I can't get it right myself I guess I'll take it to a local independent tune-up shop I sometimes use for minor jobs and see if he can install it at a reasonable price. He recently installed new headlight bulbs in an Altima of mine for $20 labor and I supplied the bulbs. I don't know how auto repair prices run in your area, but around here NOBODY else would even bother to open up a hood for $20.

[epojr]

After re-reading your reply to my first post I think I may have misunderstood what you wrote, and if so please disregard my first reply. If I am understanding your instructions correctly I should be able to get the filter out even with the small amount of of lift (2 or 3 inches) that I can get on the box lid. I assume you released the 2 plastic hinges at the bottom rear of the box as well as the 2 metal clips at the front of the box in order to get enough opening to pull out the old filter, right? I didn't try opening it by taking apart those rear hinges along with releasing the clips on the front top, so maybe that was why I couldn't get it to budge. Well, tomorrow is another day and maybe I'll get lucky and do something right for once.

[flash4o]

Exactly - 3 inches is all you need to pull old filter out and insert\line up the new one.

Good luck.

[epojr]

Thanks again, I'll give it a try as soon as the weather warms up a bit. I was expecting it to be something like 5-6 inches thick, 3" I can handle. Maybe I can that is, God knows I'm a pathetic excuse for a mechanic.

[ukeacreator]

Im looking at getting a cold air intake for my 04 corolla ce, but wouldnt know where to find one can someone help me out or point me in the right direction cause i dont want buy something that will end up being totally useless, my friend told me i could juice some hp's out of it so.