When you can't find parts at the dealer??????????? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redgtxdi · 09-16-2005, 05:58 PM

So, none of the auto parts houses I called carry those little clips that hold the intake air box sandwiched shut, so I just caved in & called my local (what *can't* we do for you today) Toyota dealer.....................

Guess what............

No joy!!!! They can't supply those clips separately. Must buy the entire bottom box assembly for $273!!!!!

WTF????

So, aside from my half-@$$ed attempt to zip-tie the box closed, anybody got a better idea for keeping it *completely* shut???

(un-freakin' believable. Dealer can provide me a little yellow plastic elbow that connects the exterior door handle to the door-opening rod inside the door, but they don't carry something as common as the spring clips for a freakin' intake airbox!!)

thoughthard · 09-16-2005, 07:53 PM

Find the piece used maybe?

PM me with the year of yours, and the years that will fit. I might be able to help.

foompla · 09-16-2005, 07:56 PM

call another dealer. sometimes these things seperate, but they dont want o sell you that one little clip.

***REN69*** · 09-16-2005, 08:11 PM

Ever heard of junkyards??? I hear you can find cars in those places.. yeah, whole cars! with a lot of stuff in them that you can buy and put on your own. Sometimes you can take little things like that because they're so small they won't make you pay for them.

redgtxdi · 09-16-2005, 08:15 PM

It's a '95 Geo Prizm.

The guy's first response (of course) was...."We don't supply parts for Geo cars."

To which I replied......"Uhhh........it's basically a Corolla."

To whic HE replied.........."Oh, that's right" <-----WTF???

So I explained about the part and the year of the car and the motor, etc. and helooks it up & comes to the conclusion I mentioned above.

Thanks to any of you guys helpin' out....I really appreciate it.

On another forum, somebody also suggested those heavy-duty binder clips (like you use to paper-clip a thick stack of papers). I think those will actually work quite well 'til I find the real clips since they're aluminum and they keep "constant" tension......(unlike a miniature c-clamp or something that could loosen).

thoughthard · 09-16-2005, 08:51 PM

I know of a Geo Prism in a junkyard, since I considered snagging the alloys, but they were in not-so-good shape.

Let me know if you want me to check to see if the air cleaner assembly is intact.

redgtxdi · 09-16-2005, 09:23 PM

Will do.....thanks! I'm gonna try & get out to a couple "pick a part" yards this weekend to see what I can pull. If I come up empty handed, I'll PM ya'!!

I tried one of those big clips and while I do think it *could* work, I didn't have a big enough one here at home. I could probably also move where I have the zip ties, but the clips in their proper place, doing the proper job would be more genuine, of course!!

Dexterous · 09-17-2005, 01:39 AM

Just use duct tape around the seal to keep it closed, you won't need to opent it for a while anyway.

redgtxdi · 09-17-2005, 10:17 AM

Dexterous,

Just wanted t say that your '99 looks waaaay clean! Nice ride!!
Checkin' out a yard w/ a '95 Corolla on it today. Gonna see what I can pull off that sucker!

89TCGTS · 09-17-2005, 01:23 PM

that 99 might look clean but if he uses duct tape to hold his air cleaner together then it must be n!gger rigged

Dexterous · 09-18-2005, 05:28 AM

Thanks Red,

another person may have what you need:

http://www.corolla-racing.com/phpBB2...pic.php?t=6262

***REN69*** · 09-18-2005, 08:13 AM

I'd say take the airbox out and put in a cone filter.. does the motor have an AFM (air flow meter)??

redgtxdi · 09-18-2005, 11:32 AM

That might be a good idea, except, yes......I think it does have an AFM. There's definitely at least one plug in there though that I'd have to deal with.

I went to a pick a part yesterday & picked the clips off a gen7 Corolla, and while my intake box was in better shape than that one, mine seems to still be missing the hinge points for the bottoms of those clips. It might still work since it really just needs to get the box closed. I do believe that the airflow and rubber surround of the air cleaner will do their job to create the right seal and properly direct flow.

However, if the clips just won't do their job, I may have to hit that guy up for his parts on that link!!

Thanks again, gang!! (P.S. Had a blast yesterday at the junkyard)

***REN69*** · 09-19-2005, 02:00 AM

You don't need to remove the black hose with the plugs on it.. all you need to do if you have an AFM is to get an AFM adapter for the filter and the filter itself, remove the airbox and that's it.

redgtxdi · 09-21-2005, 11:10 AM

Ren, thanks!!

After trying the clips I got at the junkyard, I realize that they're not gonna work 'cuz the hinge points are gone.

Seeing as I can either spend money on an intake box off a forum.......*or*.........a cone filter.........I'm thinkin' a cone filter would be kinda' nice to free up engine bay room as well as maximize airflow.

Any suggestions?? Any links?? (Also, adapter info?)

TIA!!!!!!!!