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Changed the engine (under the hood) air filter in my 02 Coupe for the very first time by myself the other day and came across some problems. Was annoyed that Honda made it such a hassle to access the air filter (7 screws) but the bigger problem was that I did not use any penetrating/lubricating grease on several of the rusted screws and I ended up breaking off several of the threaded parts on the plastic housing for the filter (although some may have been broken before) while unscrewing them (the screws were in bad enough shape that the circular "lip" under the head separated from the head on most of them while unscrewing them) so that now the cover is attached basically by just 2 of the original 7 screws. The broken screw threads (not cross threaded, but completely broken off the plastic housing) are on the perimeter and the one screw in the middle is not broken but I just can't get it to screw in.
When I looked at the plastic housing it looks like it would not be an easy piece to replace (assuming I could find a decent condition one) and so I suspect I don't have much options to fix this issue. I don't drive this car that much now and mostly keep it for sentimental value and because it mostly runs great and is in good condition (and I've spent a lot doing various projects over the years), so I don't think it's a major risk driving with the air filter cover only attached by 2 of 7 screws as it seems unlikely to fall off, and it will probably take a few years to put on enough miles to require another filter change.
Any thoughts or suggestions otherwise? I would love if there was a solution but it seems unlikely.
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Barrie, ON Canada
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Re: Engine air filter housing problem
You'll be fine running just the 2.
you can try searching junkyards but good luck.
alternatively put on one of those shiny intake tubes that all the cool kids use
Thank you, that does make me feel better. Wish I could get that middle screw in but I had the hardest time getting my 10mm ratcheting wrench head off of it after I unscrewed it and had to bang away on it to loosen it up enough to remove it as it got stuck really bad. The plastic housing is probably hard to find but when I looked at how it is installed, it looked way too difficult and involved to consider just for an air filter. I am definitely not cool and don't know what an intake tube is and so I probably shouldn't even think about looking into it...
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 9,637
Likes: 1,283
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Rep Power: 222
Re: Engine air filter housing problem
A "cold air intake" all the ricers put them on thinking they'll make massive power gains. If you search local buy and sell pages/groups you can probably find one for under $50
Hindsight now but spraying a penetrating rust product helps big time on those air filter cover bolts. The bolts and the actual cover breaking are common issues on these cars.
Also, it's pretty easy to replace the filter housing. Two bolts holding it down on the front side of the filter box, the hose clamp for the breather tube, the hose clamp for the rubber hose connecting to the resonator box, and the hose clamp connecting the filter box to the throttle body. The bigger resonator box that sits forward of it has like.. 4 bolts holding it down. Hardest part is reaching that throttle body hose clamp. Here's a parts diagram for reference
big facts on that intake tube like colin said though. Short ram intake or cold air intake. Short ram takes suction around the same area as stock, cold air routes piping to the bumper forward of the wheelwell to take a suction there. Given you live in Seattle, I'd go with a short ram over cold air intake because of rain. It does make the engine sound a hair louder, I should add.
here's what that mine looked like (don't mind the photoshop job I did with the hood. lol). Makes other things easier access in the engine bay if you DIY your car maintenance. The filter I had was also a washable dry filter (some aftermarket intakes you have to oil the filter).
Hindsight now but spraying a penetrating rust product helps big time on those air filter cover bolts. The bolts and the actual cover breaking are common issues on these cars.
Yeah, I guess it's inexperience coupled with impatience that led me to try unscrewing those obviously rusted bolts. Sadly, it turns out that I actually had some penetrating oil at home (supposedly a good one even, Kano Aerokroil) that I bought a year ago but forgot about.
Originally Posted by xRiCeBoYx
Also, it's pretty easy to replace the filter housing. Two bolts holding it down on the front side of the filter box, the hose clamp for the breather tube, the hose clamp for the rubber hose connecting to the resonator box, and the hose clamp connecting the filter box to the throttle body. The bigger resonator box that sits forward of it has like.. 4 bolts holding it down. Hardest part is reaching that throttle body hose clamp. Here's a parts diagram for reference
Wow, thanks for that diagram. I don't think I want to try replacing the housing as I will likely mess things up even worse, but it's nice to know for reference. And maybe I can find some of those bolts that are now all rusted.
The intake tube looks cool also and I might have done it were I more mechanically inclined and experienced and my Civic not so old. I am amazed by how clean and nice your engine bay looks. After a few years of parking outdoors in Chicago and NYC, my entire engine bay is covered in a light coating of rust.
Engine air filter housing problem 
