I went to change the air filter today on my 2006 TL. It was cold and windy out so I gave up after a few minutes. I loosened the 4 screws that hold the top filter housing to the bottom but couldn't get the filter out. I did a search here and only found a couple tutorials on changing the entire assembly for an aftermarket style. Is there an easy (or just normal) way to change out the filter? Thanks. Steve

 

I did it recently on mine, and had lost one of the screws. It is a real PITA to change that air filter, so it may be worth giving $20 to let someone else do it

I'd also dropped one of the bolts and couldnt find it...

 

What you did was correct. Fully loosen the four screws. They will not come out cuz there are "stops" that prevent them from fully coming out. They should, however, move up and down with relative ease once fully loosened. The hardest part was lifting up the cover...I just gave it a good tug and wiggled out the old filter while making sure nothing that was supposed to bend did not bend. The cover does like to snap shut, so I just held it with enough force to wiggle out the old filter and slide in the new one.

Ive only done this once to my car since it has only 14K miles on it, and that was a year ago....honestly, i forget the items around the filter itself. I belive you should be able to loosen up a strap to the intake tube going from the filter to the TB. That will free up the tube held to the filter box, if in fact one does exist...

My approach is a lazy man's approach, but it works well enough.

 

hmmm...my screws came out of from the bottom portion of the filter box but were held into the top portion allowing me to pop it up and over...at least, i think it did this...?

 

quite hard to lift up the cover. I spent maybe 20 minutes or more... the manual says take off the wire harness that is held on the box though.

maybe I should have taken the intake off throttle body...

 

It's a tough change, I was able to install a K&N by bending the flexible hose a bit.

 

Gentlemen;

You really have to remove the plastic conduit that runs along the engine side of the upper housing. It has insertion clips that fit into holes (slots?) in the housing. Separate this conduit from the housing first. Then after you have completely loosened the small bolts, lift the housing straight up until it clears, then back towards the throttle body and up. At this point the filter is easy to remove and replace. Just reverse the process to complete the job.

 

Is this the same on the 07? Where is it in the manual? I couldn't find it under air or filter.

I went to Advance Auto parts and they said an air filter wasn't even available except through the dealer.

They did have a cabin filter (dust and poller) available. Where is the cabin filter for me to change? I'm due for B12, but figured I'd get oil change and rotation from Precision auto and swap out filters myself. If I can't get them though, I will have to get the shaft at the dealer for a B12.

Ideas?

 

Good question about whether or not the engine air filter is the same for the '04-'06 and the '07. As for the cabin filter, it's behind the glove box housing and is a pain to change. Very poor design. You have to remove the glove box and housing to get to it.

 

Looks like I might have to use dealer on the **2 reminders and regular oil change place for others. Or could I get away with not changing the cabin filter?

Where can I purchase the engine air filter?

 

I got K&N engine air filter and ATP HA-5 ACC cabin filter from Amazon.com

 

loosen the "4" 8mm bolts
pull up on the front of the air box top cover and start pushing back towards the tb once you created a little room i usually grab the air filter and apply pressure to move it back towards the throttle body and some upward pressure and you can slide the filter out works for me at work

also i would go with oem filter alot nicer filter then you will find aftermarket

 

 

I have no pictures to post. Those of us who own '04-'06 TL's know exactly where this plastic electrical conduit is located and how it is afixed to the housing.

Now I have a question - which was already asked. Is there a difference between the engine air filter of an '04-'06 TL and a non-TLS '07-'08?

 

The factory filter is indeed, a quality unit. It is a half-and-half filter: half dry element and half oil-wetted. And it is pricey. Expect it to have a little more resistance to air flow than the Purelator or Fram unit.

 

According to the catalog, 2 different filters. The '04-'06 one number, all '07-'08 TL/TLs different number.

 

Thanks. I suspected that to be the case.

 

Sweet. Thanks!!

I was doing my in the middle of november last year...too cold, too tired, so i rushed the job.

But this info shall help us out greatly. Thanks again!

 

You pose a thought provoking question " In the final seconds of your life, just before your killer is about to dispatch you to that great eternal darkness, what would you rather have in your hand? A cell phone or a gun?"

My answer would be neither. In the final seconds, facing eternity you need the Lord.

 

I'll meet Him in all good time. But I am not willing or of a mind to hasten my retreat from this life, especially at the hands of some worthless maggot. It's God's job to forgive.. not mine. I'll carry my "little friend" and hopefully wake up each morning, thankful He's seen fit to give me another day to enjoy His miracle.

 

Back on topic. Where's a good place to order an aftermarket engine air filter? I have an 08 TL-S and can't find the filter locally.........

 

Yes, the 07-08 filter is different from 04-06 one. And I think the TLS and non TLS filters are same for 07-08.

There is the electrical cable wrapped in a conduit under the big hose connecting upper filter housing with TB. The conduit is attached to the filter housing part. According to thick service book (I think), it needs to be removed for easier opening. But I just pushed the upper housing toward the TB and lifted it up while keep pushing it, when I changed the filter. Yes, it's a little difficult but I don't have to install that electrical conduit at the end. I use K&N filter to replace the factory installed one. It's the same size as OEM filter. Just drop it into the airbox.

 

I have a 2005 that I purchased in March and am attempting to put a K&N filter in this afternoon. All the screws are in so tight that I am beginning to strip all four when trying to loosen them. I have no idea when, if ever, the filter has been changed, but the previous owner did all maint. at the dealer. Did anyone have a similar experience or need to use WD40 on the screws?

 

I pulled the filter out last week to check it (will be replacing soon). I found it much easier to pull the whole top part of the housing right out of the car, rather than fight to make enough space to pull the filter out at an angle.

1. Undo the 4 bolts at each corner of the airbox top. A long screwdriver or ratchet with extension is helpful.
2. Pop off the clip holding the plastic conduit (front right corner of the airbox cover).
3. Depress the clip and pull off the electrical connector on top of the TB. Work the wire harness out of the flexible hook on top of the rubber accordion and lay down towards front of car, away from airbox.
4. Compress and slide to one side the small clamp holding on the breather with a pair of pliers (right side of the rubber accordion at the TB end)
5. Loosen the screw band clamp holding on the rubber accordion to the TB (8mm socket or Phillips screwdriver).
6. Slide out the breather tube and work the rubber accordion off the TB.
7. Lift out and put aside the whole top of the airbox.

Good time to clean out the TB, since it's fully exposed, and wipe down and remove any detritus in the bottom of the airbox, as everything is now exposed.

Reassemble in reverse. Remember to reconnect the electrical connector, otherwise car probably won't start.

 

I'd rather my assailant meet St. Peter and be sent to hell... I would prefer to stick around a little longer. Besides, I'm more important than is he.

So to respond to your comment, "neither" is not an answer to my question. It's an admission that doing nothing is better than being proactive when faced with a deadly threat. I would rather be alive and explaining to an investigating officer how nice and tight my groups were to the perp's center mass than laying on the ground, soiling it with my blood.