So I went under the hood today to replace the OEM air filter with a K&N. I've never done this before, but I wanted to start learning how to do some mechanical things on my own. Its a 2010 TL SHAWD Auto. I could not loosen the 4 screws which hold down the top of the filter box. It looks as though they were overtightend last time (dealership ).

Can anyone offer some advice? I tried at first to loosen it by hand using a phillips head to no avail, so then I tried a cordless drill, and that didnt work either. None of them would budge. And the one closest to the front of the engine bay started to strip a liitle bit. I appreciate the help.

 

You could see if a flat top screwdriver would help instead of a Phillips head.

Or see if a vise grips can clamp down on the screw head and loosen that way.

 

Tried the flat top and it didnt work either. Im going to try vise grips next with some penetrating oil.

It looks to me like the screw also has grooves on the side of the heads so that you could also use a nut driver or impact wrench instead of a screw driver. I dont have either of those tools, but its probably how it was overtightened in the first place, Im thinking air powered impact wrench. The dealer did the first air filter replacement at around 20K miles.

 

use a nut driver....

 

ratchet works the best

 

Hi TJ.
Do you have any more pics of your car ?
Looks very cool.
My car is all black, 2010 FWD, stock.