Air Silencer Removal 101

Here's what you will need to get started:

• 1 - Floor Jack or the service jack from the trunk
• 1 - Adjustable Jack Stand. 
• 1 - #2 Philips-head screwdriver, and a flathead screwdriver
• 1 Pr - Needle Nosed Pliers
• 1 - 3/8" Drive Ratchet
• 1 -  6" 3/8" Drive Extension
• 1 - 3/4" 1/2" Drive Deep-well Socket
• 1 - 6" 1/2" Drive Extension
• Small set of Metric and Standard sockets (6-12mm) and (3/8"-9/16").
• 3 - 3/8"X1-1/2" bolts, nuts, lock washers and 6 flat washers.

First, Park the car on a level concrete surface. Put car in PARK if it's an automatic. Set the parking brake and put the car in 1st gear if it's a manual transmission. 

Open the hood. 

On the right fender, (passengers side), locate the black air box. Unclamp the two clips that hold the air box closed. With your Philips-head screwdriver, turn the  loosen the hose clamp on the air intake tube. (The one nearest the air box). 

Next unplug the electrical connector that is on the top of the air intake tube. (Mass Air Flow Sensor). Now you can remove the top half of the air box. Use a gentle twisting motion to insure that the intake tube doesn't twist with the top of the air box. Once it is removed, put it aside until later. Remove the air filter element. If you plan to keep it, put it aside. If you purchased a K&N hi-flow filter you can discard the old filter element. 

Next you will need to turn the front wheels all the way to left and remove the three screws in the lower right front bumper and the round plastic push-pins located in the plastic inner fender liner. Raise the car up and place a jack stand under the right side of the car if you are going to be under the car. Remove the screws that hold the bottom of the bumper to the inner panel under the car. (Damage to one or more of the push-pins is likely, but it don't worry about that).

Once all of the fasteners are removed, turn the wheels all the way to the right and carefully pull the plastic inner fender liner back in to the wheel opening. As you do it bend it around the edge of the bumper. It will take some patience to do it, but it will come out. 

Now you can see the air silencer, it's that big plastic thing with the piping coming out of it.

To remove the silencer go back under the hood. In the bottom if the air box you will see three bolts. Loosen them and remove them. The air silencer should now be loose. Now you can remove the air silencer from the car. (You may want to keep it in case you ever want to reinstall it some day.

Now you need to reattach the air box to the engine compartment. Using the three new bolts, nuts, lock washer and the six flat washers, bolt the bottom of the air box back into place using the existing holes that were used by the old bolts. 

Reinstall the inner fender liner with the original screws, remove the jack stand and lower the car to the ground. 

Back under the hood, replace the air filter element and put the top half of the air box back in to place. Make sure that the small hose for the PCV valve is attached to the intake tube. If not, just plug it back into the hole in the bottom of the intake tube. Secure the top half of the air box to the bottom half with the clips and plug the MAF sensor connector back in. Remove all of your tools and clean up your tools. Double check to be sure everything is tight before you start the car. 

This project takes about 20 to 30 minutes, but that depends on your amount of mechanical skill. Don't be concerned if it takes you a little longer! I've been wrenching on cars for over 25 years. 

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