Hey all. I have a 2000 ZTS that i was giving some much needed love to today, including replacing the air filter. While opening the air cleaner box I had 1 rusted, stripped, totally crap bolt that I couldn't get out. I took the air box up and out so that I could get underneath with some clamps but I still couldn't get it. It would only spin. I even cut off part of the gusset and went as far as to use my dremel to make one side of the nut flat and STILL couldn't get it off. My issue is the same one described here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Repair-2000-2004-Ford-Focus-Air-Cleaner-Box-for-un/
After messing with it for an hour my 11 year old air box ended up cracking a little bit around the bolt so I ended up just dremeling through the bottom plastic bracket that the metal nut is inside of and pulling it out that way and I was finally able to get it removed. I replaced the air filter and put the 3 good bolts back in and all is well. It feels tight... but I guess it would be best to get the 4th one in. Because I had to cut through the plastic, just replacing the nut and bolt and adding in a washer or something isn't really an option because there's nothing on the bottom for it to hold on to.
I said all that to say this... do you think it's safe to just keep it with 3 bolts? If not I need help locating that part number. I'm not a big car person to be honest but I'm trying.
I don't know exactly what that part is called (air cleaner box is the best I can come up with). I'm also not sure if it's possible to only buy the bottom half where the air filter actually sits instead of the whole thing (if that would make it cheaper). Is this the type of part I could get at a junkyard? I've never even been to one. Ha.
I'm going on a road trip in a month and so I need to get on the ball with replacing it if the 3 bolts isn't safe for the engine.
Thanks for any help and for reading my rambling.
Pic:
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After messing with it for an hour my 11 year old air box ended up cracking a little bit around the bolt so I ended up just dremeling through the bottom plastic bracket that the metal nut is inside of and pulling it out that way and I was finally able to get it removed. I replaced the air filter and put the 3 good bolts back in and all is well. It feels tight... but I guess it would be best to get the 4th one in. Because I had to cut through the plastic, just replacing the nut and bolt and adding in a washer or something isn't really an option because there's nothing on the bottom for it to hold on to.
I said all that to say this... do you think it's safe to just keep it with 3 bolts? If not I need help locating that part number. I'm not a big car person to be honest but I'm trying.
I don't know exactly what that part is called (air cleaner box is the best I can come up with). I'm also not sure if it's possible to only buy the bottom half where the air filter actually sits instead of the whole thing (if that would make it cheaper). Is this the type of part I could get at a junkyard? I've never even been to one. Ha.I'm going on a road trip in a month and so I need to get on the ball with replacing it if the 3 bolts isn't safe for the engine.
Thanks for any help and for reading my rambling.
Pic:
