Please forgive the non-MB question (though I think the general principles in play would apply to our MBs so I'm hoping the moderators let this thread stay )....but I trust the collective insights of you guys.

The way the air box on our Honda Odyssey is configured is that there's a top that screws on to the bottom, with the air filter seated in the bottom. Several years ago, the threads in one corner of the bottom part of the air box became stripped such that I could tighten only three corners. No problem....still a good seal.

Now I notice that the opposite corner won't tighten. So, when I replace the air filter, I'll only be able to tighten two opposite corners. It will be held in place firmly enough, but I worry about the seal not being tight.

My thoughts thus far are EITHER to seal the entire interface with duct tape OR to find a different fastener solution.

The bottom air box is over $100....trying to avoid buying a new one.

Any thought? Thanks.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Assuming plastic + self tapping screw combination =>

Repair plastic with glue - drill new hole fit self tapping screw

Keep an eye out for a good second hand one (if they are not all like that)

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Can you just use a nut -and-bolt solution, maybe with some grinding? I'm trying to picture exactly what this looks like.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Ooh, good call on the second-hand one. I think you could easily find one of these cars in the JY -- our local ones have them.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I of course do not know the design of the part on that vehicle. My guess is that if filter internaly seals at both sides and there is no appreciable gap. Any slight air ingress is still well filtered. It must still pass through the air filter.

As I typed this I thought he probably has the flat square type air filter so this will not work.

This is one of those cases that a picture is worth a thousand words. you might for example be able to insert four bolts with the heads cut off properly glueing them in the base as studs and use nuts. Drilling and tapping for them.

Or if the plastic looks like it could take it sometimes the next size up self tapping screw will self tap into fresh plastic. . Or even one the same diameter of threads but longer if the original screw is not right through the flange .A small hole should be drilled for it somewhat undersized though. Otherwise the flange or whatever may split.

Sounds like the fastner system was either designed too weak or someone at some point was too aggressive in torqueing the screws.

Personally I would probably go the next size self tapping screw if it looked doable or grab the part from a wrecker. Keeping it simple is just less general agrivation..

Try LKQ.com for salvage parts. Should be able to find a good, used one out there somewhere.

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Jim

I know the Honda airbox design the OP is talking about. Second hand from a JY is a great idea, but doing a little drilling out and going to a nut and bolt solution should work just as well, aside from involving a little more work.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

The bottom air box is over $100...

That's a lot cheaper than a dusted engine.

__________________
'83 300D, 126K miles.

Iirc, the air box has captive nuts in the bottom section. Picture?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I see them on eBay for $50 shipped.

Can you fit studs or bolts to the bottom half of the box so you tighten with a nut from above? Looks like it'll be tough to thread a nut on the aft end of the box by the strut tower.

Better yet -



Sixto
MB-less

I would disagree. Your compromised air box is still many times better than a K&N filter.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

I will try to post pics tomorrow.

So....I know my duct tape idea is half-assed...but will it work fine?

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Duct tape fixes everything. You'll just have to re do it every time you take the filter out for inspection or whatever.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Long hose clamp type band around the box..? I get them from the AMEX/VISA ad' plate they keep sending. Two come with each kit. If you know a VISA etc vendor friend, display kit can be ordered at no charge.


.

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

shertex and I go way back

Sixto
MB-less