Air Filter Cover (Re-Fitting) Diesel

[Arctic]

We all change our air filter at least once a year hopefully, re-fitting the air filter cover can sometime be troublesome and can take an age and be frustrating, this is due to a couple of issues one being alignment making sure the groove on the air filter cover fits onto the air filter case properly.

The most likely cause though will be the leading back edge of the air filter cover they get damaged as you will see from the photo's below, hopefully these will explain and help in the future when you/we have to fit the air filter cover back after service.

The AFC remove note there are three top front fixing points Fig 1
1

There are two rear fixing points one at the rear left as in Fig 2
2

The other at the rear right corner in Fig 3
3

All the fixings are Allen key captive bolts 5mm Fig 4
4

When re-fitting make sure you have the filter in the right was with the round lug facing down in the case, the cover then will line up with the point shown here in Fig 5
5

Next check that the left leading rear edge of the cover is not damaged as here in Fig 6
6

Most likely it will be either from a former owner or garage mechanic trying to force it on and damaging the edge, if this is the case open the damaged edge with some long nosed pliers as here in Fig 7
7

Once you have opened the damaged edge I would then cut the damaged part off as I have here Fig 8
8

With the damaged leading edge cut and dressed it will help the fitting in future go a lot easier hopefully Fig 9
9

Offer the cover back to the case making sure the cover grooves run over the edge of the case, lower the back on first Fig 10
10

Once you have the cover seated down and in the grooves first nip up the left hand Allen key do not tighten fully down at this time just get the thread started Fig 11
11

Next nip up the right hand corner Allen key bolt again do not fully tighten up as you will need to align the three front ones and maybe jiggle the cover around the oil filer neck Fig 12
12

Once you have the front ones aligned and in place nip those up, you will not have the filer cap on at this point Fig 13
13

You can now tighten the rear ones fully followed by the front ones the cover should now fit properly. Fig 14
14

Good luck and I hope this post will help members in the future Arctic.

Disclaimer:
You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk.
The 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original author of this How-To can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result
of you following this How-To.

[Dragrad]

Steve you are a wonder with these How To's

Post now in the How To Forum

[Arctic]

I did another ones of these for an owner few days back he was not a member but stopped talking to me while I was working on my MGZT, turns out he had been hearing a rattle since having a air and oil filter service a couple of weeks ago, he had taken the car back to the service garage and the garage could not find the source.

I said to him it could be the bolts that have not been tightened up on the air filter cover, he only lived a few streets away so dropped it round once I took it off I could see that it was damaged in the rear corner as in the photo's cut off damage re-fitted and no more rattle he was well chuffed, hopefully he will be a members soon gave him the details.

[SD1too]

An excellent guide from Steve as always, but could the thread title be modified to explain that it is specifically for the diesel engine?

Simon

[Arctic]

Originally Posted by SD1too

An excellent guide from Steve as always, but could the thread title be modified to explain that it is specifically for the diesel engine?

Simon

Hi Simon.
I have managed to change the title at the top of my first post but the main title would need to be changed by a moderator I am sure they will get on to it when they have time cheers Arctic

EDIT - As has been done (Dragrad)

[Arctic]

One of the threads I am revisiting after the PB debacle, I will be editing them as I go through them one by one

[hogweed]

What would we do without you Steve? I mean, seriously...

[scorpio]

My problem is the captive nuts are just spinning I tried glue but they came loose again.

[Arctic]

Hi Peter.
The captive nut/bolts are supposed to spin as they are a collar for the bolt really, once you have lined the cover up properly they will not spin, the rear ones must be lined up first and nipped up not fully tightened then line up the three front nip those then go round and tighten up.

[Arctic]

Photo reinstated as of today slowly getting round to doing the threads/posts photo bucket stole my photos from, when they purchased Tinypic and closed it down.

First they held us to ransom with asking a payment for using there image hosting platform, then they started buying up other third party hosting platforms only to close down the competition which is wrong in my opinion.