If the filter is put in correctly (and the wires are out of the way) the cover should go on without too much force. Re the cover, I noticed that I need to start with the vertical portion of the cover toward the center of the car. If I get that lined up correctly the cover goes on pretty easily. I also find that I have to use a screwdriver to push down on the metal clip on the outside to get it to clip into place. If you want I can post some pictures on Saturday to show you what I mean.

 

I'd appreciate some pictures. I've not been able to get the metal clip to properly clip into place.

GC

 

Should the ability to put a smallish plastic cover on without tools and without destroying it, be a 993 ownership pre-requisite?

Just asking!

 

Pics would be great.

 

Will post pics this weekend.

 

You'd think. But then I'd have to give mine up. In my defense, the PO couldn't clip it either, they were both just held on by knurled nut.

 

Within 1 week of ownership they pissed me off!
Next time looking at them, I had put new lighting in the garage. Really is a neat design but very particular how it is oriented when you first start. Put a LOT of light in the area, and look at everything real good, and it is easier. Not a piece-o-cake easy, but easier.

 

The first time I tried it, I couldn't secure the covers completely, so I drove around for a year without having them clipped shut. Despite having the filters lined up perfectly, I couldn't get those silver clips to engage no matter how much I tried to force the covers down. The second time around, after giving it much thought and thinking there is no way in hell that they would design something so ridiculously difficult to secure, I figured it out. When applying some downward force on the tops of the filter covers, flatten the silver clip rather than try to force it downward. Flattening the clip extends it just enough to engage. This is how they must have been designed to work, and it's really that easy.

 

OK, So exactly how do you flatten it? Do you depress with a flat head screwdriver or what? It really is a pain in the a--. I broke the plastic hole apart wher the curled nut goes on and either bent the clip out of place or broke it. I am currently holding it in place with a hard piece of foam wedged between the housing and front part of firewall.

 

We're talking about the silver clip that is attached to the edge of the top cover of the pollen filter housing, right? With the top cover in place, I just flatten the clip against the housing with my fingers, and once it extends/elongates enough so that the end of the clip is just about at the catch point, I press the end of the clip onto the catch. I didn't use any tools, just my fingers. The clip itself is very flexible and shaped in such a way, that if you look at the way the clip was designed, you'll see it was meant to function in such a manner. Assuming there is some consistency in the way these things are manufactured, it should work for you as well, but it was impossible for me to secure that cover before I tried this technique.

 

I have a new one on order. Managed to break the plastic tab where the bolt for the knurled nut goes on so I have no way to secure the housing . Thanks for the info . I look forward to giving it a try. I am assuming you mean the clip on the left bottom of the housing? Also, what is the electrical plug for that also attaches at the side? Looks like about a 10 prong connector. Thanks. Looking forward to those photos that get posted today.

 

The filter housing is comprised of two parts, upper and lower. The upper part is the one that you remove to access the filters...let's call it the lid. The clip is on the bottom edge of the lid closest to the hood strut. The wiring harness points right at it and, in the p-car.com tutorial, the fifth picture down shows this clip being disengaged with a screwdriver. That's the clip you should try to flatten by hand to engage/disengage without forcing it with tools which can ultimately destroy it. Regarding the multi-prong connector, your guess is as good as mine. HVAC maybe?

 

Remember, this is a Porsche, and the engineers are both devious and exact. I have found that it's rare that parts need to be forced into place, it usually a matter of alignment or not understanding how it was designed to work.

For these covers, they have to be guided back without any side to side twisting, i.e the cover has to remain perfectly vertical. The slots and cover are delicate, so it requires a light touch, but if aligned right, they just glide right in. Same goes for the clips, they need to be extended by squeezing them to lengthen them, if the force is at the wrong angle you will break stuff.

This is one of those that's hard to document, but once you have figured it out, it goes pretty well. I suspect this sort of detail was saved for the technicians when they received their factory training.

As an example, rebulding a 911 engine is the same thing - if its done right, the parts just slide together smoothly, like a good mechanical watch. If you need to force anything, you are not doing it right.

Best of luck!

Cheers,

Mike

 

Got the new pollen filter cover today and after 3 hours I give up. I just cannot get the thing to go on correctly. Its on there but not properly seated because it is not as tight as the other side. Wish I had never tried it. I should be getting my Fister 3s Monday and I am also doing an oil change so I will let my Indy give it a try.I cannot seem to get the cover down without the filter falling out of placeThe engineer that designed that part need an ole country boy a -- whopping!

 

PS. I have been trying to place the filter in the housing first. It has a slot for the tad on the filter but I cannot seem to get it to stay in place without falling out. Can you actually place the filter in first and then install the cover or does the cover go on with the filter already slid into the housing?