for all you guys who haven't put in an aftermarket intake, have a look under the stock air intake.

 

Anywhere that something touches paint, especially that vibrates like any engine component, will wear down to metal quickly.

Water and other good stuff gets stuck under the plastic, in this case, and BAM...instant good times.

 

Time to put 3m material on the paint.

 

Mine is fine.

 

Mine has wear but didn't break through the paint except at the edges. Picture below shows 3m paint protection film applied to this area.

 

How do you take those plastic screws off? I'm about to break something!

 

Push in center. Pull out plug.

 

Gently push in the center, otherwise you might shoot the pin out the bottom and lose it. I almost did that with one of the clips in the trunk, and I think the ones on the air intake are the same way.

 

Yea I had to use one of those clips off my motorcycle after I dropped one down by the radiator (Evo) when reinstalling intake. I had done this before also and it took me about 30 min to find the thing so I was being carefull when I dropped it this time. I wasn't about to pull airbox and battery to find it again.

 

I lost one of my clips. Where can I get another one?

BTW, no rust on my car. Paints is slightly scuffed in that area, but no cuts in the paint.

 

you can pick up a new clip at the dealer. They are pretty cheap.

 

Just one more reason to take the factory air box out. Now Mitsu can't try to say it voids my warranty. Because I will be saving them a warranty claim on rust-through.

Josh

 

How cheap? Any rough ideas?

I am not going to pay 5 bucks or whatever for a plastic clip that is worth .5 cents. That is how dealers are....

 

just use zipties to hold it back down..

 

Isn't that ridiculous? I lost one of those screws under my car (the jack cover) and bought a pair at the dealer for $5!! Those plastic flimsy piece of crap screws...