Lifetime or sealed car components don’t all the time find yourself working as supposed. Whereas automakers promote patrons on the flexibility to by no means have to alter this fluid or swap out that filter, you often have to finish up doing one or the opposite. I as soon as had a Chevy Sonic with a sealed transmission that began having, you guessed it, transmission issues. Servicing it was a problem after all however nothing the vendor techs couldn’t deal with. What occurs when what would in any other case be a easy engine half turns into a large problem? Simply ask any proprietor of the first-gen Ford Focus or Fusion.
In most automobiles, the air filters are considered one of, if not the simplest, element of the engine to switch. You often have to switch them each few thousand miles they usually’re actually low cost. Ford, in its infinite knowledge, took this low cost piece of automotive tech and made it infinitely more durable and dearer to switch for no cause in any respect.
Ford bought the intense thought to put in lifetime air filters good for 150,000 miles within the 2003-2007 Focus and the 2010-2012 Ford Fusion/Hybrid. The filter was sealed inside its plastic housing and couldn’t get replaced or serviced by both the proprietor or Ford sellers. Effectively, it appears Ford underneath estimated the little Focuses and Fusions of the early ’00s as loads of people do want to switch the filters, and it’s a complete ache within the ass.
A video posted to YouTube by Uncommon Traditional Automobiles & Automotive Historical past particulars how eradicating the filter and its housing required eradicating the motive force’s aspect entrance wheel and interior fender liner to get to the field. Doing this on the Fusion was even worse as one proprietor defined on the Fusion Hybrid homeowners discussion board.
Right here my steps to switch the lifetime air filter on a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid (YouTube movies linked):
1. Jack up the car on entrance driver’s aspect pinch weld. In case you have no idea how to do that, check with the proprietor’s handbook.
2. Take away the entrance left wheel.
3. Take away the fender liner. The clips are 2 items. Loosen the pins with a flathead screwdriver and use lengthy needle noose plyers to tug it out. Use warning to not break them. They promote the clips at Ford Dealerships for tremendous low cost when you do. Video to take off fender liner: The right way to change head lamps on 2012 Ford Fusion – YouTube
4. Take off the entrance bumper. Some else posted that they didn’t have to do that to switch the filter. That can make this job a lot more durable. Pull it – it’s easy: 2010- 2012 Ford Fusion The right way to take away entrance bumper – YouTube
5. Take away the battery: Ford Fusion Hybrid Engine Bay Battery Alternative – YouTube
5. Unscrew the clamps on the air consumption meeting. Additionally unscrew the clamps on the resonator (small oval factor on the air consumption meeting).
6. Unscrew the bolts on the lifetime air filter. They’re simple to seek out. Unplug the MAF. Take away the filter.
7. Put the brand new filter in. It’s considerably troublesome to get it again within the air meeting. You would possibly need to seize and further set of fingers to use downward strain.
8. Screw on the bolts for the lifetime air filter, plug within the MAF, and reattach the clamps on the meeting.
9. Reinstall the battery. Put the bumper again on. Put the fender again on. Put the wheel again on.
10. For the reason that automotive was taken off the 12 V battery, you’ll need to re-trim the idle. Seek advice from the part on web page 292 of the proprietor’s handbook to do that. As a result of the MAF sensor was changed, don’t skip this step.
It’s a reasonably simple job. I hope this helps. I’ll have missed a step or two nevertheless it’s fairly simple to determine. Completely satisfied to report that after doing this it looks as if the automotive has somewhat bit extra energy and begins up a bit smoother.
Hooked up are footage of a service process from the vendor, the automotive jacked up, and the outdated air filter we opened up with a noticed.
Hope this helps.
As soon as the filter is ultimately eliminated and the housing minimize opened, you may see that the filter inside is certainly distinctive, with 5 layers and virtually a honeycomb look to it.
There’s a resolution as Uncommon Traditional Automobiles identified on YouTube. An organization by the identify of Dorman Engineering makes a substitute filter field that permits for substitute of the air filter itself, making it identical to almost each different automotive on the highway. It’s not low cost although and seems to price wherever from $250 to properly over $300. Pricy, however perhaps the brand new one will final the remainder of the lifetime of the car.
Automotive components like this are unusual to see. They’re typically good examples of simply how brief sighted engineering might be.
