2001 Accord EX V6 - air cleaner housing problem

I wanted to get advice on handling this issue, I got
a Honda Accord EX last year and this weekend I tried to replace
the air filter. This was the first time I've tried to open
it, supposedly the oil change place had to to examine it
before. The air box is capped with a lid held
down by four screws. The philips head slots were badly
worn so I used a socket. The two inner ones loosened ok
but the two outers near the fender did not, they seem to
turn forever without the screws loosening. I tried
WD40 in hopes it would let the screw turn in the nut
but it didn't help. Because of tight space, I could not
see the underside or get any kind of tool under there
to try to hold a nut.

I called the dealer and they quoted some huge price
for this air cleaner housing (~$300.). First of all,
is that normal for a Honda and this kind of part? I looked
it over and it's a plastic box with a lid, four screws
and two air holes!

My main question is, do the screws go into embedded metal nuts
in the lower half of the air box or do they thread
straight into the plastic? If they just go in plastic, I
could probably pry the cap off since the plastic threads
are already probably gone, if there's a metal nut I'd
probably want to take the whole thing off.

I'm trying to figure out if I could fix this myself or should I try a
salvage yard (I'm thinking 01 Accord EX's are kind of rare in junk yards)

thanks,
Mark

 

It sounds like your oil change place destroyed it for you. A 10mm socket on
an air wrench is a deadly combination. If you've never opened it before and
still have the receipts, you probably should try to get them to ante up for
a new one.

Yes. It's unique to that model car and there is nowhere else to get it.
They can charge whatever they please, so they do. Check a couple other
dealers though. Parts prices can vary dramatically from one dealer to
another.

Metal nuts embedded in the plastic. There is nothing underneath to latch on
to.

If you can get it apart without destroying the plastic, it shouldn't be
extremely difficult to glue in some new nuts and get some screws to match
them. I would certainly try it before dumping $400 on a new box.

 

I was able to get a box (bottom half) from a Honda dealer for $75,
that's ok. Now I just need to get a proper long extension for
my rachet to get to the front bolt.
Mark