Hey guys, I was checking my engine air filter because I'm going to buy a new filter next week, but for the life of me I can't get it to stay closed. Looks like the left side is not sealed, and only the left side, I can even see the filter and I'm not sure if im supposed to. Can anybody check this out and see if it's normal? All youtube tutorials i've seen, nobody has had this issue...

https://i.imgur.com/M90zPIF.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/BzJh2Es.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/qj8Bn9H.jpeg

Copy and paste imgur link to search bar, thanks.

The front part has two tabs that fit into little holders at the bottom. To me, it looks like the left tab is not in and not sealing.

Double-post.

air boxes are notorious pains in the ass for getting opened and closed.
There's typically zero space to access the tabs and zero space to open the top to fit the filter in or out and they suck trying to get lined back up right

Your pics don't work for me but the first response sounds right, you must just have something slightly misaligned or a tab not clipped
I mean they're about as simple as it gets just difficult because of how crammed in there they are

Very easy to screw this up. If the tabs on the bottom aren't hooked in right, it doesn't matter if the metal clasps at the top connect. It could also be a broken plastic tab that isn't allowing the airbox to seal. The airbox plastic can get brittle over time and if you're not careful (or if the technician installing your air filter isn't) the tabs can easily break.

Hey guys, I tried again, and absolutely no luck. Got a friend of mine to try it too and he had no progress.

Do you guys think that if theres a leak between the airfilter and the box, I will get a CEL?

Hey guys, I tried again, and absolutely no luck. Got a friend of mine to try it too and he had no progress.

Do you guys think that if theres a leak between the airfilter and the box, I will get a CEL?

Take the air box (both halves) out the car completely so you can see how it is supposed to go together.

Take the 10mm bolt out on the engine side down low. It will allow you to manipulate the air box halves and get it lined up easier.

no, the engine won't have any idea nor care, it will meter the air just fine even if you ripped that whole air box out
The only risk is not filtering air for a long period of time
short term no risk unless you are doing a desert race on sand or something

idiosyncrisia is probably correct, this issue happens on my OBS if you don't put the cover back in the slots at the bottom.