I finally had time to jack up my max and crawl under today...
i tugged on the filter..and it moved less than 1/2 inch and it popped out!!! that damn thing was loose and hanging all the time. This time i jammed that filter 1/2 up the pipe making sure it won't slip off again =) I also check the dirt level..it really wasn't that dirty... most of the junk are on the bottom panel of the car. But it didn't hurt to knock some dirt off the filter b4 putting it back on!
Vic

 

glad you found the problem...it could only be one of the two things...i hoped you cleaned it and oiled it while you had it off rather than just bang the dirt out of it...you went through the trouble so you shoulda gone the extra mile and really cleaned it....

 

told ya!! glad you found it huh?

Robert

 

but i think i should have cleaned it while I was at it.. well it wasn't that dirty anyways and it was still well oiled
Vic

 

Yo Vic, I didn't install the filter part!!!
I did the rest. hehehe