it really not hard, it one of those parts that you have to feel it first, cause there is no seeing the damn thing and working on it.

Take your time and I am sure will have no problems.

Once you get it off the car, bang it on a some clean concrete, out in some unused area, and bang the intake side of the filter, if no dirt and shit comes out, then the filter wasn't the issue, or you can try to blow backwards through it, but that sucks..lol