My Experience with CAI
06-27-2012, 03:54 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 01-02-2012
Location: Del City, OK
Posts: 34
My Experience with CAI
Hello all,
Well last weekend "when I was actually home" I decided to buy/build a custom air intake, all the parts where from Specter (the kind you get from pepboys, advanced auto parts, etc...)
Just too see, as I never had experience with intakes before. The mount didn't fit the part they provide, so I made one myself from a dremal tool, I made sure it was sealed once the MAF sensor fit in.
The parts I had.
90deg elbow
2.5 to 3in Adapter (from elbow to manifold)
5in length (3in round) plastic chrome tube (where the air filter connected too)
A round standard Air filter
After I got it all installed, started up, and boooo! It idles like poo! For the heck of it I went for a drive. Boy it was like night and day when flooring it! Sound, more acceleration, smoother shifting (not sure how this affects it).
But it idles like crap! It almost sounds like a v8 the way the computer was adjusting the fuel at idle. Not to mention my CEL came on.
Heres the funny thing, I unplugged the Maf Sensor just for giggles and it idles fine, but "drives bad". And when the Maf in unplugged the CEL doesn't come on till about about 7mins of running.
Any help / input?
Its a 2.2, I have a aftermarket Muffler, just a cheap flowmaster. I would have taken pictures but it wasn't anything special.
Thanks Guys.
Well last weekend "when I was actually home" I decided to buy/build a custom air intake, all the parts where from Specter (the kind you get from pepboys, advanced auto parts, etc...)
Just too see, as I never had experience with intakes before. The mount didn't fit the part they provide, so I made one myself from a dremal tool, I made sure it was sealed once the MAF sensor fit in.
The parts I had.
90deg elbow
2.5 to 3in Adapter (from elbow to manifold)
5in length (3in round) plastic chrome tube (where the air filter connected too)
A round standard Air filter
After I got it all installed, started up, and boooo! It idles like poo! For the heck of it I went for a drive. Boy it was like night and day when flooring it! Sound, more acceleration, smoother shifting (not sure how this affects it).
But it idles like crap! It almost sounds like a v8 the way the computer was adjusting the fuel at idle. Not to mention my CEL came on.
Heres the funny thing, I unplugged the Maf Sensor just for giggles and it idles fine, but "drives bad". And when the Maf in unplugged the CEL doesn't come on till about about 7mins of running.
Any help / input?
Its a 2.2, I have a aftermarket Muffler, just a cheap flowmaster. I would have taken pictures but it wasn't anything special.
Thanks Guys.
06-27-2012, 08:53 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 11-14-2010
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 256
I made one from the CAIs off my last two cars. It did the exact same way. My solution was this... Drove the car back home, got in my jeep, went to autozone and ordered a K&N intake. Came in the next day and put it on and ran great.
07-02-2012, 06:12 AM
#4
Member
Join Date: 06-06-2011
Location: Manchester, NH
Posts: 49
You may want to try and unplug the battery to let the ECM reset. I had to do that on my Ford Focus when I did the same thing. It has to relearn the increased amount of air getting it. Worth a shot anyhow....
07-02-2012, 08:54 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 01-02-2012
Location: Del City, OK
Posts: 34
I have tried unplugging the battery (A side note: Is there a fuse for the ECM "there is a spot for this fuse, that claims to be the fuse be when I remove it the car still starts" or main batt, that I can just unplug? Removing all that stuff in the back is a total time killer!)
Update! It was about 2 weekends ago when I did this, and this last Saturday, I tried it again after putting the stock back on, now it runs, AND IDLES fine. I have no idea what I did different I'm scratching my head so hard my hair is falling off!
All I can think of is some
"air" or small particals were caught on the MAF sensor, stupid excuse I know, don't flame me! LOL
Ill post pics later.
Update! It was about 2 weekends ago when I did this, and this last Saturday, I tried it again after putting the stock back on, now it runs, AND IDLES fine. I have no idea what I did different I'm scratching my head so hard my hair is falling off!
All I can think of is some
"air" or small particals were caught on the MAF sensor, stupid excuse I know, don't flame me! LOL Ill post pics later.
07-04-2012, 12:34 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: 02-13-2010
Location: HuskerNation
Posts: 698
These will probably help fix your idle and cel issue. It spread the air evenly before the maf reads it.
http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...w+Straightener
http://www.treadstoneperformance.com...w+Straightener
07-05-2012, 01:13 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 01-02-2012
Location: Del City, OK
Posts: 34
Heres the Pics.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182644/http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182644/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/hitman47r/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182250/http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182250/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/hitman47r/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182644/http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182644/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/hitman47r/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182250/http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitman47r/7506182250/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/hitman47r/, on Flickr
07-05-2012, 04:46 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-19-2011
Location: N.Y.
Posts: 1,553
Yellowj
Looks great But from a performance stand point I would think you would be getting your ajr supply from the hottest place on the car the top of tje engine with tje Hood closed.
Now if you could some how get that out to suck in some outside air
I would think you would see some great improvement.
probably would still throw codes But Xtremess ss had a great idea above.
Looks great But from a performance stand point I would think you would be getting your ajr supply from the hottest place on the car the top of tje engine with tje Hood closed.
Now if you could some how get that out to suck in some outside air
I would think you would see some great improvement.
probably would still throw codes But Xtremess ss had a great idea above.
07-05-2012, 07:45 AM
#10
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Thread Starter
Join Date: 01-02-2012
Location: Del City, OK
Posts: 34
"If the Facts don't fit the theory, change the facts" -Albert Einstein
LOL! All joking aside, Hot air, cold air, I'm telling you it accelerates faster, and for some strange reason shifts so much smoother too!
Before I removed the stock air box, I drove it around with and without the cold air pipe going from the fender well to the box, in the city or on the HWY I did not notice a difference.
Im not trying to tell anyone what does and does not work, based on the laws of physics or what have you, all I can say is what I have experienced and what has worked for me.
After all, I know its not an SS but you know what? My HHR cost me less than half the price of a SS!
Its not like I go play in the Bullrun or Gumball 3000
LOL! All joking aside, Hot air, cold air, I'm telling you it accelerates faster, and for some strange reason shifts so much smoother too!
Before I removed the stock air box, I drove it around with and without the cold air pipe going from the fender well to the box, in the city or on the HWY I did not notice a difference.
Im not trying to tell anyone what does and does not work, based on the laws of physics or what have you, all I can say is what I have experienced and what has worked for me.
After all, I know its not an SS but you know what? My HHR cost me less than half the price of a SS!
Its not like I go play in the Bullrun or Gumball 3000
