I recently purchased/installed a CGS system on my 2.4L '09 HHR. First, it looks and sounds great. I did not have any code problems. My reaction was, it "opened up" my engine and the sound was pleasing. But, I later noted two problems that would make me not recommend the CGS. First, the filter is an overly tight fit. It doesn't allow for engine shake and rubs against an electrical wire that goes thru the fender intake hole, where the old wooly worm intake tube attached. And, I found that after driving for a while with the CGS, I was getting an embarassing and odd loud whistling sound that I could not pinpoint. After checking the CGS filter, I found that lack of clearance was causing the filter to rub the electrical wire in the fender and the filter was wearing excessively. This was after only a few hundred miles. I knew it was just a matter of time before this rubbing would wear a hole in the filter. There was no way I could adjust the filter mounting on the intake pipe to avoid this rubbing, due to the extremely tight fit. I reinstalled the OEM filter housing. The loud whistling noise disappeared. I suspect the noise is a resonance caused by the metal intake piping. I'm disappointed in the CGS and could not recommend this system. Sorry CGS fans.

 

Cures the problem - Autozone, OReilly's etc. Swap out the filter, if you want to keep the CGS setup.

 

I had the CGS for well over a year naver had a problum, I cut a section of the plastic next to the radiator for some cooler air you might contact K&N for a filter that is a little narrower.

 

Thanks for all your input. I will definately try a replacement filter.

 

The exact same thing you described. The shorty filter helped alot.

 

Your picture has the Spectre filter (fits 3" tube) and the 3"-2.5" Spectre rubber adapter I looked at, at AutoZone. The adapter 2.5" end should work on the 2.5" CGS tube. The only problem I have is what kind of short piece of 3" tubing to connect the 3" end of the adapter to the 3" intake opening in the Spectre filter. Possibly a short piece of PVC pipe? Any suggestions?

 

LMFAO I had to read that like 4 times. Everything on mine came with the filter and that adapter. It all fits.