I had a nice new Black K&N Intake put on a few weeks back.

1 week after it was on the Traction Control light came on then it was gone.
Then it came on last Thursday, well I checked all that I could making sure all was tight, again it was gone.
Today it came on and STAYED!

Now when the Traction Control light is on my Automatic HHR drove like I was driving a 5 speed and popping the gears.
It felt like the transmission was about to fall off, when I picked up speed!

So today I drove no higher than 20 mph to the Dealer, left it running, then the Engine light came on.
I signed the papers and off goes NEMO.

Next thing I knew the Service Manager and the Mechanic came to me and asked if I had a chip put in, Dynoed, reprogrammed.
Of course the answer to all was no. Only the K&N was put on a few weeks back.

The codes were system disabled, low flow, then the ECM was gone!Was not communicating to anything was not there.
All connections were good. Took all apart and put back on now the ECM was working again.
No Traction Control Light nor Engine Light.

Reason for any? Do not know.

The Mechanic, the hand held computer, and I took a Drive.
The computer took a while for the short range flow to settle to a good reading, but the long term never did it stayed at -7.
So now I have a Low Flow Problem, now I know.
Then the Temp sensor on my DIC showed 190,,the computer was sensing 220-226. So now my Engine is hot.

The Mechanics thought on this matter is, the hole in front of the K&N is allowing to much Engine heat in and it is getting
in the filter box.
His thought,,I had thought that as well, did not make any sense for a 1/2 hole around the tube.

Never had these problems with my CGS,,,,,,So I called K&N,,,,,as soon as MY New CGS is Powder Coated Black,,,
the K&N will be going back.

K&N are very nice people to Deal with,,,I know that there are so many who have this system and have no problems,
but I guess it is not for me..

My Total Cost at My Dealer for work done for over 4 hrs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ZERO. This time

Sorry I just had to VENT!

 

In reality, I'd be willing to bet it's a bad temp sensor or ECM. Hot air from the engine wouldn't spike the temperature that much.

 

i think these issues with the k&n are possibly because the diameter if slightly off from stock, can cause the MAF (mass airflow sensor)to be out of calibration. people with later subarus and even newer mustangs must reprogram for the air intake because the mass air is mounted in the intake not in a seperate "housing"

 

I have heard of problems with any air filter that uses oil in it messing up the MAF sensor. I like the K&N but would like to find one that uses a dry filter, but still get the cold air. Apparently the CGS uses too much air from the engine compartment. Is there anything else out there? Is the Airraid system an oiled filter or dry?

 

And the CSG does not? Sorry, but I think they saw the K&N box and just wanted to blame that for the issues. I've seen plenty of dealerships do this with the simple drop in's. K&N does a lot of R&D on systems before they release them. I actually spoke to one of the reps when I was at FedFleet back in 2006 on the HHR system. They said it wasn't out yet cause they were not happy with all the results and would not release it until it met their standards. They take pride in their systems and back them fully.

If I was going to buy one, it would be the K&N over any other system out there. I have run K&N filters for decades. Properly oiled (what most people seem to screw up) they filter and clean better then any dry filter.

 

Karen, sorry to hear about your problem. I heard about it from Don Batista a few week's back, at our GTG in Batavia.
Were the tech's at K&N able to offer any reason at all for the light coming on? Did they say they are investigating this particular situation with the HHR?
It would be nice to know what a solution would be, other than going back to your stock system or another intake system.

 

Ugh, Karen... you deserve a good vent!!! (Nemo, too, I guess) You lost a perfectly good block of time to this little ordeal, not to mention some anxiety too. I'm sorry for the dealership's loss of time too, but not much LOL. They'll get it back.

I didn't know about this little malady and if it's not the K&N, it sure is a huge coincidence. I have the CGS, but hubby has the K&N on his Magnum and had a little bias going for it.

Listen, if it happens again or you find out more on this subject, be sure and re-post, okay? And, OF COURSE, we will want photos of your new black CGS job!

 

Oh so sorry for not updating.
I have my new CGS in, I got it back from the place that did the black wrinkle powder coating on Monday, put it in the same day. Total cost of this powder coating $40.00 plus tax.
Matches the valve cover I got from Mike at So Cal before he closed.

 

FYI...GM Performance Parts now offers an intake set-up. It is listed to only fit 2008 models, but I ordered through the dealership I work at and it fits my 2007 without a problem. I'll post up some pictures tomorrow.

 

They told me it was for the SS only,,,,they lied,,or mislead,,wanted me to save money?

Thanks for the info look forward in seeing it