Get this...The intake I put on wasn't even an AEM, AND it measured 2.75 inches in diameter. The guy I bought it from screwed me. There aren't really any places around here to tune my car, either. I took the intake off and put the stock intake box back on, reset ECU, and now no CEL light, thank god. My gas mileage still sucks but I figure if I can find a place to tune, I will put the intake back on and maybe a fuel adjustment would maybe do the trick. any other suggestions dan?

 

^ Everyone's RA has terrible gas mileage. Change your driving habits. And if it's a knockoff intake you should maybe just buy a proven one (rrm, injen, actual aem).

 

I was told the intake was an AEM CAI, but it turned out to be an HPS intake and it measured 2.75 inches, which according to the original CAI vs. SRI topic, will throw a CEL. But, I also found other forums that talked about people having the same problem with Fujita, AEM, and RRM intakes, but they are a perfect fit and most people don't have a problem with them for some reason. So, my question is. If I do an exhaust upgrade wouldn't that help the car breathe better and control the intake air velocity to a point where exhaust would be more free flowing, thus maybe getting rid of the CEL? I know this maybe a common problem for most aftermarket intakes but I want to get around it and get rid of the da*n CEL.

 

The best way is still a tune. I don't think that you're going to be able to fix it with an exhaust as it you are throwing the MAF, and an exhaust will not help with that at all. With an exhaust the volume of air will most likely remain the same or increase and this will just create more of a headache.

 

your car isnt a funnel. it doesnt just funnel thru one end and fart out the other.


a map sensor measures air, its not going to realize that more air is coming out of the exhaust. perhaps you should think about taking your original piping and extending it so that it doesnt get as much air.

the point of a CAI is that it gets colder air, NOT more of it. so get it further away from the air filter.

 

Ok, yeah a good tune would be the best approach. If I could find a fuel controller for the car I would do it myself. I wasn't sure about the whole intake velocity idea so I thought I'd ask cuz I wasn't sure. I gotta quit listening to the guy here at the shop, LOL. thanks everyone for their input

 

the main reason for this CEL is the MAF is calibrated for the factory tubing. any change in diameter lets a different amount of air past the MAF. the easiest solution, since you can't calibrate the MAF, is to try to tune it out. only limited success has been shown with tuning though. The real solution is to recalibrate or to use the same size tubing for the MAF section of tube

 

I talked with a guy from AEM and he said their intake uses the 2.75 inch tubing. Why doesn't that one throw a code? I know it does on some but that it probably cuz of how its installed. I want to put the intake back on but I have no where to tune the car, i just wish the da*n thing would work. Maybe I'll try the MAF tape up approach and see if that still throws a code

 

tape what now? it sounds to me like you need to slow down a little before you do some damage

 

No no no...the process is simple and can't do any harm. it's a temporary fix. Just a bit of tape around where the MAF connects to the intake tubing so no air is let through. I have read elsewhere that this corects the problem for some people as the MAF gets a faulty reading because its not secure. Once I remachine that area with some tools I will no longer need the tape and the MAF will be fully sealed. The MAF right now doesn't seat down all the way and thats why the tape is to seal that area up until I modify the intake MAF porthole

 

I'm guessing most of the brand name CAI will be 2.75". You said the AEM one is and I know the Injen one is as well because that's what I have. I didn't have a CEL at all.

 

yeah ive had no problems with my injen CAI...just need to get a new MAF cause i have it zip tied down...bolt holes broke in the process of removing it from the stock box...

 

Water got in my CAI today and made the car die. Took three tries to get it started. It ran fine then idled really low. water poured out of the drain plug in the intake and so i converted it to SRI. Then it started up fine and idled better. Did I damage the engine or is a little bit of water not gonna hurt? I'd say about 3-4 ounces of water went up the tubing. i'm scared becuase it could be a problem later