Odd Idling after CAI install

jrim · 03-06-2009, 07:16 AM

I swapped out my 'warm air' intake for a cold air yesterday. It's a tight fit to say the least - not sure if this would contribute to my idling issues, so I'm throwing it out there.

The intake used to be located in the engine bay; looked like any WAI setup. It was relocated into the drivers side fenderwell...

After I had the new CAI on, I took it for a spin and got on it to make sure nothing sounded funky. It sounded fine but as I was braking toward a stop sign, I noticed the RPMs jumping a tad bit. I sat at the stop sign and watched the tachometer as the RPMs jumped between, say, 950, and 850. Very slight movement but it DID NOT do anything of the sort before putting the CAI on. I can also hear the engine idling down/up when this happens..

I know that it's sucking in air differently and my question is whether I just need a simple re-tune or if something else is the problem. This is the only mod done to this car. Everything else under the hood is bone stock.

Oh, one more question - as I said, the CAI is a tight fit, I wouldn't say any room for movement. The piping is very firm and is pushed against metal, allowing no room for movement. I know engines naturally move/knock a bit when running so will this tight fit be an issue?

Thanks in advance.

Beholder88 · 03-06-2009, 07:29 AM

Park your car, disconnect the battery and leave it sit for a while, like maybe an hour or two. While it's sitting, it would be a good idea to double check all of your wiring. Make sure you didn't miss a sensor or something. I would also look over every inch of the intake piping to make sure it is sealed properly. Give that a try and let us know...

cherrington17 · 03-06-2009, 07:39 AM

check the wires on the sensor connected to the CAI tubing. if there is a loose wire, that could be the problem too

Naich · 03-06-2009, 09:10 AM

I would agree with the above posters. It sounds like a sensor problem.

jrim · 03-06-2009, 03:33 PM

Okay, thanks. All of the sensors were connected properly. I disconnected the negative end of the battery; I'll give it a couple hours and let you guys know. I would think if it was a sensor problem then the idling would be much more sporadic - I forgot to reconnect the MAF when I was hooking it up (I had to start the car to turn the wheel, forgot to do that lol), and when it started, the RPMs were making biggg jumps, not little 100 rpm jumps like it is now

Gr1m · 03-06-2009, 04:03 PM

do you hear a hissing noise besides the actual intake? you could have a vacuum leak somewhere on your intake pipe.

Cliff8928 · 03-07-2009, 01:47 AM

make sure the MAF isn't on backwards.

fielder87 · 03-07-2009, 02:57 AM

since you claim it is stock..mabey LIM?..very lighty press on and off gas and see if it wants to die out.

jrim · 03-07-2009, 07:44 PM

Gr1m: Nope, no hissing that I can hear.

Cliff: It's fastened properly, the clip only secures on 1 side and it's clipped in.

Fielder87: I'll try that tmrw along with checking the oil

It seemed to calm down a bit after I disconnected the battery for a couple hours.

I took about a 100 mile trip today, mostly 70 - 80, 85 mph driving, and it was running weeeiiirrdd - it would get like "stuck" at 70 and accelerating would do nothing; the RPMs wouldn't move for a good 3- 10 seconds and then all of the sudden they would burst in to 3-5k. Once I got to a speed I was fine but I had extremely sluggish acceleration at random points.

Moreover, my car was running a bit hot after this trip. My temperature gauge usually shows my temp right around midway but it was a bit past halfway with normal stop/go driving around the block (was delivering newspapers for my younger sisters). Turning my defrost on the hot setting cooled the temperature but the RPMs were jumping a lot (200 - 400 jumps) when I was playing with the fan switch....

I'm clueless. I'll check the oil tmrw, it's pouring rain at the moment - I'm hoping for no milky oil, seeing as that's a common symptom of LIMG..

lvemy3100 · 03-07-2009, 07:50 PM

check throttle and cruise control cables for binding...

jrim · 03-07-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lvemy3100

check throttle and cruise control cables for binding...

What?

Cliff8928 · 03-08-2009, 11:11 PM

I wasn't talking about the wiring connection for the MAF but the whole MAF itself. There is a flow direction.