I just installed my PR CAI a week ago and the first day that i had it installed it sounded unreal! I'm sure that you guys with the PR CAI's know what im talking about. It makes you want to lauch your car at every stop light. But anyway, a week later and i am getting next to no sound comming from it. What is the deal? Its like every day the sound has died a little and its not just the fact that i am getting used to it. Do i need to resent my computer, is there a hole somewhere in it, is it something that the engine just gets used to? It really sounds like the engine isn't sucking as hard as it did a week ago. Any ideas? I want that sound back, bad!

Thanks,

Scott

 

Hmmm. . .interesting. Start with inspecting all the connections/clamps, hose connections, etc., to be sure everything is still snug. You might want to also take a look at the filter and connection to be sure everything's normal underneath as well.

(A physical inspection of the entire system is always the best starting point)

Beyond that though. . .

The ECU will definitely take a little time to adapt to a new intake/exhaust/engine performance mod, so it's not unusual to notice slightly different performance (usually improved) over the course of the first 50-100 miles or so, but I've never heard any of the CAI guys report a dramatic change in sound like you're experiencing in conjunction with this.

As an aside: I just completed a pretty cool OSCAI install w/ a K&N panel & definitely noticed a performance improvement as the ECU "learned" the new intake modification. (Sound didn't change, though).

Good luck!

 

You say that the ECU took time to "learn." Did you reset it after the install or did you just run with it. If i did want to reset the ECU dont i just disconect the battery overnight?

I just opened up the wheel fender and looked at the cone. On my intake setup the cone is pressed slightly hard against the fener pushing it out about a 1/2 inch or so into the front wheel well. Could this be reason for the sound decrease. When i took it for a spin i really got on it HARD and noticed that with the fender pulled out a little (i didn't put it back for the ride) the sound came back a little but it is still not as loud as it was the first day that I installed it. Dammit!, what is the deal?

 

when i first put on my CAI there was the lil metal ring loop thing that goes around the rubber seal that connects the foam seal thing to the throttle body, the excess metal was hanging over the throttle wire and cut my throttle travel by half, making the pedal only go half down and half the sound, the thing is i never figured out this had occured until after my y pipe and exhaust had gone on, so i never got to hear what a true CAI sounds like. once i fixed it the thing threw me back in my seat, cuz that was the CAI y pipe and exhaust all working together. just look at your throttle cable and where it connects to the butterfly to see if there is anything blocking it from going all the way down, just lift up the butterfly and make sure it goes through the full range of travel withought anything in the way, cuz if you arent gettin to full WOT ur not getting full sound. sorry bout punctuation, but i hope you understan what im saying.

 

Yes, I disconnected the battery for a couple hours, just so the ECU would have a clear map to overwrite the new parameters, instead of having to "learn" the OSCAI over the old component mapping.

On the filter/fenderwell fitment issue - I'll leave that to the others who have CAI's, as I do not. . .

 

I agree with KZ, check the connections as well as the filter. When I installed my PRCAI, the sound it made then is the same sound it makes now. If there is no noise at WOT, you are losing your airflow somewhere. Take it apart and start over. As far as the ECU relearning the new intake, that should not affect the sound.

The other thing to check is if the filter is crushed. i know when I placed my filter in the wheel well it was a tight fit with a regular K&N filter. If the filter is crushed, the same amount of air will not be getting to your intake.
Make sure it is not crushed.

DL

 

Does noise vary on the day? Such as if it is humid, cold, hot, etc???

 

something similar happened with my friend's corolla. he installed an injen ram intake and it sounded great the first week he had it. after a while, it just sounded like stock. he reset his ecu and everything was fine again.

 

hey as long as everyone understands, that sound doesnt equal speed, we'll be alllllll good. besides the sound of the air being sucked in, a lot of the noise is engine noise getting through the throttle body and out because of no resonators or what not, it gets straight out. sometimes quieter means its workin more efficiently, and thats what we should all be worried about, there is a reason intakes get quieter after u put the y pipe in , im always lookin for criticism, someone correct me if im not makin sense.

 

You can be making all the sence in the world, but that is not the point. I have enjoyed the extra HP greatly but I am just trying to figure out why the hell the thing doesn't sound like it did the day that i put it in. The car is performing basically the same but a lot of that is mental concidering that i haven't had a chance to test it on the track. And, is your statement true, sometimes quieter means its workin more efficiently?

 

sorry i didnt mean to be such a dic* about it, i wasnt rilly all there that nite if u know what i mean... consider this also, my exhaust was over bearing when i first had it, and honestly after a couple weeks of having it i dont even notice it anymore becuz i got used to it, the max is such a quiet car that the first mod makes such a big difference soundwise its like nite and day, but then u get used to it, like my intake doesnt sound like anything anymore, then i let some kid drive it and got to hear it from the outside for the first time, my godddd u can hear the thing for miles, just another idea, sorry bout the last one, i was sorta rude.

 

If you are not getting the sound(you know what sound) at WOT then like was said above not enough air is flowing through your intake. I guess if you had an A/F guage you'd know, .... people?

 

i have'nt had a problem with my cai, i installed it last week