AEM CAI Danger

thomasorallye · 04-27-2006, 03:40 AM

wow, i gotta say, i think think i had the scare of my life today. this was the first day it had really rained hard since i put the intake in. as i was pulling back into a parking space after my 4 mile trip, the car started sputtering and trying to die. i killed it immediately and left it until tonight when the rain cleared and i could check it out. i rubbed the filter and it was still soaking wet. to the point that it was dripping after i rubbed it....

this scared the bejesus outta me so that cai intake was promptly replaced by the stock one....sigh...that engine sounded badass!!!

hopefully someone will figure it out...sum up...stay away from the aem cai for the si....

bradvb · 04-27-2006, 05:05 AM

I'm not overly familiar with the Si, but from what I know, I think all you need is the AEM bypass filter, it is a secondary filter that installs between the two pipes before the dedicated filter...its sole purpose is to prevent things like that happening. As fas as I have heard...it does a damn good job of it...a guy I work with had a cold air for his Toyota AE86, and he had the same problem...as soon as he got that bypass filter, it was perfect again.
Can't say its the same accross the board tho...so don't quote me, just look into it.
Good luck...

FujiBlueSi · 04-27-2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradvb

I'm not overly familiar with the Si, but from what I know, I think all you need is the AEM bypass filter, it is a secondary filter that installs between the two pipes before the dedicated filter...its sole purpose is to prevent things like that happening. As fas as I have heard...it does a damn good job of it...a guy I work with had a cold air for his Toyota AE86, and he had the same problem...as soon as he got that bypass filter, it was perfect again.
Can't say its the same accross the board tho...so don't quote me, just look into it.
Good luck...

Yeah but AEM does not have a by-pass filter for the Si. They said it had something to do with the Mass Air Flow Sensor.

SpeedDemon · 04-27-2006, 08:46 AM

Thats another reason why you guys should try to get the SRI, instead of the CAI, and just throw in a Hondata heatshield, and you should be fine

**twistedframe** · 04-27-2006, 09:07 AM

there will never be a by pass valve for the si. A by pass valve has to be mounted 6-8 inches away from the throttle body, but still level with it. Anyone who has seen under the hood of an si knows this is next to imposible.
Also i find this hard to believe. It takes alot and i mean alot of water to make your engine start to sputter. In fact you almost have to have the air filter completly submerged in water to cause this. Are you sure that you didnt park somewhere ther was a huge puddle or something? Regualr rain should not cause your car to suck up water. But good luck any way.

06NighthawkSi · 04-27-2006, 09:13 AM

Why don't u guys use pre-filters to cover filter. They are so they say waterproof as long as not submerged in water. I'm about to order my intake and put on one. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

**twistedframe** · 04-27-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06NighthawkSi

Why don't u guys use pre-filters to cover filter. They are so they say waterproof as long as not submerged in water. I'm about to order my intake and put on one. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

That is another good idea. It will help keep the filter itself dry while still alowing air in. And they are alot cheaper to replace.

Skyline4life · 04-27-2006, 09:19 AM

I'm going to go with a SRI I don't wanna take a chance since i'm leasing the Si. If i end up buying it I'll get a CAI along with Cams, Headers, Full cat-back Exaust, :rolls eyes:

negativezeroz · 04-27-2006, 09:39 AM

I want the SRI, Hondata heat shield, Borla catback (whenever they make one) and a new header but I don't know if I can cuz of my dad. He said "you cant do anything mechanical to the car" until I get out of the house...So I doubt I can. I might be able to get the catback (hopefully) cuz I can't stand stock anything. I always have to mess with things...

ohnoitzrobbee · 04-27-2006, 11:52 AM

i think imma just take a chance with the CAI..it sounds a lot meaner i have to admit

Zesti1 · 04-27-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by negativezeroz

I want the SRI, Hondata heat shield, Borla catback (whenever they make one) and new headers but I don't know if I can cuz of my dad. He said "you cant do anything mechanical to the car" until I get out of the house...So I doubt I can. I might be able to get the catback (hopefully) cuz I can't stand stock anything. I always have to mess with things...

You just have one header!

thomasorallye · 04-27-2006, 12:16 PM

what's this pre-filter that was mentioned? that would be cool, cuz the sound of that intake was sick! i'm not sure, but i think there was a slight hesitation in the throttle with the cai as well....dunno.....

negativezeroz · 04-27-2006, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zesti1

You just have one header!

Edited

I was in my first hour so I have to type quickly otherwise internet is shut off for me.

06NighthawkSi · 04-27-2006, 12:22 PM

outerwearsracing.com is the web site you give demensions of your filter they make u a pre-filter in your color.

macmonkey84 · 04-27-2006, 01:40 PM

That's why I'm happy I'm living in dry dry Albuquerque

legendman · 04-27-2006, 03:34 PM

Hydrolock is easily preventable as it can only occur when the filter is almost completely submerged in water. Whenever I drive a car with a cai, I just make sure i put the clutch in and coast through those huge puddles on the road. I also try to stick to the center line(when there are no other cars around) instead of the edge of the road. In my experience, water tends to create puddles on the edge of the road more than the center

04-27-2006, 03:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
thomasorallye Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: mobile, AL. Age: 33 Posts: 109 Thomas Welch iTrader: 0 / 0%	AEM CAI Danger wow, i gotta say, i think think i had the scare of my life today. this was the first day it had really rained hard since i put the intake in. as i was pulling back into a parking space after my 4 mile trip, the car started sputtering and trying to die. i killed it immediately and left it until tonight when the rain cleared and i could check it out. i rubbed the filter and it was still soaking wet. to the point that it was dripping after i rubbed it.... this scared the bejesus outta me so that cai intake was promptly replaced by the stock one....sigh...that engine sounded badass!!! hopefully someone will figure it out...sum up...stay away from the aem cai for the si....

04-27-2006, 09:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
negativezeroz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: OK Age: 20 Posts: 1,758 iTrader: 2 / 100%	I want the SRI, Hondata heat shield, Borla catback (whenever they make one) and a new header but I don't know if I can cuz of my dad. He said "you cant do anything mechanical to the car" until I get out of the house...So I doubt I can. I might be able to get the catback (hopefully) cuz I can't stand stock anything. I always have to mess with things... Last edited by negativezeroz; 04-27-2006 at 12:20 PM.

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04-27-2006, 05:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
bradvb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Age: 25 Posts: 180 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I'm not overly familiar with the Si, but from what I know, I think all you need is the AEM bypass filter, it is a secondary filter that installs between the two pipes before the dedicated filter...its sole purpose is to prevent things like that happening. As fas as I have heard...it does a damn good job of it...a guy I work with had a cold air for his Toyota AE86, and he had the same problem...as soon as he got that bypass filter, it was perfect again. Can't say its the same accross the board tho...so don't quote me, just look into it. Good luck...

04-27-2006, 08:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
SpeedDemon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami Baby! Posts: 3,958 They call me, El Diablo. iTrader: 6 / 100%	Thats another reason why you guys should try to get the SRI, instead of the CAI, and just throw in a Hondata heatshield, and you should be fine

04-27-2006, 09:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
06NighthawkSi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan City, IN Age: 23 Posts: 304 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Why don't u guys use pre-filters to cover filter. They are so they say waterproof as long as not submerged in water. I'm about to order my intake and put on one. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

04-27-2006, 09:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
Skyline4life Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mundelein, IL Age: 19 Posts: 3,025 Evan iTrader: 0 / 0%	I'm going to go with a SRI I don't wanna take a chance since i'm leasing the Si. If i end up buying it I'll get a CAI along with Cams, Headers, Full cat-back Exaust, :rolls eyes:

04-27-2006, 11:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
ohnoitzrobbee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 128 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i think imma just take a chance with the CAI..it sounds a lot meaner i have to admit

04-27-2006, 12:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
thomasorallye Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: mobile, AL. Age: 33 Posts: 109 Thomas Welch iTrader: 0 / 0%	what's this pre-filter that was mentioned? that would be cool, cuz the sound of that intake was sick! i'm not sure, but i think there was a slight hesitation in the throttle with the cai as well....dunno.....

04-27-2006, 12:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
06NighthawkSi Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Michigan City, IN Age: 23 Posts: 304 iTrader: 0 / 0%	outerwearsracing.com is the web site you give demensions of your filter they make u a pre-filter in your color.

04-27-2006, 01:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
macmonkey84 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tempe, AZ Age: 24 Posts: 107 Walter iTrader: 0 / 0%	That's why I'm happy I'm living in dry dry Albuquerque

04-27-2006, 03:34 PM	#16 (permalink)
legendman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 24 Posts: 660 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Hydrolock is easily preventable as it can only occur when the filter is almost completely submerged in water. Whenever I drive a car with a cai, I just make sure i put the clutch in and coast through those huge puddles on the road. I also try to stick to the center line(when there are no other cars around) instead of the edge of the road. In my experience, water tends to create puddles on the edge of the road more than the center