AEM Cold Air Intake

[art wiggins]

PN 21-519c

I just finished putting in my AEM cold air intake. Im really impressed with the fit and finish. The only "part" problem I had, was the supplied coolant to T- body transfer hose, it was the wrong size....It was a slightly to big.

The actual installation is a pain, but not as much as putting in a DC sports cold air intake on a RSX. no bumper removal. no windsheild washer bottle relocation.

The inner plastic wheel well had to be removed. The complete OEM air box had to be removed. and to get to all of that, the battery and the driver front wheel needed to be removed.

In the kit, all the hoses are there(air and water), what I found special that is included, is a top radiator hose to clear the CAI throttle body adapter. On the supplied mass air flow houseing there is even a tab and bracket for the clip on mounted to a secondary battery wire.

I have never used a dry filter before. After owning a performance shop for bike and cars over the last decade.... I really could not figure out why or how a dry filter could out do my trusted K&N. I found out by way of another car I modded a few years back. Well the oil on the filter will interfer with the mass air flow sensor and cause CEL. GREAT IDEA dry performance filters. I still dont understand how it is reusable, but why argue with technological advancement.

I dont have access to a dyno so there wont be any base lines or installed hp graphs.

I wanted everyone to know I think it is a very nice CAI kit. Im very happy with the open filter sound when vtec kicks in. Im very happy with the fit of the CAI. Im extremely happy that it dosent look like something from weapon R.


p.s. no I dont own a shop anymore

[ortivt6]

[art wiggins]

ok pic tomorrow

[ortivt6]

[art wiggins]

here are the pics.... this thing is LOUD!

I have three more pics to post that I havent taken, I have to remove the wheel to show the views. They will be up shortly.

Birds eye view of the t-body adapter. To an untrained eye... nothing looks changed.... I got gun metal gray.
Also the upper radiator hose is a PITMFA to remove and my car has only 8500 miles on it.


The picture below shows the coolant transfer pipe/hose and valve cover vent hose/pipe... the AEM supplied hose for the coolant did not fit. Everything else they supplied work perfect.



Look at all the space available after removeing the factory air box assembly. yeah I know big deal.



Clearence between the AEM supplied upper radiator hose and the t body adapter.

[7002iSciviC]

oh yeah i have AEM CAI as well... couldnt be any happier no cutting of the plastic thingy (the plastic thingy around the wheel)

NO CEL no problem or anything about AEM CAI....

[s0opa_Si]

do the cai fits perfectly? no cutting inner plastic wall like the injen to install?

[Micah]

nice man...did you get the hydro-shield? if so, where?

[s0opa_Si]

i was looking into the SRi but your review of the CAI is making me want the AEM CAI

[Jardiniboy]

Hmm I had no problems with the hose being to big for my CAI. But maybe it's just yours. But I'm happy as mine as well. Good job with adding pics.

[galaxygrey13]

Im happy with my cai as well. it was my first mod and never gave me a cel. It sounds loud at wot. I think i need to clean mines though.

[Jardiniboy]

Originally Posted by galaxygrey13

Im happy with my cai as well. it was my first mod and never gave me a cel. It sounds loud at wot. I think i need to clean mines though.

X2 I haven't cleaned mines since I put it on. I'm just lazy to order the cleaner for it.

[galaxygrey13]

I feel like just buying another filter like 45 dollars at procivic and replacing it but im to lazy to do that too cause i have to measure the pipe to make sure what size to get.

[ortivt6]

so every time u have to clean it u have to take out the bumper...

[galaxygrey13]

Originally Posted by ortivt6

so every time u have to clean it u have to take out the bumper...

No you just move the fender well inside the tire and remove it trough there.

[Jardiniboy]

Removing the fender well is not that hard. You just gotta take off the wheel a couple of screws and a few clips. I did it a month ago just to look at my filter.

[art wiggins]

1) The reason there is no Check Engine Lite is because the filter is dry.

2) You are supposed to cut the inner wheel cover. So far it looks as if I dont have to, however there is a bulge in the plastic. Im waiting to see if there wil be any interference.

3) The t-body coolant tranfer hose is the only hose that is too big. All the other hoses were fine.

4) No water shield, I dont know if the inline valve that DC sports (now AEM) use to make is still availiable but if it is, I will buy it.

5) dont have to remove the bumper for ANYTHING.



HUGE INSTALL HINT:
Fit all the hoses and make sure to clamp them down on the MAF adapter before you cut them to lenght. It will be a little clumbersome to get every thing tighten but it will be less headache over all to have the hose attached.


NEXT on the install list is the complete Vibrant exhaust system... wish they made a 2.75 (70mm) cat back. oh well..........

[Jardiniboy]

Originally Posted by art wiggins

1) The reason there is no Check Engine Lite is because the filter is dry.

Actually no. There's no CEL because you did the install correctly and did not damage you MAF sensor.