Shit, my CAI flipped off!!!!! Long.... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

***Silver Streak*** · 07-28-2002, 10:27 PM

Here's the story....

Went to a remote cottage this weekend, took about 3.5 hours to get there. The last 5 km of the trip was all dirt roads, with lots of big rocks on the ground. I heard about 5 big thuds on the way there. I couldn't check under the car when I arrived because I was parked on a slant...BTW, my car is lowered.

The next day, going home on the highway, I noticed my car sounded more "wheezy" than normal at full throttle...even the girlfriend noticed as well. Didn't think much of it but I just assumed my filter was really dirty. I drove around all day in TO as well, even showed up at the TN meet!!!

Went home and jacked up the car...my intake was unattached and sitting on the mud guard!!! :o Not just the filter, but the connecting 90 degree bend was off as well! Apparently all the bumpy roads really wreaked havoc and the CAI just came loose. I reattached everything and checked out the rest of underbody...there's a DENT in my y-pipe!!! Not a huge one but it's already so restricted that this isn't a good thing.

So I estimate I drove about 450 kms without an air filter on. The air being sucked was pretty high up in the engine bay but obviously dust could still get through. I really, really hope I didn't do any kinda engine damage, anybody have any ideas what I can do now? I'm due for an oil change so I will be doing that shortly. Anything else?

Deep · 07-28-2002, 10:50 PM

Engine flush would be a good idea.

***Razo-E*** · 07-29-2002, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Streak

Here's the story....

Went to a remote cottage this weekend, took about 3.5 hours to get there. The last 5 km of the trip was all dirt roads, with lots of big rocks on the ground. I heard about 5 big thuds on the way there. I couldn't check under the car when I arrived because I was parked on a slant...BTW, my car is lowered.

The next day, going home on the highway, I noticed my car sounded more "wheezy" than normal at full throttle...even the girlfriend noticed as well. Didn't think much of it but I just assumed my filter was really dirty. I drove around all day in TO as well, even showed up at the TN meet!!!

Went home and jacked up the car...my intake was unattached and sitting on the mud guard!!! :o Not just the filter, but the connecting 90 degree bend was off as well! Apparently all the bumpy roads really wreaked havoc and the CAI just came loose. I reattached everything and checked out the rest of underbody...there's a DENT in my y-pipe!!! Not a huge one but it's already so restricted that this isn't a good thing.

So I estimate I drove about 450 kms without an air filter on. The air being sucked was pretty high up in the engine bay but obviously dust could still get through. I really, really hope I didn't do any kinda engine damage, anybody have any ideas what I can do now? I'm due for an oil change so I will be doing that shortly. Anything else?

i think AEM developed a bypass valve that shuts the CAIntake down, draws air in through a small filter toward the middle... the air intake is obviously reduced but only until the main filter is once again able to take air in...

91camryDX · 07-29-2002, 06:37 AM

I thought the AEM bypass valve only shut off when water came into the tube.

SLC Punk · 07-29-2002, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91camryDX

I thought the AEM bypass valve only shut off when water came into the tube.

Yep you are correct, even if he had the bypass valve it still would have taken in the unfiltered air.

jwa276 · 07-29-2002, 10:41 AM

that is crazy man! what i did for mine was got some metal strapping and bolted it to the sides and to the front bumper mount just inside the wheel well, this way i have like 2 supports attached to the car. origionally i had the whole CAI tied up there with a piece of nylon rope

~~GHETTO

jon

***EKam*** · 07-29-2002, 11:01 AM

:o

Ouch! Yea Henry it would've been better if you had put more support for CAI. I remember you just left it the way it is once you fixed it from knocking the fender.

Anyway thanks for letting us know and we'll continue to learn from you.

IrishGuyute1 · 07-29-2002, 10:07 PM

the bypass valve engages when the pressure in the intake pipe is increased. such as when water is inside the pipe or if there is some kinda blockage inhibiting air flow. so it is not just when water is in the pipe. it is whenever there is an increase in pressure.

***Silver Streak*** · 07-29-2002, 10:14 PM

Can anybody else recommend anything or is an engine flush just good enough? I was just thinking of doing an oil change and that's it.....

***Phi*** · 07-29-2002, 10:44 PM

Damn son! I'm not sure what hte road conditions were like on your trip (ie dirt roads) but if the road was pretty decent, I don't think you have too much to worry about. Do the engine flush as Deep suggested or just go for your reg. oil change and then change it again right away or at a shorter interval then normal. Unless you sucked in road kill or some crazy sh1t like that, do worry about it.

Nick · 08-01-2002, 02:03 PM

probably took a good # of km's off your engine life, even from just the pollen and microscopic dust

yeah defenitively an engine flush, get that flushing oil stuff