First Post

[damienp]

Hey all! This is my first post in this thread. I just bought a 2004 Toyota Matrix XRS. Finally traded my 2005 Chevy Cobalt (Electrical Nightmare) in! WOOHOO!

Anyway, I purchased the XRS with an INJEN CAI and I've never owned anything with aftermarket parts -- Im a little concerned about hydro-locking the motor. What are your opinions on the unit? I've heard a short ram would be much safer and not reduce the power that much. Im definitely open to suggestions.

Glad to be back in a Toyota.

Damien

[Whelan]

Welcome!


All cars a different but my buddy hydro'ed his Integra and I came close on several occasions with my Civic I had previously. You drive in a heavy rain or even hit a very small puddle and I had the pleasure of coasting with my foot on the clutch so the water could essentially drain out of the pipe otherwise you hear a huge knocking and burble.

Someone on here just hydro locked with only a 4inch puddle. 4" is not very deep, that is barely enough to get your rim in. I have a general fear of cai's and will never put one on my car again. If I lived in Cali it would be a different story, but with the always changing weather in the NE, I amd sticking with two versions. I am either keeping it stock with just a K&N drop in or a short warm air as they are called or shorties style intake.

On my Civic I actually ended up taking the second tube off the cai and turned it into a warm air shorty and that helped a lot, but that car did not go out in the rain, which kinda sucked.

[unklekraker]

yap, whelan is right! i just installed a TRD CAI on mine and it is working really good...i just need to be light on gas pedal....hehehehehe! On where you at, AZ, i think it will be okay unless you are going to drive it in heavy rain or deep water

[damienp]

Thanks for the tips. I am in Arizona, but I'm currently in the mountains and we do get some heavy rain now and then. So, if I take off the second pipe and put the cone filter next to the battery will that greatly reduce the risk?

[Whelan]

It should help, also you can get a bypass valve. Instead of the ruber connecter between the two pipes I know AEM sells one for about $40. It is a disc shape rubber connector that when there is a change in the vacuum pressure in the tube a flap comes down, closes the lower pipe off and the intake takes in air from the engine bay instead. I would personally go the route of a short ram air style with a heat shield. That way it is double protection.

[damienp]

Thanks for the advice -- I think I definitely want to go with the short ram/heat shield. What do you suggest for the best performance for the price? I've been checking out AEM, K&N and Injen, but haven't been able to find any good reviews on any of them.

[Whelan]

I have personally experience the K&N drop in style though, AEM cai, and Injen short.

My Civic w/ AEM cai


My old Saturn w/ Injen short


Personally there is not going to be a huge difference in the brands, some say they are honed to spiral the air, others may use a polymer material and claim to reduce the heat. Bottom line is, you are putting more air into a bigger pipe. So it won't make a huge difference among brands. AEM was good, but I really feel I had a better quality product with Injen. It looked slick, the piping was very well made, seemed thicker than AEM's, and just felt all around higher quality.

[damienp]

Just a quick question: I have an injen CAI, but I can't figure out if it doubles as a short ram (their EIS line does). It does have a connection right beside the battery (on the right side above the fender), but I assumed a short ram would place the filter in the big open area directly behind and to the left of the battery. I can have some pictures up in a while...but as luck would have it it's raining pretty good

I've also looked on the unit itself and their are no model markings...any ideas?

[Whelan]

I would def. have to see a pic as each car has a different setup. When you get one post it up here and I can take a peek. If there is a connection point between the two pipes i.e. as in my Civic had, then you should be able to just simply take off the lower pipe and slap on the filter to the end of that.

Three things to consider though:

1) Does the upper piping that connects to the TB have a support bracket for itself, or is it just supported where the lower pipe sits?

2) Does the pipe change in diameter, smaller or larger, than where the filter connects to the lower piping compared with where the two pipes join.

3)Will the filter fit in the area we are talking about where the first pipe ends, that is a crucial thing, so it is not touching any moving parts (belts) or hoses.

[damienp]

Here are a few pictures....now that I look at it closer it doesn't look like the cone will fit in that area -- and it may be more protected where it is now than up by the battery...

I am also wondering -- a lot of people have short rams on their matrix -- where does it sit? I would hope it sits right where that bend is below...?







And also...does anyone have any suggestions for the vaccuum hoses that are disconnected? When you put on an intake do you even mess with the vaccuum hoses?


Oh yes it does have a mounting bracket on the first section right behind that escape hose or whatever that is

Thanks,

Damien

[unklekraker]

dude, if i we're you I would leave it like that. IT LOOK REALLY SWEET, I ENVY YOU!!!!! I hate for you to take or chopped it off coz' that's the kind of set up I really want but I use the TRD version so It won't hurt my warranty