Hi all. About a week ago I was pushing my car HARD around a turn and heard a snap. I though, Humm? then My car's performance was decreased and slower. Tonight I ran Side by side with another type-s and was SMOKED TWICE!

When the guy was like, let's see the CAI, I poped the hood, and went to grab it and it almost came off in my hand.

Seems the mounting brkt. broke off at the pipe and that was the "Snap" I heard that day, And to top it off, my fucking throttle body is VERY loose and might have broken.

What do I do? I am going to try and fix this myself to the best of my ability, but the cai is cracked and I do not think duck tape or jb weld is gonna help me on this.

Do you think AEM will replace it with a new one under warrenty? I bought it from Autocarparts.com. Maybe I will try contacting Tim tomorrow about the CAI.

Thanks for your time.

 

Ok, just went outside and examined everything. Seems the throttle body is fine. The AEM CAI pipe however has a nice 1 1/2 hole in the side where the mounting brkt. is welded on. Seems like the new tires caused the engine to shift more then normal, causing the pipe to flex beyond what the mounting brkt. would allow and took a chunk of the pipe out.

SHIT I HOPE THEY REPLACE THIS UNDER A WARRENTY OR SOMETHING. I would HATE to have to buy another fucking CAI. That would suck horse dick!

 

Wow! That sucks big time dude. Believe I've heard of AEM cracking if dropped from a few feet onto ground. Made my CAI from good gage of steel thick enough that it wouldn't crack if dropped. Good luck in exchanging for new CAI.

 

aem was very good about replacing my filter. i know goldy had a heck of time getting his filter replaced.
did i read it correctly that you waited a week to check the cai?

 

Call AEM and explain the situation but don't tell them you made any other modifications. Just let them know everything was installed properly and it just cracked while driving.

 

Oh, by the way, I believe you said there was a hole in the pipe? I would refrain from driving your car or even starting it until the pipe is replaced.

 

Damm, I need to goto work right now too.

I think I'll Duck tape the hole for now.

Yeah, I am lazy, I waited a week

 

Duck tape? That must be that stuff they make with duck feathers or something...

Or do you mean Duct tape?

 

Well, I have an update.

Spoke with STEVE at AEM and he seems like a really nice guy. Told me that I'd need to send my CAI to them for inspection to see if it broke to an impropper install. Unfort, for me, my stock airbox and stuff were thrown in a dumpster when having the AEM installed. I told them I was mad about this, and they didnot charge me for the install of the cai. Now here's the fucked up part.

If they tell me it was installed incorrectly, I am fucked with a $220 pole. and of course, they will not cover it.

If in deed it looks as if it was installed OK, and the rip was due to "Factory arror" then no prob and they will 2'nd day me a new pipe.

I went on to explain that I was not sure, but the cai looked great and felt as if it had enough "Flex" under high stress. And then proceded to explain to him that I am planning to get my aem rotors and pads, braded lines, etc. fromt them, and could not afford this if I had to pay for a replacement pipe. I explained to him ina nice one-on-one way that I would be very appreaciated if he could work something out with me to where I can get the pipe replaced free of charge.

I'll keep you ALL POSTED on the AEM service I am about to embark. I hope it is a pleasant one Seems to be getting off to a good start and got a good vibe about this one!

In the meantime I get to drive a ford f-150 (2000) thank god! for a week or two

Sorry for the spelling errors again, been up a long day

 

How in the world is AEM going to tell if improper install just by looking at pipe! Insist on a new one! I have been hearing of to many breakage problems with AEM. They seem to a bit fragile! Good luck with your exchange.

 

Ok, I need everyones help, PLEASE!!!!!!!!
On the AEM CAI,

The red tab that secures the pipe to the frame of the car, is the actuall fork like part that gets bolted down suppost to go between the rubber pieces? Or just get bolted down ontop of the rubber pieces? My intakes pipe seems like it was secured from the VERY TOP of the two rubber bushings, Not between the nice Pre-cut groove in the middle of the rubber bushing.

Thanks again!!!
You guys are great

 

i love stirring up trouble...i guess the Xephyr CAI was the way to go after all

 

You just threw away the stock airbox? Damn, that's not really smart, bud. Keep your stock stuff, you'll need them sooner or later.

 

Any updates, I just relize I have the same problem.

I called AEM, and they told me that I need to take a picture and email it to them so they can see what I'm taking about .

 

It was wise from AEM to do a flexible mounting braket.. something like a rubber or springs... That BS. All AEM CAI are prune to break due to this design defect.

BTW, I keep my CAI mounting attachment ( rubbered bolt) lose to let it flex a bit, it rattles and squeak sometimes but DW40 can make it quiet... I should have coated the bolt with the teflon tape instead

 

i had the same problem with mine, aem replaced it and the new one does not have that bracket....there is just a bracket at the bottom of the pipe now

 

hmmm... Not sure what you're talking about... Can you take a pic???

 

Soopa gonna pop you!

 

Yeah my snapped and I dont feel like taking it apart and trying to put the factory airbox back in ...so im just gonna leave it alone and hopefully everything will be ok .

 

Like this:

 

Damn thats what mine EXACTLY looks like

 

guys, this is such an easy fix!!!

use the rubber o-ring that came with the stock airbox and slide it up the pipe...fuk the brackets!!!

 

AEM is replacing my pipe for free.