AEM -- five star service!!!!!

I received one of the "early" AEM CAI units from Tim at autocarparts.com. It was installed (if you can call what happened an install) over at Keyes Acura.

I noticed that a hose clamp was missing and there has been much talk about soaked filters and damaged filters from "rubbing".

First, I must thank the folks down there, who inserted a couple of spacers around my rubber stand-off and replaced and fixed the horrible mess that Keyes Acura made of the install.

The new AEM units have the "bracket" on the intake pipe relocated for better positioning of the K&N filter. Apparently, the people who fabricated the pipes for them, didn't quite get the bracket into the right position, and this leads to "possible" rubbing problems with the "earlier" units. The fix for the early units is to place a couple of washers (nickel thickness) above and below the rubber body of the stand-off and re-tighten them. These washers raise the K&N enough to keep it away from "harm".

Visit to AEM:

I called up AEM and arranged to talk to one of the guys there. His name is Greg Nakano, and he can be reached at 310-484-2322, ext 302.

I let the folks there, have a look at the car; they pulled it out back; cleaned up the slop from Keyes Acura; and added a couple of washers that looked a little thicker than a nickel. The two "washers" raises the height of the K&N up above the plastic screw head.

If you have a very early unit, and the K&N is sitting on the splash guard, AEM will provide you with a couple of washers to take care of the problem. Give Greg a call and he will take care of you. You should call your dealer first, to see if you have one of the early units. The bulk of the units out in the field have new brackets and should work perfectly.

(One could also just go to the hardware store and pick up some washers and place them on either side of the rubber stand-off to raise the K&N up (and out of harms way).

NOTE: BOTH THE NEW UNIT AND OLD UNIT HAVE A RUBBER MOUNT! The bracket has been moved on the new unit -- if you are concerned or have questions, call your parts dealer first, and if you are still concerned, call the number at AEM.

I left the AEM folks my phone number and email address. If any other information regarding the fix is available, they will send me the info, and I will post it to the board ASAP!

I think these guys deserve a big thumbs up for taking the time to "make it right."

I will definitely be buying more products from them in the future!

Also, thanks to Dent-Wizards in Torrance for a quick and perfect fix for the ding the Keyes morons put in the top of my fender right next to the AEM intake pipe.


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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines w/Brembos?
• Comptech headers & sways
• Silver AEM CAI
• 10 coats of Zaino magic

[This message has been edited by EricL (edited 05-10-2001).]

 

I assume that I have 1 of the "early" intakes because I don't have those washers. There is only the rubber stand-off(this is the rubber part that holds the pipe in place...where the metal prong sticks out from the pipe?). So, as you explained, all I need are 2 washers(1 on top of it and one under it?).

Is there anything else that I need to know?

ps. just to make 100% sure, I don't need to worry about that bypass valve recall, do I?

[This message has been edited by Satin Slayer (edited 05-10-2001).]

 

1. YOU only need the 2 washers if you got an early unit -- did you?

2. If you can't find a couple of washers that are about as thick as a nickel, then get more washers to match that approximate thickness, or call the number.

Note -- the problem only happens in the early units, and the only way to tell is by some kind of date code. I got my unit in April, and it was the "last" of the old units. You might want to call you parts dealer and see if you have a new unit (no problem) or the old unit.

Both the new unit and the old unit have the rubber mount!!!!!

The old one, is just placed differently, so it needs the washers to help push the K&N up higher.




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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines w/Brembos?
• Comptech headers & sways
• Silver AEM CAI
• 10 coats of Zaino magic

 

ericl, are you going to buy the pullies?

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'01 cl-s blk/blk :: comptech headers, comptech springs, comptech sway bars

 

Not sure...

I need to try a new dealer, since Keyes isn't very good. If I can get Pasadena going, I may pop the pulleys on, but I'm not sure yet.

I want to run the current setup for a little bit, then see if someone has a dyno of the pulleys.

Do you know of anyone who has a dyno of the pulleys?



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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines w/Brembos?
• Comptech headers & sways
• Silver AEM CAI
• 10 coats of Zaino magic

 

D'oh! Now I'm totally positive I have the old unit. I got my intake in March. And, as I posted before...I do have the rubber mount but no washers. Guess I'll have to pay Home Depot a visit.

 

nah, just the old thread of aem's dyno of the pullies, http://www.acura-cl.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004548-2.html



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'01 cl-s blk/blk :: comptech headers, comptech springs, comptech sway bars

 

Thanks for the thread...

I think if I can find someone who is "careful" and will put them on with care, it would be a worthy addition.

The torque addition would be useful, and it would help a bit in the gas saving department(when I'm not driving around with my foot in it).


A pre-emptive strike with some "Densos Iridiums" and pulleys might be worth it.

(Pasadena Acura is my next try...)

(BTW -- the people at Universal Nissan used my wife's car to go to lunch (put 30 miles on it). They left grease stains all over her four seats.)


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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines w/Brembos?
• Comptech headers & sways
• Silver AEM CAI
• 10 coats of Zaino magic

 

Well EricL, apparently you are the only person getting service from AEM! I called them Monday about my damaged filter. I was told by a nice lady that someone would call me back, probably within the hour. I'm thinking.... wow... great service. Needless to say I didn't get a call within an hour or at all that day. Tuesday... I call back and speak with someone named Kirk Miller. He tells me I can either patch up the hole in my filter or pay for a new one because "it's not really AEM's fault". And that if I adjust things, the filter will fit in there along with the little black plastic screw that poked a hole in it. I speak with Mike here on the forum and he tells me AEM gave him a new filter free. He also spoke with Greg Nakano. Wednesday... I call again and am interrupted mid-sentence and transferred to someone else. It happens to be Greg Nakano's voicemail. I leave him a VM explaining my problem and ask for a call back. Thursday... I haven't heard from anyone yet so I call and leave Greg another VM earlier this morning. Well what do you know... I still haven't heard jack.

This is the absolute poorest excuse for customer service I have ever seen.

Shoulda bought a Xephyr.....

[This message has been edited by GoldTypeS (edited 05-10-2001).]

 

Sorry to hear that. I had called a number of times, but made it clear that I didn't have a "broken" filter or at least I didn't know for sure. In that regard, they knew I was talking to them about "probable" trouble AND that KEYES had left off some AEM parts (turns out they left in some air cleaner parts that from the OEM Airbox that I got back in a bag from AEM).

I was told to leave the number for Greg regarding the "fix." They said they would be happy to supply the washers for the fix. I do believe that the unit has a lifetime guarantee -- yes/no?

If you have one of the earlier pipes *and* they air cleaner has been punctured, you (as the customer) should be taken care of.

In my case, I let Keyes Acura "do the job" and they were responsible for the "labor". I paid $$$ out-of-pocket to fix a ding those idiots put in my hood and even received a flyer asking for my "best dealer in So Cal vote" from them. (Lets see if they pick up the bill for my dinged fender they caused and give me a coupon or two, I'll think about changing my rating...)

So, I left the number for Greg in the message, and I must admit that I had to "catch" Greg (he is very busy). But, they did repair the damage by Keyes, and were very nice. I was in the area, getting my "ding" fixed, so it let them know that I was in the area, and needed help. Greg was the one who said to come by.

I would stay on top of them -- you at least need to correct washers to keep the "NEW" filter out of harms way.

I would sit on them until they make it right. I also mentioned that I was into the Acura forum "big time"


The squeaky wheel gets the grease comes to mind -- if Mike can get a new filter, you deserve one too. I find that my filter is damaged, you better believe that I will be on their rears for a new one too.

Finally, (with that all said) there are some items that aren't worth the time and others that are. YOU SHOULD GET THE RIGHT stuff, and they admitted that the early units were not made correctly -- so stay on them.

If you don't get positive results -- post the lack of feedback up on the board, but be firm, assertive, and let them know that you are going to stay on them (with courtesy) until they fix what is a design defect.

So, it is easy for me to say, but I did make a number of calls to get through, but they did make it right *and* they did help me.

Sorry to hear about this, your deserve to be fixed up. Keep us posted -- don't give up!!!!



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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines w/Brembos?
• Comptech headers & sways
• Silver AEM CAI
• 10 coats of Zaino magic

 

An update for ya....

I called AEM again on Friday and spoke with someone named Lawson. He is going to ship me a new filter and a washer to raise the intake up a bit. I should receive them sometime this week. So for now, my faith in AEM is restored. It's just a shame I had to call 5 times to get my problem taken care of.....

 

my intake may be ugly...but it was installed free, works great, and trouble free.

-Aaron

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2001 CL-P, new project undergoing complete reconstruction. As of now: Custom CAI fabricated by SRD, Polarg M6 bulbs, 4 ProHopper Chrome hydraulic pumps with whammy tanks, 4 ProHopper dumps, 4 Optima marine deep-cycle batteries, 4 switches. Much much more to come...

1997 Accord coupe EX-L. Chrome suspension, Chrome motor, every bolt-on imaginable. One pump, 8 dump hydraulics with accumulators. Leather, Billet grills, 18" Neeper Shadows...etc..etc http://www.artofnoize.com/Cars/aaron.htm

1990 Toyota standard cab. Bodydropped 3". 17" KMC Nemesis', extensive suspension work. 4 wheel airbags.