My sister has a 2000 celica GTS. Anyone who lives in Chicago knows it rained really bad on saturday.......anyways, the was a big puddle at the end of our street. I saw a honda civic go through it.........then my sister went through. Toyota service called today......2 bent rods.....1 cracked piston. The service manager said it was due to water throught the intake. Now imagine if I drove my CL with a CAI. Id be fucked. Now I don't know if I want a CAI anymore. Maybe just a drop in.

 

Ever hear of a bypass valve?

 

that's why there's something called a bypass valve...

 

don't be a sissy.

(and get a by-pass valve. AEM makes them)

 

There's an even easier solution, the one I use anyways...
don't drive through puddles!

 

yeah, unless you live in a town that friggin floods a few times a year

ESSYboy out...

j/k

 

Yea, don't worry, get it! You'll love it! All your friends are doing it!

I'm much more worried about my suspension in water-filled potholes than about my CAI drinking too much.

 

Did she accelerate through the puddle?????????????

 

ok i have the CAI and i dont have the bypass valve...and yes it was really bad out that day, I had to go through 2 deep puddles. BUT all you have to do is step on the gas before you hit the puddle and as soon as you hit the puddle let go of the gas, so you can coast through it. And even for an extra help, i threw it into neutral. My car is perfectly fine!!!!

 

Nice theory, but your engine is still idling when in neutral and hence is drawing air in.
Not as much as hard acceleration, but you’re still at risk.

If you have a CAI, a bypass valve is a MUST no matter where you live.

Shawn S

 

i know this issue has been killed to death already before but.....doesn't the by-pass valve work only if the filter is completely submerged in water...thus creating a vacuum for the valve to work? if it isn't submerged in water, isn't there still that possibilty for water getting sucked in? and how can you constantly slow down and let go of the gas when your car comes across puddles? what if it's during the evening...poor visibilty which is more likely when it rains. i know alot of guys here have the CAI....is there a certain amount of water entering the throttle that's acceptable/not acceptable for the engine. or is any amount of water in there NO good?

 

I agree with these guys... spend the extra $45 and get the bypass valve. Sport Compact Car did a test on an NSX where they submerged the CAI in a fish tank full of water, and none got passed the bypass valve. This doesn't mean you should aim at puddles, but at least it's piece of mind.....

 

Love the CIA's, but I'm happy with a drop-in. Although I had an AEM unit before the invention of the bypass valve on my 89 Vic Si, and had no problems. The drop in won't give you any sound improvement, Nicky, so you'll probably just end up getting the AEM afterall. Sounds like the bypass valve will work as intended for these kinds of situations.

Jim

 

I love my car with the CAI. I made sure that I bought the bypass valve just to be on the safe side! Cant risk the chance of killing my engine! So I recommend getting a bypass valve!

 

...yes it has been killed...go get a straw ,cut a hole in it half way put you finger over the hole...drink some coke...take your finger off the hole...you go thirsty...unless the filter is submerged there's no way youre sucking up water...with the bypass valve there's no way your sucking up water

 

If you are scare to get a CAI, do not do it!.

I drove through heavy down pours and flooded streets. The only thing I did was I was going super slow....

 

Easy simple solution....get a short ram. Period. Looks way better than the CAI...