Ok, I did search the forums on intakes before posting this, and I believe no one has addressed this issue. I was looking at the Injen Cold Air Intakes on this site. I noticed that there were 1 and 2 piece models available for the TL-S. I really could not discern the differences between the two with the exception of the obvious number of parts. Is one better than the other? Why do they make these different kinds of intakes?

Appreciate the help, and sorta sorry for starting yet another CAI thread.

 

If it's 2 piece pipes, that's for bypass valve.
(if you get the 1 piece pipe, you'll have to cut it in half to install the bypass valve.)

 

Yup, that's pretty much the reason...

However, when I ordered mine I was told that the 2 piece will NOT fit the 2002+ TL, only the 2001 and lower. Because of that I ordered the 1 piece and cut the pipe myself.

 

Ok, that answers my question. I feel kind of lame now after reading about bypass valves, hyrdrolock, etc. Should've figure that out myself. So juniorbean, when did you order your CAI? I ask this because it seems the 2003 TL-S has an Injen 2 piece listed on this site. Am I missing something here? I really would rather not cut the pipe myself. I'm pretty newb at all of this car engine stuff.

 

yea...i was thinking of gettin the Injen CAI over the AEM one b/c the AEM one required some cutting to fit into our cars...
but now the Injen one requires cutting the thing in half??
hmmm.....maybe the AEM will be a better fit??

 

Mine was ordered a couple of weeks before Christmas as it was a Christmas present!! Mine is a 2002 model, however, the 2002 and 2003 TL are the same. Your best bet would be to email Tim to ask him what fits what. He'll get back to you quickly with an answer.

I was very, very nervous about cutting the pipe myself. I mean, one wrong cut and your screwed. Fortunately it's not that hard. The by-pass comes with direction. I also test fitted it to see where I wanted to cut. I marked the intake and cut it at the mark and it fit fine. Whole install took about 1 1/2 hours, and this is from someone who never did anything to a car except change oil.

 

The Injen is still the better fit (from what I read). You need to cut the intake into two pieces to add the by-pass regardless of which brand you purchase. However, some people had to cut the AEM an additional 1/2" to 1" to get it to fit properly. I did not experience this. Once I cut the intake for the by-pass, that was all the cutting I needed to do.

Here are some good directions which I used. They are for the AEM, but the Injen is so similar it works for it too.....

http://wizardsworks.org/chod/acura/cai/

Good luck!!

 

don't get the by pass unless u live in an area where there's occasional flooding that requires u to drive on high waters...

another piece of equipment to spend ur hard earned money... that's only usuful to few ppl out there... very few...and maybe once or twice if any

 

it only takes once and you're out $6k+ on a new engine.

or a situation like this:
http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=43924

 

Well, that settles that. After reading that thread on bypass valves, there is no way I am not getting one.

$40 + time + effort < $6500 engine. Bypass is worth it.

I'll just have to suck it up and learn how to cut some pipes. I'll be reading the thread on AEM installs now.