Okay, I've read all the threads about CIAs for my 03 TL-S and still don't have an answer. (So sorry if I am blind and didn't see this anywhere) I want to install a CIA, but when I am searching AEM or INJEN most descriptions say "for 03 TL-S WITHOUT foglights" Don't all TL-Ss come with foglights? Can anyone help me out with this? Also, I don't want to rehash this debate too much, but which CIA would best suit my TL? AEM? INJEN? Anyone have any feedback on the Weapon R Intake? Thanks ahead of time for anyone leaving some advice.

 

Can't help you out, but where abouts in RI are you from? I'm down in Bristol, you up in Providence like your name?

 

It is not a CIA it is called CAI(Cold Air Intake), not ripping you, but someone will if you keep calling it "CIA". Also Injen and AEM are pretty much the same, Injen should fit your TL-S w/foglights because the filter points down instead of forward. Weapon R is a good SRI(Short Ram Intake), it doesn't suck in cold air like the AEM or Injen does. Best intake is the CompTech icebox and that will fit your TL-S w/fogs also because it mounts right where your stock airbox was.

 

Thanks for the correction...HAHA I guess I was still sleeping this morning when I posted that.

Is there a huge difference in sound and gains from a short ram intake as compared to a CAI?

 

From Providence!

 

If your trying to maximize your hp go with a CAI and not a shortram. There are many here with a AEM and foglights.

 

Here's my take:

The Type-S was introduced in '02 when the UA5 was facelifted. Part of the facelift was to include foglights as standard equipment. Ipso facto, all Type-Ss have foglights.

I saw a post about CAIs and foglights recently and it may shed light on the fitment issue.

Some CAI designs have the filter pointing forward, away from the front wheel (I guess to protect it from water). This design fit '99 - '01 cars without a problem because they didn't have foglights. When foglights were integrated into the bumpers on '02 and '03 cars, the depth of the foglight plus the harness interfered with the filter on the CAI. It would probably be cost prohibitive for the manufacturer to redesign the CAI so they just put the disclaimer "w/o foglights" to CYA and still sell the item to '02 and '03 owners when the problem was reported. However, people have solved that problem by cutting off a couple inches of the end of the CAI pipe, allowing the filter to sit back enough not to interfere with the foglights.

I don't know which CAI has this fitment issue but this is what I think happened.

 

this is were i got mine if it helps.

CAI for an 03 TL-S works great!!!!


http://www.importperformance.com/aem/inductionapps.html

 

I had the AEM CAI for my '02 TLS and had to cut off a couple inches like TLMugen said to get the bumper back on. No big deal, just a couple minutes and a hacksaw took care of the problem. I now have the Injen and I had no problems installing it at all. I actually like the way the Injen fit a lot better, required no cutting at all. They are the same otherwise. Produce the same sound and gains, if any. If you are looking for something that will add a little sound to your ride, then AEM, Injen or something like that is the way to go. If you just want to gain a little performance out of it and want to keep it quiet, go with the Icebox

 

All right...I've been reading about CAIs this afternoon. I think I've narrowed it down to two. The INJEN CAI and the SECRET WEAPON-R short ram...

EVERY article that I have read about the SW-R boasts that it has better gains than most CAIs. Is this possible? How about the sound? Is the sound or the SW-R as good as a CAI? Hmmm...just a little more help here and I'm buyin!

Here are the two ebay links:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/INJEN...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Weapo...QQcmdZViewItem

Once again thanks to the few who have helped me with this today!

 

that weird that most had to cut off some of thier intakes to get it to fit mine fit perfect no cutting needed. My vote is for the injen air intake. Good luck ProvidenceLeaf.

 

I would go for either INJEN or Comptech Sport Ice Box.
For a stock engine bay and performance only (no sound) ---> Comptech Sport Ice box
that is what I m gonna do.

 

I would say Injen...of course I'm a little partial because I already have one. I don't see anyway that a SRI would have better gains than a CAI. It's already been proven that your car performs better when cold air going into the intake...and there is now way that a SRI would be able to suck colder air than a CAI because it's pulling the air right out of the engine bay. I don't have any idea how a SRI sounds because I've never heard one, but I would imagine that it sounds about the same as a CAI. Good luck with whichever one you choose.