Kitsune13

I was poking around my one month old TLS today, looking for a squeek that has been driving me nuts. I noticed my air box was all loose, investigation began! The box was not bolted on, back side is cracked and the resonator setup was pinched closed badly. I took everything apart and put it back as best as possible. The resonator box was too badly mangled, its off. I have a bungee holding the filter box together, the back hold downs are cracked off. The sound the car I take makes now is horrible! What is the reccomend fix/mod?

I am going to the JY in a few weeks to look for the replacement parts unless there is a better way to make the intake not sound like a fog horn.

Thanks!

Chojun

My guess is the previous owner had a Cold/Ram Air Intake and decided to take it with them, replacing the resonator before they sold it to you.

For what it's worth, I'd just take off the resonator altogether (keep the filter box of course). I drove my car for 9 years before removing mine and wish I could have done it earlier. I LOVE the sound this car makes without the resonator, especially when VTEC kicks in. She purrs quiet like a kitten on the freeway and around town but if you punch it, a beast comes out

It's also possible that your car was involved in a front-end left collision and they never bothered to repair the intake assembly.

DNS91

Reminds me of when i took of my stock intake box to put a CAI on and found a rust brush inside. yep, no idea.

01tl4tl

I agree, dump the resonator- first mod for many a TL,
get a junkyard replacement air filter box = that seals completely at all edges-
Serious problem if an air leak is present!!

Kitsune13

sounds great guys, thanks!!

I have the box pretty well sealed via bungee cord, will head over to PNP with a list of parts soon.

What should it sound like when "the VTech kicks in"? I really didn't hear much difference when I put it to the floor to pass.

Chojun

This is the best video I've been able to find, even though the video doesn't feature the same model year. With the resonator on, you don't really hear the engine noise much if at all.

When VTEC kicks in the valve lift changes and the engine sounds different. You'll get a deep growl that the resonator is designed to suppress. My first impression is that it sounded similar to a V-8 engine.

There's a tunnel in my area and when I go through it at wide-open, it's LOUD without the resonator. But the nice thing about VTEC is that if you're putting around town or on the freeway, you won't notice any difference at all. Deleting your resonator makes the car sound _very_ sporty.

Kitsune13

I get that sound when I punch it, good!
How about at idle? it makes a sound like blowing over an empty bottle. Sound emits directly from the intake, I used my hand to muffle it while digging for broken bits. Do you think somthing may be wrong? It is quite loud at idle.

Chojun

That doesn't sound right. My car is quiet at idle; If I accelerate at ~10-15mph in 1st or 2nd at low RPM you can hear a throaty sound from the intake. Sounds like something wasn't connected right or is blocked.