packohotdogs

Hello,

I just bought a 2004 A-Spec and am thinking of putting a CAI in. I like the AEM one that the Tirerack sells. It seems like a easy and cheap way to get 15 HP. My questions are:

How loud does this make my engine, and can any real world users tell me if there is a noticeable power gain?

The only real concern I have is will this mod void my warranty? I know that CAI's can suck up water. Is this a concern with the AEM unit?

Any and all comments are welcome!! Thanks in advance!!

AcuraStyle

iTrader: (2)

There are plenty of youtube videos to show you the sound as far as the warranty...yes it voids it

dwb993

iTrader: (13)

^^Not necessarily. If you take a problem to the dealer and they find it is directly attributable to the mod, they will not honor the warranty. However, if you take a suspension problem to them and you have a CAI they must honor the warranty.

OP, to answer your questions:

CAIs are notorious for being noisemakers. My AEM v2 can be quite the screaming banshee when I get on it. Normal everyday driving will not show any difference.

The intakes can suck up water and cause hydrolock, but you really have to put in some effort to get the water all the way up the tube and in the engine. Like driving into a 12 inch deep puddle and then flooring it--can it happen? Sure, but unlikely. The AEM intakes also have bypass valves available that are designed to prevent this, but I have heard of them deteriorating and parts of the material used getting sucked into the intake---something else to avoid. The AEM v2 is a tube within a tube design and should minimize the potential for both.

The best thing to do is visit the 3G Garage and do some research. There is an incredible amount of detailed information there and is the first place you should look when contemplating any mods or researching any problems:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/3g-tl-service-department-aka-garage-questions-answers-check-here-first-553557/

Good Luck!

AckTL05

iTrader: (18)

only if the problem with the car has to do with the after market product. By law in 1974? some act that the deal has the PROVE that the aftermarket part did the "damage" done. There really isnt going to be any damage except for the fact that if you get water in and hydrolock its your fault. Do some research so the dealer doesn't do what they did to me and get away with it. Not that they got away with it but they tried telling me that my transmission on the wrx went becuase of my aftermarket intake, but I sued them. Turns out dealers try to get away with anything they can becuase people will believe their garbage. Know your rights and stick up for yourself, other then that always research what they tell you becuase 99% of the time its wrong to get you to spend $ becuase that where dealerships make their money.

packohotdogs

Thanks for the info... I really appreciate it!!

Did your V2 give you a good power gain?

dwb993

iTrader: (13)

More info here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/my-aem-v2-install-732288/

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Pack, just be very careful. So many guys have added a CAI and really love the effects. But if you take your car in to fix a problem, dealerships will look for any reason to not fix your car under warranty. Sometimes, they will point to the CAI as the problem. At that point, it's up to you to prove them wrong, which is difficult to do.

DWB offers you a good insight. I decided not to do it because I didn't want to risk it. By looking at the links provided, you can definitely make an educated decision.

Excelerate

iTrader: (1)

Each dealer is different but it falls on the dealer to prove the part you installed caused the issue.

See the Magnusson Moss Act.

Freshjive360

If you just bought an '04, there can't be that much more time left on your warranty right? I thought for CPO vehicles it's 5 years bumper-to-bumper (which means you have 3 months left IF the car was delivered in Dec. '04) and 7 years on powertrain. Certainly an aftermarket CAI will have no impact whatsoever on your powertrain. Fill me in.

And if you are still debating purchasing a CAI, I would highly recommend an AEM V2. Do some research on the forum and you'll see why...and yes, there is a noticable power gain, as well as noise gain at WOT (music to my ears!).

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

where is the dead horse? i think its time to beat it again...

SEARCH on this topic... plenty of threads out there..

packohotdogs

[QUOTE=Freshjive360;11342587]If you just bought an '04, there can't be that much more time left on your warranty right? I thought for CPO vehicles it's 5 years bumper-to-bumper (which means you have 3 months left IF the car was delivered in Dec. '04) and 7 years on powertrain. Certainly an aftermarket CAI will have no impact whatsoever on your powertrain.

The original warranty was expired, but since it was CPO, they add a 12 month 12K mile Bumper to bumper (if it is expired, if not then it is a one year extension to the existing warranty). So my bumper to bumper expires August 20th 2010...

Thank you all for the info. I did search, but my co workers tole me about a new law so I wanted to get the most recent info...

thanks again.

KN_TL

iTrader: (3)

There are a lot of those dead horses here, aren't there!

My dealer has never questioned it but I haven't had any issues that would point to it as a cause. If you hydrolock your engine and claim it's not the CAI, then you'll have a problem explaining you way out of that.

AckTL05

iTrader: (18)

Thats is the Mag act, look it up just like when you go to court your innocent until proven guilty and like I said stand up for yourself and know what your talking about. Dealers will do anything to get away with ripping you off, thats how they make their money. OH and service, why take it to them? There is a million DIY's here and unless its 100k mile service or something is messed up then it should be going their but your warrantee will be over at 100k anyway. For instance dealers charge upwards of 100 dollars or more to replace cabin air filter, the thing is 15 dollars and right behind your glovebox, so they charge you 75 dollars to undo about 10 clips if that? Common never bring your car back to the dealer.

rockyfeller

iTrader: (6)

Yeah this subject has come up too many times. Search, I have a famous thread about it..........and that Magnusson Moss Act? HA! Go see what your service dept. really thinks about it.