Dealer says CAI is the problem?????

[MikeyDizzle]

I have a Tru-Flow CAI, no other mods.

So my TB gauge cluster lit up with Check Engine, Reduced Engine Power, and the DIC displaying Stabilitrak Off, while drastically reducing the throttle response. I pulled off the road, popped the hood and the engine was running ROUGH, the engine was rocking back and forth pretty violently.... I check all the connections, plugs, leaks, and found nothing. I limped to work and contacted the dealer.

I started it up 4 hours later, the check engine light was still on but its drive ability was unaffected.

So I get a call - he says the MAF sensor is bad, and also stated that the code that was stored was a code that meant it was taking in too much air....

So his suggestion was that I remove the CAI and reinstall the stock airbox. He was cool and did not report it to the warranty company.... but I still have it on.

So my question is: If the CAI IS in fact the problem, would a PCM tune correct it???? And furthermore: Is this really a valid assessment for the service issue????:confused:

[ScarabEpic22]

Swap it back to stock and see what happens, if its still happening then not the CAI.

[DLXSX240]

If it is the CAI get a Granatelli mass airflow sensor and tell them you have a CAI. It will be cheaper than the tune. It will tell the ECU that it ok to get more (cold) air than normal. I have a ram air set up on my truck with the Granatelli mass airflow sensor, but I put them on at the same time so I didn't have the problem you are having. I think the part number you need is 350111.Hope this helps..
Ooops Thats the V8 part number just noticed you have I6.

[MikeyDizzle]

So would a PCM Tune fix this issue????

[jaylind]

Mike I have the same year/model/engine etc..

Was the filter "over oiled"?

I have a CAI but the only problems I have come across is Check engine (too lean) and it only happens if I get on the throttle heavy. and Occasionally when I travel to Colorado Springs from Denver I think it has something to do with the altitude change but the light will reset after driving "normal" for a couple dozen miles.

[PANGGOY]

I have a Tru-Flow CAI, no other mods.

So my TB gauge cluster lit up with Check Engine, Reduced Engine Power, and the DIC displaying Stabilitrak Off, while drastically reducing the throttle response. I pulled off the road, popped the hood and the engine was running ROUGH, the engine was rocking back and forth pretty violently.... I check all the connections, plugs, leaks, and found nothing. I limped to work and contacted the dealer.

I started it up 4 hours later, the check engine light was still on but its drive ability was unaffected.

So I get a call - he says the MAF sensor is bad, and also stated that the code that was stored was a code that meant it was taking in too much air....

So his suggestion was that I remove the CAI and reinstall the stock airbox. He was cool and did not report it to the warranty company.... but I still have it on.

So my question is: If the CAI IS in fact the problem, would a PCM tune correct it???? And furthermore: Is this really a valid assessment for the service issue????:confused:

The exact same thing happened to me before. Did this happen when you tried to accelerate? or when you "floor it" :undecided

If so, you might want to clean your throttle body.

When this happened to me, i thought that it was my K&N intake so i put my stock intake back and disconnected the battery for a while. Its fine when i started it but when i tried to floor it (with the stock intake) same thing happened again. So i thought that my throttle body body might be dirty. I cleaned it and the problem never happened again even after i put my K&N back.

Steps:

1. Disconnect battery
2. Clean throttle body (you might want to clean your K&N filter too)
3. Put everything back together
4. Hook up batt again
5 Test drive

Hope it works for you. :D

[flyingfischer5]

My guess on what happened is that the sensor got oil all over it and ruined it. So the oil got all over the sensor, and through that code because it went bad. I saw this problem alot at where i worked. The filters that came from trueflow always had too much in them. We would clean the filters out and re-oil them before we installed them and had no problems after that. I have had my trueflow for almost 2 years now with no problems.

[ylab]

You're on the right track, but he actually has a MAF Sensor and your truck is like mine and uses a AIT and MAP sensor to calculate air flow. (No MAF for us, so having an oil filter in for 2+ years doesn't mean squat on our trucks). I bet his MAF became contaminated as you suspect. - If it was, it should also be CLEANABLE! You can clean a contaminated MAF sensor using 2+2 or electronics cleaner, which I'm hoping the mechanic tried before declaring it bad.


My guess on what happened is that the sensor got oil all over it and ruined it. So the oil got all over the sensor, and through that code because it went bad. I saw this problem alot at where i worked. The filters that came from trueflow always had too much in them. We would clean the filters out and re-oil them before we installed them and had no problems after that. I have had my trueflow for almost 2 years now with no problems.

[flyingfischer5]

You're on the right track, but he actually has a MAF Sensor and your truck is like mine and uses a AIT and MAP sensor to calculate air flow. (No MAF for us, so having an oil filter in for 2+ years doesn't mean squat on our trucks). I bet his MAF became contaminated as you suspect. - If it was, it should also be CLEANABLE! You can clean a contaminated MAF sensor using 2+2 or electronics cleaner, which I'm hoping the mechanic tried before declaring it bad.

It's probably what happened but knowing most dealer mechanics just say it's broken don't don't try to clean it to see if thats the problem.:bonk:

[MikeyDizzle]

Thank you guys.

I love this board.
:thumbsup:

[MikeyDizzle]

Steps:

1. Disconnect battery
2. Clean throttle body (you might want to clean your K&N filter too)
3. Put everything back together
4. Hook up batt again
5 Test drive



Yeah, it happened when I "floored" it.

So what cleaner for the filter? Can I use the same recharge kit or the K&N's???

[flyingfischer5]

I'm not sure if the k&n recharge would work or not. We used the trueflow one. There probably the same but not 100%sure.

[PANGGOY]

Yeah, it happened when I "floored" it.

So what cleaner for the filter? Can I use the same recharge kit or the K&N's???

I didnt see earlier that you have a Tru Flow. :bonk:

As far as cleaning it, it depends on what type of filter you have. There are some that needs oil while some are "dry" filters that (i think) just needs washing. Better check it first on the Tru Flow website. :yes:

So did you try cleaning the throttle body? :undecided