Wow... should i be worried? ...

[FCser]

Hello I was just looking under my hood checking out the air filter / box because im thinking about getting a short ram intake. Well here is the story. I take my car to the dealership to get the oil changed etc. Last time was there they recommended replacing the air filter. i declined the offer cause i was planning to upgrade. I hadnt opened the hood since then, until today. and the Air box WAS NOT EVEN CLOSED it was 1/2 open neither of the 2 metal latches were snapped into place it was resting on one of them, the other was just wide open. wow i would expect more thorough work from a dealership... well this must of been open for a month or so. I could hear a strange noise sometimes at startup that i didnt notice before, i just figured it was from the weather being so cold. Think there is anything to worry about. im hoping nothing got into the engine that could do harm.... whats the worst that could happen?

[BlueCrush]

By the description you gave of its position. I would say it it highly unlikely that something had gotten its way in there. Good thing you noticed it though. You shouldn't hear that strange noise now that it is closed. I would make a note of it with the dealer so they know they left it open just so they have it on their records. Which dealer did you bring it to? I use Brookdale Pontiac GMC. Which Short Ram are you looking at getting? I just put in a Cosmo Racing S.R. about 5 weeks ago and love it.

[MoonDogg]

If something would have gotten in there... you prolly would already know about it... I don't think you have anything to worry about..

[ColonelPanic]

Maybe, maybe not... Was the filter still seated correctly in the air box? If so, you're probably ok I would imagine. If the filter was completely out of it and you were in a really dusty environment, then it could be an issue. Or perhaps if the filter was out and water got into the air box (not sure what that would do, but anyway...)The noise you've been hearing, was that a clicking type of sound? There's the infamous "vacuum switching valve" right after the air box that clicks occasionally. If the cover was open, that could be why the noise was louder - perhaps the clickety click click was previously muffled by the air box when it was closed. That click is just the noise the VSV makes from normal operation,IIRC.Now if it wasn't a click but more of a knock coming from the engine, I don't want to talk about that.

[FCser]

Well it looked like the air filter was seated correctly. I'm planning to call the dealership and see if they will look it over. They should, and as someone else stated have them make a record of that incase of future damage. I take it the the Arrow Pontiac dealership. It's south of St. paul on Robert St. The sound that I was hearing wasnt really a clicking sound it was more of a clunk type of sound. I remember hearing it at first and i thought it sounded like the drivers side dash was shaking a little bit. I Only noticed it when starting the car. As for the short ram im thinking about, I've read a few people have the cosmo and also I read about someone who has one of the bomz. they are really cheap like 25 bucks. I'm not sure if they are good or not. How much was the cosmo intake?

[BlueCrush]

$83.50 with shipping included to the Twin Cities. Here is a link:http://www.cosmoracing.com/productlist.asp?cid=129