Check engine light 3 days after Injen CAI install. Help!!!

[damronjr]

As it says, I don't want to get reamed about searching and reading through 20 threads of 200 posts to find nothing that seems to help me. I ran a search and started reading through some threads, but they are too long I couldn't find the information I needed. Sunday we installed the Injen CAI. No problems at all until today I drove it from my work about 2 miles to get some lunch. As I got there the check engine light came on. I popped the hood and could find anything disconnected or anything. I haven't checked the filter or gas door yet. I have heard about this "too lean" possibility, but I was wondering if anyone knew what the probable faults are and/or what the possible fixes are? I don't want to take it to the dealer as it takes forever and I don't want to get into some s#$^ about warranty voidance and all that. I know it does not void the warranty, but I know that;s not what they will try to tell me. I planned to check the filter, gas door, and maybe even disconnect/reconnect the battery and reset it and see if that helps, but I was hoping someone might have some answers here.

[Mr. Poopypants]

OK, one more time. Make sure the hoses are in the correct spots. Make sure that the MAF sensor is screwed in tightly. Did you let the car idle for at least 20 mins after installing? You may want to try disconnecting the battery for 15-20 mins and the reconnecting to reset the ECU, then allow it to idle for 20 mins. Did I miss anything guys?

[Mase]

Get the code read. It'll make it a lot easier for you to fix. Autozone has the tool to read it for free.It's better than playing reset now, guess later game.

[nismo]

Yes. I agree, go to Autozone and get them to run a diagnostic. Inder

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by TRD4reel »Yes. I agree, go to Autozone and get them to run a diagnostic. InderWill do. Thanks guys! I heard something about them "renting" the readers, but if they will just read it for free I will do that for sure. I will re-check everything too when I get one.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Hope it's nothing major, usually if you install the CAI and you get the CEL you are not SOL. hehehe Did you get that?

[jimincalif]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »Hope it's nothing major, usually if you install the CAI and you get the CEL you are not SOL. hehehe Did you get that?Are you saying that if the CAI causes a CEL it is usually not a BFD?

[Mr. Poopypants]

Not a BFD at all!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Mase »Get the code read. It'll make it a lot easier for you to fix. Autozone has the tool to read it for free.It's better than playing reset now, guess later game.As for Autozone reading it for free, that is a big NEGATIVE! Sure, it's free if you leave $170 deposit which you will get back after you return it. They don't read it for you, they give it to you to read yourself and charge you $170 to make sure they get it back. Oh well, I checked everything I could think of and found nothing wrong, so I just decided to pull the negative cable and let it sit for 15min, then hooked it back up and let it idle for 15min. It's off right now(the CEL, that is), but if it comes back on I'll just have to take it to the dealer.

[Mr. Poopypants]

Let's just hope that it was a minor thing that will be fixed by resetting the ECU.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by Mr. Poopypants »Let's just hope that it was a minor thing that will be fixed by resetting the ECU.Yeah, if it comes back up (which it should if it was anything major), my first stop will be the dealer. I've just heard so many times where this has happened right after a CAI install and then goes away, I figured I'd try it and if anything is really wrong then it should come right back up and I will take it in.

[nismo]

That's weird man. The Autozone next to my house does ECU readings for you for free. O well. Yeah, hopefully your CEL doesn't come on again.Inder

[goodvibe]

Your CEL will likely return in a few days. Clean the MAF. It may have some oil on it from the filter. It's a common problem. You can easily use a spray carb cleaner once it's removed. There's not much to do if it's just lean without a MAF problem. By the way, you're dead wrong about the warranty. GM has a bulletin stating that any oiled filter will void the warranty on intake parts. Guess why. Fortunetly your mechanic probably doesn't know this either.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »As for Autozone reading it for free, that is a big NEGATIVE! Sure, it's free if you leave $170 deposit which you will get back after you return it. WOW thats crap. here in the midwest they come out to your car and do it themselves for free. it must be a california thing. maybe you should move. LOLif you do clean the MAF sensor just blow it of with air, don't use oil or cleaner of any kind.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe »Your CEL will likely return in a few days. Clean the MAF. It may have some oil on it from the filter. It's a common problem. You can easily use a spray carb cleaner once it's removed. There's not much to do if it's just lean without a MAF problem. By the way, you're dead wrong about the warranty. GM has a bulletin stating that any oiled filter will void the warranty on intake parts. Guess why. Fortunetly your mechanic probably doesn't know this either.Yep, it came back on just like you figured. On may way to work today and all of a sudden there it is! The thing with thw oiled filter, well, after having a K&N I should have thought about that, but the Injen didn't come with any oil and I never even thought about oiling it, so unless it was pre-oiled, which I am sure it wasn't, then it hasn't even been oiled. Is this a problem? Do I need to oil it? Maybe I better check the site? I didn't see it in the instructions and it didn't come with any.... Someone on MO suggested: ^ try pulling the efi fuse, leave it for about 20 minutes, put it back and start the car... let it idle for like another 20 minutes then take it out for a spin and see what happens if you think it's caused by the air/fuel. Might do this and try blowing off the MAF sensor before I head to the dealer. Don't want to go to the dealer and have them tell me it's my fault and I have to pay them for looking at it and everything else.

[millster]

The filters from Injen are pre-oiled. At least I know mine was.Just thought I'd throw that out there before you put more oil on your filter. That would really make a mess.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by millster »The filters from Injen are pre-oiled. At least I know mine was.Just thought I'd throw that out there before you put more oil on your filter. That would really make a mess. Thanks, I never even thought about it!

[wicked1981]

The thing that makes the filter pink is the oil so if you have a pink filter it should be oiled. When you clean it you have to spray it to remove all the oil then re-oil it and turns pink again.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by wicked1981 »When you clean it you have to spray it to remove all the oil then re-oil it and turns pink again.With a K&N filter recharger kit? I still have mine at home from the K&N filter I had in my S-10.

[BlueCrush]

Yes use the K&N Kit it works great! I have used it in the past.

[goodvibe]

You can't just blow oil of the MAF without a solvent. It's sticky oil for a reason. I had the same problem with a drop in K&N. I didn't get the CEL but it ran like crap after a day. I cleaned the MAF and all was good. I have a spare MAF I picked up for cheap but I never needed it.

[damronjr]

Well, here's how the story goes. I went to the dealership after work and walked over to the service area. I asked a guy there that I have spoken with before if, due to the A/M CAI install, would they charge me to check the CEL problem. He agreed with me that it should be under warranty and told me to go get the car and pull it in. I brought the car over and another guy came to my window. He asked what I needed and I pointed at the CEL and said "I need yoou to fix that". I told him I had just installed a CAI and he proceeded to tell me that due to the fact the I "tampered with the emissions devices" that it was not under warranty, that the soonest they could see me was Mon, and that they would charge me $80 just to check the code and see what the problem was! Why can't we all be on the same page? I said ok and left, b/c who cares, they can't fix it right now anyways. I asked if it was OK to drive it with the CEL being on and he said if it felt fine not to worry about it. This, my friends, is why I do not go to the dealer! I will probably take it in on Mon, but I will be sure to speak to the 1st guy, tell him what the other guy said, and make damn sure they don't plan to charge me when I come to pick it up! Might try cleaning the MAF sensor this weekend though. What do you suggest to use to clean it and how? Just spray it down with some carb cleaner or something so it will dry quickly and not damage anything?

[goodvibe]

I used gumout carb cleaner and just sprayed and wiped. The wiping part may not be needed and is a bit risky. I believe the actual air sensor bit is up the tube and the exposed metal is the temp sensor.