what is this??

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:23 pm

i did my oil change today. i also checked my air filter. when i opened it up. i noticed a white cone inside on the engine side of the filter housing. seems like it extends the duct work. it also seems like it created a barrier the air has to over come after it passes the filter. so ofcourse i removed it. anybody know what this is? or better, what it's there for. i haven't gotten the car dynoed "ever". but i did fel something of a stronger pull. maybe i'm imagening this. but the car has a different feel.

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 12:42 pm

HMM, I never noticed it when I took out the stock airbox. Weird, what year is yours? Maybe it's a new thing they put in. Any pics of it??

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:41 am

Do you have a base Vibe? If so, there is a white plastic "air bell" in the air cleaner to improve the flow into the ducting. It also has a grid across it to straighten the airflow so that the Mass Airflow Sensor gets a proper signal. Although the bell increases flow ~5%, the grid reduces it about 15%, so there is a slight net increase with it removed, but a possibility of MAF error codes.

nortsr · Post by **nortsr** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:19 am

In other words...Put it back where you found it!!!!

Mr. Poopypants · Post by **Mr. Poopypants** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:21 am

I didn't have one of these when I put the CAI on my car, not that it matters any more but should I have had one of those?

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:59 am

Quote, originally posted by nortsr Â»In other words...Put it back where you found it!!!!That sounds like a plan to me... It has to be there for a reason, and what was posted above sounds like a good enough reason as any. Auto manufacturers are in business for one reason and one reason only: To make money. They're going to cut corners every chance they get. Pennies count, and every penny they can save on a car is a penny tat can go in someone' pocket. Therefore, they aren't going to just put something in place that isn't needed, that's throwing money down the crapper. Just my $0.02, which is probably what that part cost to make.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 5:53 am

why not just cut the grid out. that would be just as good as removing it?

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:12 am

Cutting the grid out does improve the flow vs. just removing the whole thing, as the air bell shape provides a better entry than the square edge of the outlet. When I took the piece out of my 1ZZ a couple of years ago, the correction values for the MAF signal changed, telling me that the grid had been acting as designed. That said, I could detect no ill effects from the change. Soon after, I fitted an AEM CAI, which definitely picked up the performance and the sound..

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:11 pm

well, it seems like i don't need pictures of it since a few of you know what it is. Bad news is that when i went to take pictures of it. i couldn't find it. i have no clue where it is. it must be in here somewhere. so, i can't just put it on. i filled up thge car, and reset the miles. i plan to monitor the fuel economy. if there is a decrease of economy, then i will look for it some more, if i can't find it.. i will have to buy one. unless i get negative results, i will keep it off.i've only got 14k miles on the vibe. a lot of warranty left.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:34 am

I would say it function as a emmisions reducer rather than a performance inhancer. I would think it would be just like a restrictore plate on a race car.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:20 am

Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 Â»i've only got 14k miles on the vibe. a lot of warranty left. Only if they find that piece missing, they may or may not repair the car under warranty since the system was tampered with...

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:08 pm

good news!!i found it under a broom.i did suspected it was an aide to the maf sensor. either way. i want to experiment with it. if there isn't any positive gains from it, then i will put it back after shaving off the grid mesh.

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:01 pm

hey gushow easily did it come off? i usually don't change my own oil, but if comes out easy, and you get some positive results from removing it, i'll try that tookeep us posted! m/ >.< m/

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:54 pm

pretty easy. open the air filter housing. inside on the engine side of the box. as you pull down on it, you will notice a clip holding it in place. once you locate it, you can push it with your fingers and it'll come off.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:59 pm

I removed mine and cut the grid out and put it back in. I also fuilled up so I can check the MPG. I will let everyone know the result.

binary · Post by **binary** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 9:13 am

My '05 had a plastic doo-dad on the upper airbox that was a sandwich of charcoal between two layers of plastic mesh...Yeah, that got yanked today. I, too, just filled up and will see what my MPG does.I also have the air funnel - but I left that alone... for now.

Digger · Post by **Digger** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:18 am

after first tank I had a 2.5MPG gain.

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:15 pm

cool. since i'm not working. i'm still on my first tank of gas.

nortsr · Post by **nortsr** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:10 pm

Would doing this affect the 3yr./36,000 mile warranty??? I assume it was put there for a purpose??

nortsr · Post by **nortsr** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:12 pm

Sorry, I did not see the previous posting about the warrant...but my question still stands. Will it affect the warranty???

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:22 am

Believe me. If it would gain 2,5 mpg, Pontiac/Toyota wouldn't put it there in the first place. These generally work for lower rpm (below 3k) air flow to keep the correct velocities and flow over the sensor. I would try it in and out by doing quick stabs at the throttle at between 2 and 2.5k and see if the motor responds instantaniously. If you gain 2 hp peak at the expense of throttle response by removing it, I would be surprised.

mcgusto82 · Post by **mcgusto82** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 8:22 am

it might effect the warranty. you just have to be smarter than them lol. don't throw it away. keep it. if you need to take it in for service, put it back on. it takes less than 2 minutes. that's including opening the hood. But if you are worried about that.. then don't do it.it's not a new way to crew up warranty. installing a CAI will defenately void ALOT of the intake system warratied items.plus alot of the techs might not even notice the funnel missing. i swear. i've open the air box numerous of times. that one time was the first time i noticed it.

binary · Post by **binary** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 10:52 am

Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 Â»it might effect the warranty. you just have to be smarter than them lol. don't throw it away. keep it. if you need to take it in for service, put it back on. That's what the deep bottom drawer on my toolbox is for - removed OEM parts... If I need to take it to the dealer - it goes back in. So far I'm just empting out my first tank sans plastic mesh thingy... I'll know more in the morning when I fill up.But I'm going to see over a few tanks if my average increases... this will just give me a good idea, but I'm not done testing yet.

what is this??

what is this??

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