Installed CAI - Engine won't start

GDVibes · Post by **GDVibes** » Thu May 19, 2011 9:58 am

Hello all, I have a Frosty 2005 Vibe Base that I've owned since October 2010.I finally got my cosmo cold air intake in the mail today, was so excited!After I had everything hooked up, I took the car out for a test drive, it rode nice, and the growl was wicked. The ride was a little rough, but I assumed that was from the PCM/ECU resetting from having the battery disconnected.Came home, checked a few sites out, but then had to run out to the gas station..Lo and behold.. The car won't start. Nothing changed between going in, and coming back out.If I hold the gas pedal down a bit, it will stay running, but the RPMs will swing majorly, but as soon as I let it go, it drops straight down to 0 and the engine dies.The CEL is on.. But I can't exactly push it the 15mi to the nearest auto store to have them check what code it's throwing.Anybody have any ideas, or experience, on this? Would be highly appreciated!

keithvibe · Post by **keithvibe** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:13 am

check the rubber coupler where the intake meets the TB... if there is a gap it will idle as you described. Go over all your connections as well. Your describing a vacuum leak. Just a very small air leak will cause this issue. I had mine come off the TB just a sliver and it caused the idle issue you are describing.If you find no air leaks, try disconnecting the battery again and see if it will restart correctly.Before you disconnect the battery, is the CEL flashing? or just steady?

GDVibes · Post by **GDVibes** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:24 am

Just went outside and reconnected the Negative terminal on the battery. The CEL has gone away, but the issue remains.I also took note that with the A/C on full, the RPMs actually steadied somewhat, and the car was willing to idle for a few minutes before stalling again.Before I disconnected the battery earlier, the CEL was just steady.Overall, I also noticed that the CAI was a very tight fit.. Possibly poor work? Couldn't even get it to fit correctly, had to really squeeze it in there..When I got the box, the outside was beat up a bit, one of the two boxes inside were smashed in, and the pipe was just in the box, wrapped in a little bit of bubble wrap..The box says 2005-2007 Vibe Base, but will run back out and check. I know I did have it angled slightly on the TB, but didn't think it would hurt. May just have to simply tighten the clamp..Will run out and check for any possible air leaks.

GDVibes · Post by **GDVibes** » Thu May 19, 2011 10:54 am

Ok, so the car is running.I had used one of the clamps from the old airbox as an extra clamp for the rubber connector from pipe to TB. I switched the clamps around. The clamp that came with the pipe tight on the TB, and the old clamp tight on the pipe end.Engine is running great now, gonna go take it out for a ride and hopefully all will be well. CEL is also still off.Much appreciated, Keith! She's my daily driver, and it's Harley Bike Week around here.. Can't go for long without her!Now to go test out this new intake on the roads (all highways around here ) and see how it runs!

GDVibes · Post by **GDVibes** » Thu May 19, 2011 1:38 pm

Took the car out. Went about 90mi total. Took it down to Myrtle Beach, and stopped at my job (I'm a dishwasher at a buffet).Stopped at one of the bike rallies up there. Turned off/started the car probably about 3 times each. Didn't have any issues.However, on the highway going down there, I was doing about 65 and it felt like the engine wanted to stall a bit, but kept catching. My manager used to be a mechanic, so I got a little local help . The car also threw a CEL when the jerking/half stalling started.He had me move my clamp to the very end of the rubber connector - closest to the TB, and tightened the bolt to the point of it not moving any further..Car drove very nice on the way home. However, throughout all of this.. I still don't quite have Reverse. If I put it in reverse, the engine will jerk a bit, and stall. If I press the gas as soon as I feel the transmission go into reverse, the car will work perfectly fine. Will even come to a complete stop in reverse without stalling after hitting the gas initially.At this point, that's the only issue left. My manager even got me thinking about a new high flow exhaust lol.Even got some nice compliments on the CAI

Installed CAI - Engine won't start

Installed CAI - Engine won't start

Re: Installed CAI - Engine won't start (GDVibes)

Re: Installed CAI - Engine won't start (keithvibe)

Re: Installed CAI - Engine won't start (keithvibe)

Re: Installed CAI - Engine won't start (GDVibes)