CAI Install problem - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

kurto777 · 03-12-2017, 02:38 PM

Ever since I added a cai on my car, my car rpms go up and down violently when the car is somewhat hot. For example: I turn on the car ( cold start ) and it acts fine. But let say I leave it for 2 hours after driving and then turn it on again, then thats when the rpms go up and down, then after a couple seconds it goes back down to regular idle. I have been having this problem for months.. Oh, and one more thing.. Whenever I go uphill my car starts to hesitate. Like i'm over here pressing on the gas but it doesn't wanna add that power to make it up hill, i forcefully have to press it to go. All of this has been happening ever since I added a cai. Another thing I also noticed is whenever I get my car up to 35-45 mph it starts making a whistling sound for a couple of seconds then goes away, but when I let go of the gas it goes away.. and then it comes back after I stop and go again. Has anyone had these problems?

KillboyPowerhead · 03-12-2017, 03:29 PM

Must be a leak and the MAF sensor is being bypassed and isn't reading the correct amount of air. Check your install and make sure there are no leaks.

kurto777 · 03-12-2017, 03:33 PM

Are you talking about the clamps?

KillboyPowerhead · 03-12-2017, 04:44 PM

When I installed mine I made sure all of the tubes, elbows, etc. were all the way on, as far as possible, and rotated and jiggled each piece together to make sure there was a good fit, and put the clamps on just "hand tight" until everything was in place, then snugged 'er all down. Make sure the clamps are nice and loose when putting the pieces together so they don't interfere with fitment.

kurto777 · 03-12-2017, 07:58 PM

I checked all of the clamps and everything looks good to me. I honestly dont know what it could be.. Car is fine durong cold start, but when I leave the car alone for 2 hours or so and then turn it on again the rpms start going up and down. From 1000 to almost 2000, about 6 times and then it idles to normal..

Tom And Cheryl · 03-12-2017, 08:06 PM

Check the connection to your Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF).

tazman · 03-12-2017, 08:08 PM

Is your car tuned also? I had this problem with my car and I had Will slowly change the stock tune to his so we could get the car to not do it anymore. Unfortunately I don't know what was causing the problem but we got almost perfect to where it almost never happens anymore.

kurto777 · 03-12-2017, 10:06 PM

Nope. No tune on it. I was thinking the trifecta tune could fix it, but then again idk

BluedEvil21 · 03-12-2017, 11:25 PM

Definitely sounds to be an air leak I'd comb over your work....and double check electronic connections just to be safe

1Coopgt · 03-13-2017, 08:53 AM

Try Cleaning the MAF sensor ?

ChibiBlackSheep · 03-13-2017, 11:18 AM

Do you still have the stock intake? I would throw that on and make 100% certain it's from the CAI and not a coincidence.

What brand intake did you purchase?

kurto777 · 03-13-2017, 01:46 PM

I cleaned it last month with the maf spray.. and I bought the AEF Dynamic cai.. I read reviews on it and people love it. Idk why mine is causing problems. Everything seems to be in place and all clamps are tight

HOJO · 03-13-2017, 01:59 PM

I would start by doing as mentioned, throw the stock intake back on and hook every thing up. if the issue goes away it was either an install issue some how or it's a product issue. Best of luck, it sucks to have an issue like this.

yzark99 · 03-13-2017, 10:57 PM

Is the MAF installed backwards in the CAI tube?

03-12-2017, 02:38 PM	#1
kurto777 Drives: 2012 RS V6 2LT- AEF Dynamic, MRT v1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BG Posts: 18	CAI Install problem Ever since I added a cai on my car, my car rpms go up and down violently when the car is somewhat hot. For example: I turn on the car ( cold start ) and it acts fine. But let say I leave it for 2 hours after driving and then turn it on again, then thats when the rpms go up and down, then after a couple seconds it goes back down to regular idle. I have been having this problem for months.. Oh, and one more thing.. Whenever I go uphill my car starts to hesitate. Like i'm over here pressing on the gas but it doesn't wanna add that power to make it up hill, i forcefully have to press it to go. All of this has been happening ever since I added a cai. Another thing I also noticed is whenever I get my car up to 35-45 mph it starts making a whistling sound for a couple of seconds then goes away, but when I let go of the gas it goes away.. and then it comes back after I stop and go again. Has anyone had these problems?

03-12-2017, 03:29 PM	#2
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 988	Must be a leak and the MAF sensor is being bypassed and isn't reading the correct amount of air. Check your install and make sure there are no leaks. __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

03-12-2017, 04:44 PM	#4
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 988	When I installed mine I made sure all of the tubes, elbows, etc. were all the way on, as far as possible, and rotated and jiggled each piece together to make sure there was a good fit, and put the clamps on just "hand tight" until everything was in place, then snugged 'er all down. Make sure the clamps are nice and loose when putting the pieces together so they don't interfere with fitment. __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

03-12-2017, 08:08 PM	#7
tazman Drives: 2014 ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 217	Is your car tuned also? I had this problem with my car and I had Will slowly change the stock tune to his so we could get the car to not do it anymore. Unfortunately I don't know what was causing the problem but we got almost perfect to where it almost never happens anymore. __________________ 2014 ZL1 Roto-Fab intake, 2" TSP headers, JRE 125 package and tune. 2015 2LT RS overkill tune, 80MM throttle body with JacFab spacer, ported intake manifold and Roto-Fab cold air intake. Vitesse throttle controller.

03-12-2017, 11:25 PM	#9
BluedEvil21 Drives: 2013 Camaro v6 hot wheels edition Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: New York Posts: 94 View My Garage	Definitely sounds to be an air leak I'd comb over your work....and double check electronic connections just to be safe __________________ Drop a gear and disappear

03-12-2017, 03:33 PM	#3
kurto777 Drives: 2012 RS V6 2LT- AEF Dynamic, MRT v1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BG Posts: 18	Are you talking about the clamps?

03-12-2017, 07:58 PM	#5
kurto777 Drives: 2012 RS V6 2LT- AEF Dynamic, MRT v1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BG Posts: 18	I checked all of the clamps and everything looks good to me. I honestly dont know what it could be.. Car is fine durong cold start, but when I leave the car alone for 2 hours or so and then turn it on again the rpms start going up and down. From 1000 to almost 2000, about 6 times and then it idles to normal..

03-12-2017, 08:06 PM	#6
Tom And Cheryl Drives: 2013 SS Convertible, ThumperII Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 411 View My Garage	Check the connection to your Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF).

03-12-2017, 10:06 PM	#8
kurto777 Drives: 2012 RS V6 2LT- AEF Dynamic, MRT v1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BG Posts: 18	Nope. No tune on it. I was thinking the trifecta tune could fix it, but then again idk

03-13-2017, 08:53 AM	#10
1Coopgt Drives: All Black 2012 1LS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 2,042 View My Garage	Try Cleaning the MAF sensor ? __________________ Mods, K&N CAI ,VTC , GM Perf Axleback Exhaust, Elite Eng CC and CSS, GM Strut Tower Brace,Carbon Fiber Anvil Spoiler,ASC T5 Splitter,Gen5diy Foglight kit.

03-13-2017, 11:18 AM	#11
ChibiBlackSheep Drives: 2012 2SS/RS, 1968 SS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeast, PA Posts: 2,117	Do you still have the stock intake? I would throw that on and make 100% certain it's from the CAI and not a coincidence. What brand intake did you purchase? __________________ LS3 Crate Engine Swap \| CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3 \| Stainless Power LT Headers \| Z28 Intake \| Borla S-Type Exhaust \| FTI Triple-Disc Billet 3200 Stall 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS \| 1968 Camaro SS \| 2020 Cadillac CT5 Premium Luxury \| 2021 Spark LS

03-13-2017, 01:46 PM	#12
kurto777 Drives: 2012 RS V6 2LT- AEF Dynamic, MRT v1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: BG Posts: 18	I cleaned it last month with the maf spray.. and I bought the AEF Dynamic cai.. I read reviews on it and people love it. Idk why mine is causing problems. Everything seems to be in place and all clamps are tight

03-13-2017, 01:59 PM	#13
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 888	I would start by doing as mentioned, throw the stock intake back on and hook every thing up. if the issue goes away it was either an install issue some how or it's a product issue. Best of luck, it sucks to have an issue like this.

03-13-2017, 10:57 PM	#14
yzark99 I run 2 catch cans... Drives: 2012 1LT SIM Auto Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OR there Posts: 1,038 View My Garage	Is the MAF installed backwards in the CAI tube? __________________ Overkill tuned • Air Scoop • CAI • VMAX PTB • JacFab Laminator FX + Extendolator • SOLO Hi-Flo Cats + Cat-Back Exhaust View my top 3 LFX performance mods and more: .