Need help with my intake [Archive]

jchc91

11-08-2012, 05:51 PM

my friend had some intake piping lying around so we decided to make something of it and made a custom SRI (About 3" piping. Sits nicely where the air filter used to be)

We disconnected battery for 30seconds, reconnected (So ECU would reset) and let it run. First time around it was great. Then when I turned the car off and turned it on again, the check engine light was on.

Does anyone have any pointers on how to fix this?

Regards

greyseason

11-08-2012, 06:24 PM

Did you reinstall the MAF sensor?

loki

11-08-2012, 06:26 PM

Did you reinstall the MAF sensor?

would be epic, if MAF sensor delete mod

post up some pics and let's have a look, might help spot something that is wrong.

greyseason

11-08-2012, 06:34 PM

hahah MAF delete mod.

jchc91

11-08-2012, 06:46 PM

Haha no MAF delete... I don't think that'd be very smart? Plus I've tried just leaving the sensor unplugged. Doesn't even start.

Like I said, the car runs fine and normally but when the car is turned off and turned on the CEL comes on

Here's what the custom job looks like

http://i.imgur.com/vBnMu.jpg

Yes, that's a K&N sticker... Gotta make it look cool.. LOL

loki

11-08-2012, 07:00 PM

Scan the code and see exactly what the cel is for

Thrizzl3

11-08-2012, 07:26 PM

That's a sick intake! Where does the MAF sensor go?

rzapata

11-08-2012, 08:35 PM

That's a sick intake! Where does the MAF sensor go?

Ding ding ding!

CH0SiiN1

11-08-2012, 08:42 PM

Man.. thats not even close to where the intake connects.. that pic is cut n paste.. wtf?? look again, he has the intake pasted over the sensors and the oem air box.
If you want real help.. Then post a legit picture
Just my $0.02

Hyperion

11-08-2012, 08:47 PM

jchc91

11-08-2012, 08:58 PM

rzapata

11-08-2012, 09:03 PM

I have a feeling that it's the big intake or the MAF and the code will probably be P2187 - engine running too lean at idle.

TM3 Thread - CEL after intake install (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?43571-CEL-after-intake-install)

CH0SiiN1

11-08-2012, 09:06 PM

My MAF sensor would go on top. It's hidden from the angle I took my picture.

Khemiikalz I'm not sure what Mazda you have. In my 2.0 that's where it would go. I don't have the intake in because I hated seeing the check engine light. No offense but I think you need to make sure you know what's real before you say it's not. I but that's just my $0.02,

I know whats real, I never claimed you never had it in.. but that pic is not real.. All Im saying is if you want real help, then a real pic of it installed could make it easier to help.. Not this..
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/havoc-disciple/vBnMu-1.jpg?t=1352426347
And mine is a 2.3L but they still are identical..
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/havoc-disciple/intake6.jpg?t=1352039621

Thrizzl3

11-08-2012, 09:09 PM

it's not installed. he is just showing you the intake..if you can clearly see the stock intake box is still connected to the throttle body you would know that it is not cut and paste...

2zoom

11-08-2012, 09:15 PM

Did you install the air straightener?

Aitch

11-08-2012, 09:17 PM

Given that you hacked together an intake, it is very likely that the MAF isn't getting a consistent signal as their may be a lot of turbulent air going around it. Intakes are somewhat pricey for a reason. I know, I used a universal intake on my last car for a while and after a few months got a consistent CEL. I just went back to stock as I couldn't be bothered to try and troubleshoot.

CH0SiiN1

11-08-2012, 09:21 PM

it's not installed. he is just showing you the intake..if you can clearly see the stock intake box is still connected to the throttle body you would know that it is not cut and paste...
I disagree, he said..

Khemiikalz I'm not sure what Mazda you have. In my 2.0 that's where it would go.
Nope it would go approx 6" towards the grill and 3-4" away from the motor from where you have it sitting

Thanks for the update lol, I know its not connected, to me it sounds like he is saying thats where it will be connected to the throttle body.. I clearly can see the factory intake still connected but how is that relevant to the "custom intake" that looks like it was pasted on the pic?.. If its the shadow from the intake resting on top then I apologize because it looks like a black outline from copy and pasting.. Anyways I just wanted to see a pic of it physically connected to the throttle body and see how much room you have to play with to mount MAF

CH0SiiN1

11-08-2012, 09:47 PM

After looking a few more times, I apologize for saying you copied and pasted it, I got on my laptop instead of my celly and can see that you have it resting on top (the shadows led me to think it was pasted), can you post a pic of the top side of the intake? to see where you have the sensors mounted.
The pic doesn't really show what you've done as far as mounting the sensors, or if there are pre made sensor ports?
I wasn't trying to be a :AH
Sorry man.. hope you get her figured out.. as Phil said it would look sick

silverstarmazda

11-08-2012, 10:27 PM

Sin

11-08-2012, 10:55 PM

If you want to do this without the headache, disconnect the factory air box, go to performance improvements, buy a maf adapter item # 9405.

Install the maf adapter to where the factory air box was connected, use the smallest slide that is included in the kit.

Did you install the air straightener?

Connect your air filter, tighten everything up and that should do it!!

jchc91

11-08-2012, 11:33 PM

Haha Khemiikalz, that's okay. I just put the thing my friend and I made on top so you can gauge the size of it...

I was at work so I was a little delayed on this part, but here's some pics...

http://imgur.com/a/MjdVT#1

I do realize I need to do a clean in my Engine bay... Sorry for the mess guys haha

What's the air straightener? Is it that one mini valve to the left of the MAF (on the stock air box)

At school I believe I have some scan tools... I'll see if I can't convince my teacher to let me use it for the ECL light.

I've read around and it might be a "too lean or too rich" mixture... Or something. I'll let you know ASAP.

There's also something about a... "fix"? No idea what that is, but people were apparently praising its remedy.

Cheers

Hyperion

11-08-2012, 11:40 PM

Why does it look like your recirculation hose goes into your MAF?

jchc91

11-08-2012, 11:41 PM

Sorry for double post, but Sin or anyone else,

Is that MAF#9405 (Assuming it's the spectre kit?) available at Canadian AutoZone equivalent Partsource? Canadian Tire? Etc. I live in Richmond Hill, Ontario if that helps with finding handy shops near me..

Also, if it helps.

When my car is on (during first start up before warm up), approximately an hour and a half since I had my car on (to test my ECL on/off) my car felt like it wanted to stall so I had to add some gas into it so it'd stay running.

The sound it gives off kind of makes my car sound like it's cammed lol

jay93

11-08-2012, 11:41 PM

since its just a bent tube and has no flat place for the sensor to sit flat on. its either causing a leak, or is getting turbulent air (or both). the pcv is also not going anywhere but that shouldnt throw a code.

i agree with this. pipe seem's to be way to short and the sensor is not sitting properly on the pipe. my pipe is much longer then his and it works but then again the pipe i have for my short ram is specific for the gen 1. i would post pictures lol just can't find my usb cable for my cellphone

jchc91

11-08-2012, 11:42 PM

Recirculation hose is behind MAF sensor... My friend and I didn't know what to do so we put a filter at the end of it and it's just hanging there :S

jay93

11-08-2012, 11:50 PM

in that case. i say buy a pipe specific for your 3 i've had my short ram in for about 3 months now never got a CEL related to it. then again i've never got a CEL accept for my o2 sens lol. but yeah get a new pipe. on my short ram set up like i said it's longer and it does make a bend but where the sensor sits on mine is completly flat as yours actually looks like it bends there where the sens is and like silverstar said since it's bent kinda it doesnt sit properly potentially causing a leak around the sensor maybe. or......are you using the stock hose of the airbox that conects to the back of the motor? to connect you pipe

jchc91

11-08-2012, 11:55 PM

jay93

11-09-2012, 12:01 AM

The pipe we made fit perfectly so we just took a rubber ring and placed it around the edge where you connect the intake hose to. Clamped it down with a heavy duty clamp (screw in type) and Bob was our friend.

So do you recommend that I buy that Spectre kit adapter that Sin said to buy then?

that ring you're talking about is the rubber inbetween the pipe and the throttle body? yes no? what i am talking about it the hose that conncets to the intake and runs to the back of the motor how did you conncet that?

jchc91

11-09-2012, 12:03 AM

Ohh that. It's connected to a filter. From my understanding it's just a PCV valve that shoots the air back into the system so it recirculates and isn't resent back into the air.

jay93

11-09-2012, 12:13 AM

well idk but from my experiance my car ran sluggish cus i was messing around with the short ram one day and i didn't connect that hose properly and i drove down to t.o and i notice the car ran diffrently if you look at Khemiikalz set up he posted a pic of his on this thread youll see where the hose is conncected that's why i think you should actually shop around for that mazda specific pipe for your car and you CEL might be gone for good after you clear it

Lockdown

11-09-2012, 01:52 AM

You need to seal the MAF area.
Carefully think about what is going on. You have to think about what a MAF. Does and you will see the issue.

silverstarmazda

11-09-2012, 04:06 AM

Ohh that. It's connected to a filter. From my understanding it's just a PCV valve that shoots the air back into the system so it recirculates and isn't resent back into the air.

it doesnt shoot the air back into the intake. the intake vacuum pulls the fumes out from the pcv. people have put a mini filter on the valve cover where the hose comes out and has had no problems. my intake is very similar to your intake, ill see if i can take a picture. but heres a photo of the one i have.
http://imageshack.us/a/img171/9607/kgrhqjgwe5kvy7kqbor3puk.jpg

notice how the maf is seated near the filter on the straight portion of the pipe. not sure if thats the problem you might be seeing on yours. but upon further looking at your picture. it doesnt look like you maf is %100 straight with the pipe (a bit turned counter clockwise). the wires may be pushing it to the side just a bit. is the maf secured by screws or did you just cork it on?

CH0SiiN1

11-09-2012, 08:27 PM

I would think this is his problem, I agree the MAF is not flush to the intake tubing(at least thats how it appears), nor is it properly mounted or sealed judging by the pic as Silverstar mentioned.
IMO thats where you should start, try and use tubing with a flat spot to attach MAF, if you tried to seal it with some form of sealent, I would scrap that part as thats the last thing you want to heat up and have you engine suck in..
Start with getting the MAF properly connected and sealed (air tight, no leaks) because you are probably getting a bad read due to un-filtered air being sucked in.. The air under the hood isn't what you want going raw to the throttle body, its thick air since its very hot.. not to mention all the dirt/dust flowing around.
To be honest, I would save the headache and grab a used one(SRI) on here or kijiji ($50-100) and put that nice filter on the used one (if you chose that route)

Lockdown

11-09-2012, 08:43 PM

A couple of quick corrections here.
The engine is receiving unmetered air from the engine bay and the computer does not know about this and is only supplying the fuel for the metered air. Cover that hole.
Secondly, warm air is less dense than cold air all other parameters equal.
The point above about unfiltered air is also correct, you ideally want the engine to suck in filtered air, tolerances in an engine are very tight and the smallest things can destroy them.

I just want to make sure you start off with the right basics.

Adamo23

11-09-2012, 10:30 PM

jchc91

11-09-2012, 11:28 PM

Thanks for all the input guys... But I kinda want to just experiment to see how far and how well I can do before I give up..

I feel like it's the simplest thing too.

Used a dremel to roughly create the circle, then used a bastard file to smoothen out the circle and gradually make it a tight fit for the MAF.

Placed GOOP adhesives to around the MAF sensor so it creates a seal.

Anyway, so my friend and I decided to make do with what Silverstarmazda posted. It worked for a good hour and a half until I let the engine cool down for about 2 hours.

Came back out, started car - ECL on, engine had a little sputter, but quickly adjusted itself to run properly within 2 minutes.

Needless to say, throttle response is not raspy or weak like the old one - Feels like the stock one with a little better response.

I'll post pics soon. Just got back from my friend's place and it's been a long night trying to figure out the E.C.L.

I was just wondering - Would getting an "MAF Adjuster / Tuning kit" help in any sense?

r4BBiT

11-12-2012, 10:19 AM

I admire your persistence, but like other said there is a reason why the intakes cost what they do. Companies put a research into (man hours = $) so the product does not throw the codes and gives you the best performance (at least the good brands do). It might look like simple thing to you but if you put it on wind tunnel and die the air you can see how it is actually flowing and if there is turbulence or not.

If you really want to make this work I suggest that you get a longer piece of middle pipe that is straight and that's were you mount your MAF; just look at every other intake and note that the MAF is on straight piece. Also make you cutout tight so you can seal it just with the rubber gasket that it comes with and don't use anything else. Also make some kind of seating area for rubber gasket so that can't be pulled inside as well. Do you really want to blow your engine but sucking some GOOP adhesives?

You are not going to "fix" your CEL unless you make this intake properly. That is just my 2 cents.

jchc91

11-14-2012, 10:25 PM

I got the engine scanned.

Rzapata mentioned in an earlier post that it might be a P2187. He is correct. It also read a Lean On Idle Off reading.

As I kept the engine running longer with the intake, engine began to show signs of misfiring on start up.

Decided it was best to give up and that R4bbit is right. :(