Hey guys, I need your help and any recommendation. I have an Injen short ram intake and last night i cleaned my filter with a k&n recharge kit. Here is exactly what I did...I went ahead and took out the battery to get to the filter, took off the filter and sprayed the cleaner on the outside of the filter. I let it soak for 10 minutes and flush with water from inside out. I repeat these steps because my filter was filthy. I let it dry naturally over night (close to 24 hours). Next day, i check that the filter was dry and proceed to spray on the oil onto the outside of the filter (I didn't go crazy with the oil, just followed the directions), let it sit for about 30 mins and sprayed onto any spots that I missed earlier. I then let it set for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I do notice that the filter was still a bit oily, so i dab the filter with a paper towel to take off any excess oil. I attach the filter back onto the intake, put the battery back in and get ready to fire up the car.

Once I fire up the car, it start's off strong for a split second, then sounds like it slows down and then it gets' back to normal but see that my check engine light comes on. I go to the engine bay and hear an intermittent hissing sound, i leave it on idle and still hear the sound. I tighten up the filter and turn on and off the car a few times where I hear the hissing sound being less noticeable but still there and still giving me odd start-ups.

I am freaking out right now thinking i messed something up royally but all I did was follow the instructions to the T. I'm afraid something happened to the MAF sensor or something worse. Can anyone give me any advice or recommendations, please, i really appreciate it.

 

i dont think you could screw up anythign major just doing that. id say double check the vent hose, intake clamps, and maf sensor to make sure theyre all tight. then go to autozone/csk (what ever your local parts store is) and either have them check the code, then clear it for you. they usually will do it for free hoping you will buy whatever product you need from them. then drive around for a bit to see if the code pops again. gl!

 

you may have fouled out the maf with excess oil. try taking the maf out and cleaning it with some maf cleaner. re install and then disconnect the battery to clear the code. then run your car for a lil bit and see if it comes back.

 

I took it to autozone and apparently in California, they don't check cel codes. Anyways. while going to autzone, the car ran fine except when i accelerated and hit 2nd gear, it bogged down. I get to autozone, guy comes out to hear what's going on and the car won't start, it tries to start but fails. He said he hears it could be a vacuum hose leak. I tell him if he had a 10mm so i can reset the battery, he comes out with it and tells me to detach the negative from the battery, put my key to "on", attach the negative back onto the battery and crank it to bypass the alarm (aftermarket, not factory). So I go ahead and do that, it starts up with no problem, I am amazed.

Of course it couldn't have been that easy. I get him to hear the hissing sound it was still making (check engine light still on by the way) and still said he thought it was the vacuum. While I had my car on idle, the car started getting worse, it started to shake and bog. It was loud and it even had my exhaust humming as well. I drove it home that way and I thought the car was going to leave me cuz it kept bogging and shaking, my car had never done that or had a problem this severe. I get home and have my dad come over to troubleshoot...we took the filter off again, tighten it back, tighten any clamps and even check the MAF. It was still having trouble to start up. I do the whole detach the negative from the battery thing and it fired up normally once again. We drove it around and for the most part it drove well, no misfires or anything. It did however bog down getting to 30-35mph at times, not all of the time.

Once we get back home, i turn the car off and try to turn it back on and it doesn't start. Awesome. So, I crank it and give it a little gas and get it to turn on. This time the car started to do the same thing it did at autozone, bog down and shake at idle, had my exhaust humming and it was just loud. My dad and I were confused as to what the hell was going on with my car when all I did was clean the filter.

My car has always been great to me from the day I bought it with no problems and I can't imagine what is going on with it now. I'm thinking of taking it to a mechanic and getting the CEL checked out today. I am also thinking of going back to the stock airbox. I really don't feel like putting up with the hassle with the intake, especially when my 5 years are coming up and having it to get smogged.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what could be going on with my car? Or any recommendations what I should do? I've been stressing about it all day and I am just going nuts about this problem. If anyone can help, please feel free to give input, thanks.

 

try putting the stock air box back on and see if it runs any better.

 

Here's an update: the maf was messed up. Tried cleaning it and it didn't help. Took it to a mechanic and paid for a new maf sensor. I had the mechanic take my SRI off and put on the stock air box, done with it. I am going to sell it and only go with dry filters from here on out.

 

that's good you found out the cause. figured it was the maf. 99% of the time it is when dealing with oiling of filters.

 

I was afraid it was a fried a maf sensor but had it in the back of mind the whole time while troubleshooting. I emailed k&n and injen about what happened becausethey have to be aware this happens more than they think even when the consumer follows all directions correctly and takes all of the precautions necessary just to see that it did not help and still caused damage. Dry filters for me now, even if I have to replace them.

I am totally relieved tho that the problem is resolved. Just gotta keep an eye on the car still to see how the car adjusts back to the stock airbox. Thanks for those of you that gave input, i appreciated it.

 

you know that aem makes dryflow cone filters for aftermarket intakes right? that's what i'm using. no oiling. just clean and let dry.