any UK owners with Cold Air Intake installed?

[declan]

Hi Guys.

Just wondering if any of you live in the UK and have a Cold Air Intake installed on a zzt230/1? I'm thinking of getting one myself, for a Celica TSport (2001) and would like to hear some of your experiences. Especially when it comes to wet weather driving and protection of the filter from rain / puddles.

I'm also interested in which brand you went for. There's lots about, and I've found them ranging from £40ish on Ebay for some obscure brand, to K&N / Injen ones for up to £250. I'm wondering if the flash ones are really worth the difference in price? I suspect there's an element of 'get what you pay for' with this, but to what degree?

Thanks...

[Seven Of Nine]

AEM / INJEN etc CAI's are quite good, also so are some of the ebay ones, but you basically do get what you pay for. With regards to the wet weather as long as you don't submerge or drive through any water which can be sucked up by the filter you will be ok. But just be aware of the hydrolog if youre not too sure about a deep puddle find an alternative route. ALso some of the CAI's may bogg at certain RPMS's or cause a CEL light just something to be aware of as most don't maintain the internal MAF sensor fins which may cause the sensor to make the car run rich a little. Fitting is'nt too bad have to remove the stock air box take some pipes out block a few things up, you must also cut a hole in the wheel arch, so you can fit the filter. Taking off the front bumper is a good idea.

[declan]

What do you think of this K&N one?

http://www.knfilters.com/search/prod...Prod=69-8522TB

It's not the full on cold air type... would this also produce the CEL light and / or bogging at certain RPM's? If so, I'll probably just leave it all alone.

[Seven Of Nine]

That K&N is a short ram you wont get as much gain as the CAI but like any induction kit well most will allow the engine to breath easier.

If you are mechaninally minded you could chop your stock air box up and just have the pipe present from the throttle bodie get red of the air box and mount a pipe in there with the biggest K&N or Biltz SUS filter on the end. Do this right and you will have no CEL or bogging. But you must be aware of the other pipes and tubing which need to be taken off or blocked.

copy and paste this link into IE if it does'nt load http://www.pro-xdesign.50megs.com/Ce...M%20Intake.jpg
This is my RMM short Ram basically the INJEN, K&N, RMM etc are very similar. UK spec Celica 190.

[declan]

nice one, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

[Uberay]

Originally Posted by declan

nice one, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

I have an AEM CAI on my 01 Celica. I shared your concern about water getting swallowed by the engine, which I think would be its last swallow. I had my
CAI installed by Toyota Canada, and this means that it's covered by my ECP (7-year extended warranty plan), and also does not void the warranty on any other parts or components. I got very little input from Toyota about the risks -- but they implied that as long as I don't drive through a flooded street, it should be safe.

The engine has never run better -- it can breath now, so that you can pin the throttle to the floor and get brilliant response. Reduced lags, and total elimination of that bucking bronco thing at higher speeds. There's also a noticeable increase in horsepower at higher speeds, when the air is really some thrust.

The negatives are that I had some premature battery failure (only 4 years old), not covered by the extended warranty, which I believe is due to the CAI's draw.
I combined the AEM CAI with a TRD cat-back system; it can be quite a lot of noise but I think its fun, and definitely safer around blind corners in town.

The CAI is aimed into the foglamp inlet, which is vacant. I have a front face mask, from which I had a tailor removed the plastic foglamp covers.

In case of terribly wet weather, I made a little screen system out of a round piece of wire screening sold in the kitchen supply shop, which can then be held in place by the face mask as a sort of grill. So if there's signfiicant accumulations of water or slush on the ground, I can pull the car over and slip in the screen system.

I haven't actually used it yet, but it sounds like a good idea, n'est pas? ;)

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Uberay

I have an AEM CAI on my 01 Celica. *I shared your concern about water getting swallowed by the engine, which I think would be its last swallow. *I had my
CAI installed by Toyota Canada, and this means that it's covered by my ECP (7-year extended warranty plan), and also does not void the warranty on any other parts or components. *I got very little input from Toyota about the risks -- but they implied that as long as I don't drive through a flooded street, it should be safe.

The engine has never run better -- it can breath now, so that you can pin the throttle to the floor and get brilliant response. *Reduced lags, and total elimination of that bucking bronco thing at higher speeds. * There's also a noticeable increase in horsepower at higher speeds, when the air is really some thrust.

The negatives are that I had some premature battery failure (only 4 years old), not covered by the extended warranty, which I believe is due to the CAI's draw.
I combined the AEM CAI with a TRD cat-back system; *it can be quite a lot of noise but I think its fun, and definitely safer around blind corners in town.

The CAI is aimed into the foglamp inlet, which is vacant. *I have a front face mask, from which I had a tailor removed the plastic foglamp covers. *

In case of terribly wet weather, I made a little screen system out of a round piece of wire screening sold in the kitchen supply shop, which can then be held in place by the face mask as a sort of grill. *So if there's signfiicant accumulations of water or slush on the ground, I can pull the car over and slip in the screen system. *

I haven't actually used it yet, but it sounds like a good idea, n'est pas? * ;)

just wondering why you would think that premature battery failure would be a result of a CAI?

[Seven Of Nine]

Its impossible for a CAI or SR to cause premature battery failure. 4 years for a stock battery is good but I would expect its nearing its working life hence the drains etc. just get a new battery yellow or red top.

[Uberay]

The CAI wouldn't fit without removing the front engine cover, so while the engine may not be running hotter (according to the guage), there's a large increase in radiated heat. I think the extra heat really took its toll on the battery, because its' really something. Toyota staff thought the power draw might be partly responsible.

Toyota said that 4 years is about right for the original battery. *However, the replacement they gave me is warrantied for 7 years, and prorated after that. *

[Seven Of Nine]

Originally Posted by Uberay

The CAI wouldn't fit without removing the front engine cover, so while the engine may not be running hotter (according to the guage), there's a large increase in radiated heat. I think the extra heat really took its toll on the battery, because its' really something. Toyota staff thought the power draw might be partly responsible.

Toyota said that 4 years is about right for the original battery. *However, the replacement they gave me is warrantied for 7 years, and prorated after that. *

LOL I can't understand why peeps think that taking out the stock air intake and having a short ram or CAI would affect the battery this is BS. If anything it would cool down the battery as there is less restriction in physical mass allowing air flow to the battery. YOu don't have to remove the front engine cover to install a short ram, possibly with the CAI but you have to cut a hole in the bottom engine plastics into the wheel arch which has nothing to do with the front engine plastics which are put back in place after the install, as for the CAI its easier to take off the bumper to allow access to cut the hole. Again may I reiterate their is no way a SRI or CAI can effect the life of a battery period. THe the Mr T techs told you otherwise they don't know $h1t.