Cai Sounds Like Crap!!!!

**Gearhed42** · 05-19-2008

Ok i installed my intake yesterday and now every time i start it up now i get this god awful air noise that sounds like a really bad vacuum leak. I put my ear right next to the intake and thats what it is. I have put intakes like this on cars before and heard many many of them and have never heard anything like this. After a few minutes of warm up time it sounds like a normal intake should sound. Does anybody have any idea what is going on here? Or do i have to deal with this embarressment of a noise when i start my car around people.....

**duane9586** · 05-19-2008

my 05 does the same thing it is the air pump at bottom right corner that sucks in air at cold start. It should have about a 1" hose coming up to the stock airbox that i put a filter on. check it out here---http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2467779

**GreenNirvana101** · 05-19-2008

my 97 gtp does the same thing with my thrasher air intake. does that hose need a filter on it? or is it okay to just leave it? the sound doesn't bother me much...

**Gearhed42** · 05-19-2008

There is no hose on the 97-99.....

**SyntheticShield** · 05-19-2008

I do believe that is the IAC and the air that is going through that port if Im not badly mistaken. A long time ago I saw a post on the other forum that dealt with how to reduce it by going in and smoothing out some of the sharp edges, but I have no idea who did it or what all was involved.

**Gearhed42** · 05-19-2008

Thats good info synthetic thanks!! Ill have to do some homework on that and get back. But this is a normal thing for the GP? Ive never seen or heard anything like this on other intake systems in other cars....

**Bio248** · 05-19-2008

why do you think that sounds bad? if i heard some car sucking some mad air at IDLE then id be mighty worried about the race that would ensue.

TDCRacing · 05-19-2008

Originally Posted by Bio248

why do you think that sounds bad? if i heard some car sucking some mad air at IDLE then id be mighty worried about the race that would ensue.

heh yea me too

**BADAZGTP** · 05-19-2008

Originally Posted by Bio248

why do you think that sounds bad? if i heard some car sucking some mad air at IDLE then id be mighty worried about the race that would ensue.

My thoughts exactly. My 97 GTP does the same thing. I can't count the times when I would do a cold start around people and get the what the heck is under the hood look. I think it's pretty awsome.

**Euro** · 05-19-2008

my intake does the same thing. Only for the first few minutes on a cold start up. I just ignore it because it's what the intake does?

**Gearhed42** · 05-19-2008

ok so i guess it is just normal.... i guess ive been turning wrenches too long and usually i hear a noise like that and it means fix it. Because that isnt what i expected to hear when i put on the intake. I expected the deep grown of air sucking not the high pitches.

**Deezul_AwT** · 05-20-2008

What I like is the "sigh" my GP gives when I turn the car off when the air in the intake comes back out. My Impala may do it, but since the exhaust and engine is a bit louder on it, I don't hear it.

**duane9586** · 05-20-2008

Originally Posted by GreenNirvana101

my 97 gtp does the same thing with my thrasher air intake. does that hose need a filter on it? or is it okay to just leave it? the sound doesn't bother me much...

I figured if it is sucking in air to somewhere then it should be filtered

**Quicksilver_GP** · 05-20-2008

Originally Posted by Euro

my intake does the same thing. Only for the first few minutes on a cold start up. I just ignore it because it's what the intake does?

ignore it if you please, but most of us choose to embrace and appreciate that sound. it means colder, denser air and a few more HP. that sound doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong, this is just one of the many instances where theres a trade-off between performance and comfort. such as stock springs/struts vs. aftermarket springs/struts where stock springs/struts are designed for comfort and longevity whereas aftermarket springs/stuts (such as KYB GR-2s) are designed for handling and performance, and dont necessarily give the most comfortable ride. or the trade-off between being broke or going fast...

**Silver_Intercepter01** · 05-26-2008

my wizaired does the same thing. My FWI did it as well, but the cai is worse because it has a 9" filter. I just learned to ignore it, though people look at me in parking lots like my cars a junker. especially once they hear the catback exhaust coupled with the cold start cai noise, lol.

**Gearhed42** · 05-26-2008

Exactly lol thats what i hate!!!

**IndeedSS** · 05-26-2008

No matter how you rationalize it the sound isn't good and yes anyone else is going to think it really sounds like crap. At least it does go away once the IAC stepper motor decreases.
The odd thing is, my 3.8 NA sounded terrible with my Wizaired at start-up. My SS, you don't even hear the IAC. Not sure what would make one so much louder than the other. The N* TB don't have the noisey IAC either, fwiw.

**Gearhed42** · 05-26-2008

yea but the N* doesnt fit on the 3.8 NA unfortunately.... suposedly the HVTB from ZZP is quieter as well and they do make one for the 3.8 NA but i havent heard any confirmation yet as to whether or not its true.

**03GPScottyd** · 06-02-2008

Mine does the same thing. Most of my co-workers have supercharged or turbo cars so they know exaclty what the noise is so I don't have any strange looks. The majority of the cars here do it. Too many SCCA and wrench-heads here!