Honda Element Owners Club banner
Cancel

300 dollar cold air intake for 50 bucks what!

7219 Views 31 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  ronsutt, 
demasih.
3
Okay so here goes i went to autozone, picked up a 50 dollar (53 to be exact) short ram universal kit. The kit included 1) chrome intake tube1)High flow filter4)Clamps some extenda hose if needed and some zip ties, I started by removing the battery, lifting the fuse box out of the way, and removing the stock box. I kept everything from the back of the air box to the throttle body(basically the tube and everything attached). The biggest challenge was rellocating the mass air flow sensor. After kicking around a couple ideas having a couple ciggs, and sipping on my hienekien it dawned on me there is a small baffle located on the bottom side of the inlet tube, i removed this baffle and installed the air flow sensor there( be carefull of the direction you installed the air flow sensor it matters) before i could intall it i had to trim the opening being it was too tall the sensor would not sit in the intake fully, inside of the opening there are 2 rings i simply trimmed it down to the first ring and it was enough. The factory baffle was held in with a wide hose clamp a skinnier style would work and is what i will be installing but for now i used a heavy duty zip tie and two others to secure the sensor to the inlet tube just to insure it would not jar loose. I also had to installed a couple ties under the fuse box before the filter to hold it in placed until one can be made. The intake sounds sweet very throaty it also move very little its very sturdy. So thats that my 53 dollar intake i think it looks pretty nice
ps if you save the top pick and blow it up it just explains the relocating of the mass air flow sensor

Attachments

See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
21 - 32 of 32 Posts
R
Electric City

I remember driving by Schenectady on the NY Thruway in the late 50's at night in the winter. GE had a huge lit sign of the famous GE Logo.

The confidence of youth, probably below Zero outside; if my old car had stopped, my survival chances were probably slim.

To stay on topic, still testing Intake Mod above. Great sound, seems like better performance, especially at higher RPM.
Reply
Save
Like
I
Have any of you got a CEL from this? I know there were a bunch of people getting CEL's from the other intakes out there which moved the MAF. I already have tons of piping sitting in the garage from different projects (connector tubing as well), I just need the MAF mount.
Reply
Save
Like
demasih.
That G.E sign is still there right off Erie Blvd. At christmas time they used to change the bulbs to flash green and red.

I never got a check engine light. I believe it was the fact that my location was in the same area, and the sensor was practically in the same tubing.
Reply
Save
Like
07lmnt
What is the purpose of these CAI's? How much power is to be gained on a stock engine; especially when its drawing in hot underhood air. Besides all the dirt the cheesy filter lets in, and the possibility of the CEL turned on Why bother.
Reply
Save
Like
demasih.
Well I dont know why the CEL lights where comming on with the other CAI or ram set ups. I ran this set up all summer, and this was taking 45 mile trips up to lake Sacandaga every weekend, and i never got a CEL. I do know that i put on a nice AEM air filter right after i took these pics, that had a very high filtration rate. I did notice beter throttle response at highway speeds, and slightly more low end torque. It also has a much sportier sound. As far as the hot air under the hood theory, where my filter was located was righ next to the hole the stock unit dumps into. I also installed a section of flex tubing at the time that went directly from the grill opening and ending at the air filter itself, which in my opionion brought more fresh air into the engine compartment then the chinchy stock snorkle. I sence swapped it back because i had to get dealer work done but I'll prolly go back come summer.
Reply
Save
Like
Jackson49
demasih. said:
lol Electric City, was the nickname years ago for Schenectady N.Y. This was when the General Electric was big here. It was called Schenectady N.y. the Electric City, the city that lights and hauls the world. Back when we had som prestige...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation IRT Electric City. I was born and raised in upstate NY (Niagara Falls) and never heard that reference before.:D

Jackson
Reply
Save
Like
demasih.
Ya a little local lore for ya..
Reply
Save
Like
J
This "cold air intake" is not cold at all, you probably get less hp than with a stock set up, true cold air mounts in the fender. Good luck when you start driving in the rain and deep puddles.

The stock set up is actually a cold air system with protection from water.
Reply
Save
Like
demasih.
I was calling it a ram as well but anyways, if you read my other post i stated i had a duct fabbed up to run from the front grill with an elbow in it that ended infront of the filter, you cant get much more cold air then the stock set up. I left it like that for almost a year and it was perfect. Theres always nay sayers.
Reply
Save
Like
O
demasih. said:
I was calling it a ram as well but anyways, if you read my other post i stated i had a duct fabbed up to run from the front grill with an elbow in it that ended infront of the filter, you cant get much more cold air then the stock set up. I left it like that for almost a year and it was perfect. Theres always nay sayers.
Click to expand...
You should box it and isolate it from the heat of the engine bay and connect it to that elbow you mention.

Other then that it's a better functioning Short Air Intake. Definetly not a CAI.
Reply
Save
Like
demasih.
the elements engine compartment isnt that sealed to be that worried about it. The whole back side of the engine bay in open and you can see the ground and the tires from inside engine bay. If you really think about it unless its like 90 degrees out side and yer idling for like a half hour the under hood temp isnt gunna be that much greater from the outside air, especially when you are moving. Also the elements stock snorkle set up the duct faces away from the front grill so wheres that getting "fresh" air from, but thats my opinion.
Reply
Save
Like
R
K&N Typhoon

After a trip over Mardi Gras with the jury rig intake above, bit the bullet and bought and installed a K&N Typhoon Ram Air Intake. Fit even with the larger Optima Battery. Well bracketed; the Air Cleaner is right next to the hole in fender well from removal of the resonator.

Attachments

See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
21 - 32 of 32 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Honda Element Owners Club
Element Owners Club is your go to forum community to discuss your Honda Element, and get ideas from your next great trip to your next Honda Element Mod.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Problems & Issues Miscellaneous / General Element Discussions Shoppin' and Test Drivin' Do-It-Yourself / Mods Exterior
Top