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Thread: Permanent relief from CELs due to wet CAIs

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    706

    Post Permanent relief from CELs due to wet CAIs

    DIY HOW TO for:
    To all of those Mazda 3 and 6 drivers with CAI that plan to drive in the rain!!


    This mod was brought about my concern of water soaking/getting through
    the AEM air filter and into the engine. I have had this concern since I
    installed the CAI, due to the gaps where water can get in around the
    driving light, engine bay and vents from the front wheel guard. I did
    nothing until I had problems. I completed this mod about 2.5 months ago
    while on my road trip.

    After arriving in Gladstone I washed the car so that no road grime
    would damage the paint ready to take it down to Mazda to have the
    cruise control replaced. After washing and drying I started the car, it
    coughed and conked, I restarted it and a CEL was thrown. Then once I
    started driving up the street the car coughed a few more times, and
    almost felt like it was driving on 2-3 cylinders, than all was good.
    Mazda took the car and checked it out. I was told the CEL was thrown
    due to the MAF sensor most likely from being wet.

    After a while of pondering this problem I came up with a solution, heat
    shield! Sourced one out with great difficulty (remember its Gladstone)
    and installed it.

    Once this mod was done I wet actually drowned the car and felt/checked
    the filter. It was mostly dry a big difference from before, started up
    the car and no CEL problem fixed. This mod was also tested when driving
    into Bundaberg as I drove though a very big wet storm and again no
    problems.

    Parts needed:
    MONZA heat shield - $ 25.00 (Supercheap) comes in red, blue, silver and black.
    Few sockets
    Ratchet
    Screwdriver

    Easy mod:
    1. Turn steering wheel hard left. No need to remove wheel again.
    2. Undo and remove bolts from splash pan.
    3. Undo and remove bolts from inner arch.
    4. Remove AEM air filter.
    5. Assemble, bend to suit and attach and MONZA heat shield.
    6. Replace AEM air filter loosely and move heat shield so that it
    protects the air filter from water ingress from around driving light
    and any water that falls from above.
    7. Tighten clamp holding the air filter and reassemble wheel arch and
    splash pan.
    8. Stand back and marvel at you handy work!

    Photo one: MONZA heat shield.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo two: Bare AEM CAI.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo three: AEM air filter with heat shield fitted.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo four: AEM CAI with fitted heat shield in place and aligned.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    this mod has been completed on many cars without any problems
    (sticky please mods)



    Have fun
    Andy
    Last edited by shakespeare; 28-07-2009 at 11:32 PM.
    MAZDA 3 SP23 : XFORCE : EIBACH : WHITELINE : AUTOEXE : CORKSPORT : KMAC : TWM : AFX :SCANGUAGE 2 : XHP : KUMO : CARBON PRODUCTS : AERO BODY STYLING : BLAUPUNKT : INFINITY : TOMTOM : SPARKSECRET.COM : MONZA : AERPRO : JBS Customs : FHRX EARTHING KIT : DYNAMATT : UNIDEN : RFI : iPOD : STINGER : REDLINE Tuning :

    SUBARU FORESTER MY10 XT-P
    : TCP AUTO : HYPERFLOW : PERRIN : WHITELINE : STi : BREMBO : BEATRUSH : TURBOSMART : LENSO : PULSE RACING TUNE @ 182 AWKW

  2. #2

    Default

    bought the shield a while back but no time to install it yet.
    bought it from repco at liverpool for $12

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,388

    Default

    Stuck

    Good solution mate and very simple too

    I've edited the first line to include 6's too

  4. Default

    Opt for a SRI instead. Thats another solution

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Newcastle NSW
    Age
    72
    Posts
    196

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by A Pirate View Post
    DIY HOW TO for:
    To all of those Mazda 3 and 6 drivers with CAI that plan to drive in the rain!!


    This mod was brought about my concern of water soaking/getting through
    the AEM air filter and into the engine. I have had this concern since I
    installed the CAI, due to the gaps where water can get in around the
    driving light, engine bay and vents from the front wheel guard. I did
    nothing until I had problems. I completed this mod about 2.5 months ago
    while on my road trip.

    After arriving in Gladstone I washed the car so that no road grime
    would damage the paint ready to take it down to Mazda to have the
    cruise control replaced. After washing and drying I started the car, it
    coughed and conked, I restarted it and a CEL was thrown. Then once I
    started driving up the street the car coughed a few more times, and
    almost felt like it was driving on 2-3 cylinders, than all was good.
    Mazda took the car and checked it out. I was told the CEL was thrown
    due to the MAF sensor most likely from being wet.

    After a while of pondering this problem I came up with a solution, heat
    shield! Sourced one out with great difficulty (remember its Gladstone)
    and installed it.

    Once this mod was done I wet actually drowned the car and felt/checked
    the filter. It was mostly dry a big difference from before, started up
    the car and no CEL problem fixed. This mod was also tested when driving
    into Bundaberg as I drove though a very big wet storm and again no
    problems.

    Parts needed:
    MONZA heat shield - $ 25.00 (Supercheap) comes in red, blue, silver and black.
    Few sockets
    Ratchet
    Screwdriver

    Easy mod:
    1. Turn steering wheel hard left. No need to remove wheel again.
    2. Undo and remove bolts from splash pan.
    3. Undo and remove bolts from inner arch.
    4. Remove AEM air filter.
    5. Assemble, bend to suit and attach and MONZA heat shield.
    6. Replace AEM air filter loosely and move heat shield so that it
    protects the air filter from water ingress from around driving light
    and any water that falls from above.
    7. Tighten clamp holding the air filter and reassemble wheel arch and
    splash pan.
    8. Stand back and marvel at you handy work!

    Photo one: MONZA heat shield.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo two: Bare AEM CAI.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo three: AEM air filter with heat shield fitted.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    Photo four: AEM CAI with fitted heat shield in place and aligned.

    Click this bar to view the full image.

    this mod has been completed on many cars without any problems
    (sticky please mods)



    Have fun
    Andy

    The pics from this post have obviously been removed. How do I get to see the pics please?

    Thanks,

    Leon
    Started out with nothing Still got most of it left

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    706

    Default

    have a look here....this is my back up thread/post
    http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2174015/11

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Newcastle NSW
    Age
    72
    Posts
    196

    Default

    Thanks Pirate, much appreciated.

    Leon

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    706

    Default

    this is for a sp23 but can work on any open to air filter. On my car ive covered 85k+km without a wet maf cel since, works a treat.
    Last edited by A Pirate; 23-02-2010 at 06:53 PM. Reason: spelling boo boo

  9. Default

    Interesting.

    When I had my MPS and had the CES exhaust installed, I commonly got CEL's from the rear exhaust 02 sensor.

    I found out that when I was washing the car, an amount of water would reach the o2 sensor, and it ended up failing.

    For those with after market exhausts, just remember to plug your exhaust with a rag or something during washing the car (especially if the front of the car is on a downward slope in your driveway (like mine). This will prevent the rear 02 sensor failing.

  10. #10

    Default

    Hey guys,

    I'm looking to put one of these heat shields on, since I've gotten a couple of CEL due to water in my CAI. I went to supercheap, repco and autobahn - none of them had a suitable model. (Supercheap had none, repco and autobahn had the same dodgy looking model). Does anyone know of any alternatives? Ebay seems pretty scarce, the best I could find was an Injen version Injen - : Accessories - Performance Air Intake Systems, Exhaust Systems, Turbo Components, and Air Filters for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV's, Boats, and more! but at $60US it's not cheap.

    SP

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Surrey Hills, Victoria
    Age
    49
    Posts
    5,866

    Default

    Maybe see what Jeff at Advancespeed (site sponsor) can do for you? AdvanceSpeedShop.com - Performance Auto Parts and Accessories for Domestic and Import Vehicles! -

    He does Injen gear along with a whole heap of other products

    Freight from the US for something this small cost-wise will probably end up costing as much as the part itself though (or more)

  12. Default

    Wouldn't you just run a "pre filter" - a cover which goes over the pod and protects it from water ingress??

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Warranwood, Victoria
    Age
    35
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    1,546

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wardski View Post
    Wouldn't you just run a "pre filter" - a cover which goes over the pod and protects it from water ingress??
    I've been trying to find 1 and can't find it anywhere
    MPSX-treme

    2006 MPS Sports True Red - HP-F Mazedit tune + Other go fast bits - DGR Coilovers + Semi Slicks - Numerous Sure Motorsport Additions - Dashhawk

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Surrey Hills, Victoria
    Age
    49
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    5,866

    Default

    Injen do those also from the quick squiz I had on Jeff's site. Saw a few but didn't pay too much attention to specifics.

    $35-$36 US or there abouts


    Sent from my iPhone using TapaTalk

  15. #15

    Default

    Thanks for the suggestion, I'll get in touch with Jeff.

    As for the prefilter - I've seen a few around US stores, but I don't think they are quite up to the job. Since there is a giant gapping hole in the front of the wheel arch into the guard heaps of crap gets in... I saw photo's of a pod one side covered in dirt and mud, the other side looking like new (can't remember which forums).

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Warranwood, Victoria
    Age
    35
    Posts
    1,546

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SomePhoenix View Post
    Thanks for the suggestion, I'll get in touch with Jeff.

    As for the prefilter - I've seen a few around US stores, but I don't think they are quite up to the job. Since there is a giant gapping hole in the front of the wheel arch into the guard heaps of crap gets in... I saw photo's of a pod one side covered in dirt and mud, the other side looking like new (can't remember which forums).
    Yeah your right, i serviced my filter and 1 side with browny black and other was near new...

    I've inquired about the Pre-Filter cover for an K&N filter on his intake section for the mazda 3 in his store section.
    MPSX-treme

    2006 MPS Sports True Red - HP-F Mazedit tune + Other go fast bits - DGR Coilovers + Semi Slicks - Numerous Sure Motorsport Additions - Dashhawk

  17. #17

    Default

    I had a Cp-e pre filter on my CAI but still managed to get a cel with driving in a puddle no deeper then 250mm at very slow speeds. After that i copied someone elses idea and installed a strip of rubber on the inside of the plastic wheel arch to cover all the slits facing the tryre and never had a problem since

  18. #18

    Default

    That's the fallback option Toddy... but it's just not as 'neat & tidy'.

  19. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SomePhoenix View Post
    That's the fallback option Toddy... but it's just not as 'neat & tidy'.
    I honestly don't know why you guys persist with CAI's.. If you're constantly worried about hydrolocking your 2.3ltr DISI's then just get a SRI and be done with it.

    I had the CES one (along with a CES TBE) in my Gen I and it still made 206kW @ 475Nm.

    Loss of power CAI vs SRI is pretty neg IMO.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Age
    47
    Posts
    789

    Default

    Exactly Ward......wouldnt bother with a CAI myself. But hey, each to their own.......

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