[Hikaru]

Hola all =)

Id like to thank Martial Mustang for helping me with the SES light after putting in my HP CAI.

Now....this only started today...when I accelerate...there is a slight rattle on the passenger side. I THOUGHT I smelled exhaust fumes but I no longer do. I remember my 02 Kia Sportage rattled for years then the tail pipe snapped and hung up by the swivel.

It doesnt happen in park and reev the engine and its more pronounced at higher RPMs.

I was thinking exhaust leak? (and if it is, im going to a dual exhaust)

[Markstang690]

Originally Posted by Hikaru

Hola all =)

Id like to thank Martial Mustang for helping me with the SES light after putting in my HP CAI.

Now....this only started today...when I accelerate...there is a slight rattle on the passenger side. I THOUGHT I smelled exhaust fumes but I no longer do. I remember my 02 Kia Sportage rattled for years then the tail pipe snapped and hung up by the swivel.

It doesnt happen in park and reev the engine and its more pronounced at higher RPMs.

I was thinking exhaust leak? (and if it is, im going to a dual exhaust)

exhaust leaks are common to the right side header just before the flange the a/c drips water onto the hot metal and it can crack and such.. generally when that happens your exhaust will exhibit a ticking noise.. maybe a rattle.. which may or may not go away as the engine heats up.. i think that either way you should go for a dual exhaust lol but anyway.. alot of times your exhaust will get really loud if it cracks the header and itll sound terrible.. by the sounds of it your rattle is probably a result of your recent CAI installation if it never did it before now.. do you still think it has to do with the exhaust?

[Hikaru]

Originally Posted by Markstang690

exhaust leaks are common to the right side header just before the flange the a/c drips water onto the hot metal and it can crack and such.. generally when that happens your exhaust will exhibit a ticking noise.. maybe a rattle.. which may or may not go away as the engine heats up.. i think that either way you should go for a dual exhaust lol but anyway.. alot of times your exhaust will get really loud if it cracks the header and itll sound terrible.. by the sounds of it your rattle is probably a result of your recent CAI installation if it never did it before now.. do you still think it has to do with the exhaust?

I didnt notice it til now, but I did notice while looking for a possible lose do-dad, that the a/c does drip and hit something hot and hiss a bit.

I double checked the CAI and its totally tight.
Im going to pop down to Midas on friday and see what a dual will cost me. Im going to get one anyway so if I need one, no point in sticking on a stock single when im goign to dual in less then 3 months.

[Silver J]

Originally Posted by Hikaru

I didnt notice it til now, but I did notice while looking for a possible lose do-dad, that the a/c does drip and hit something hot and hiss a bit.

I double checked the CAI and its totally tight.
Im going to pop down to Midas on friday and see what a dual will cost me. Im going to get one anyway so if I need one, no point in sticking on a stock single when im goign to dual in less then 3 months.

Ok, I think part of your problem may be jumping from store to store. Ya gotta stick with one place you trust. That way, they understand you and your car and your goals, and you know who you are working with...

But on to your issue: so you went to Autozone and Pepboys when installing a "make-your-own" CAI? I've never even heard of such a thing... and I fear that may be causing your problems. I would be wary of anything that's "make-your-own" in a box... Having a shop do a custom exhaust or turbo set-up is one thing, but they don't come in boxes... you understand what I'm saying? I would suggest you go with American Muscle's CAI: it's 80 bucks, designed for the Mustang, has good installation instructions, and best of all: works with all your stock parts (MAFs, IATs, etc).

[guitarist9008]

Originally Posted by Silver J

But on to your issue: so you went to Autozone and Pepboys when installing a "make-your-own" CAI? I've never even heard of such a thing...

I've seen quite a few "home made" CAI's, actually. They vary in quality. I'm less handy, so it didn't seem sensible for me not to just spending a few extra bucks on a kit from AM.

Though, you should check your CAI, a loose bolt could be a pesky culprit. Or it could be a manifold leak..quite a common uh-oh in the 99-04's.

[Hikaru]

HI all

Just an FYI -

I had to remove my CAI. Sadly, unless you want to pay $300 for a CAI, you cannot use the store-bought less expensive ones in a mustang pre-2005 I reckon =/

Once I removed it, rattle went away, though it was tight as a drum.

And yes you can buy build your own CAIs. Theyre normally chrome plated or electro plated galvanized steel or chrome plated ABS. They main pice runs $40-$60, the sensor adapto $13-$15 and filter $20-$30.

Mine ran $85 with a red sensor from Spectre. Looked nice, I noticed some extra pep but it rattled and it didnt sound good on a Mustang so pretty as mine =)

Maybe I'll spring for a BBK ...$311 locally.

[Markstang690]

Originally Posted by Hikaru

HI all

Just an FYI -

I had to remove my CAI. Sadly, unless you want to pay $300 for a CAI, you cannot use the store-bought less expensive ones in a mustang pre-2005 I reckon =/

Once I removed it, rattle went away, though it was tight as a drum.

And yes you can buy build your own CAIs. Theyre normally chrome plated or electro plated galvanized steel or chrome plated ABS. They main pice runs $40-$60, the sensor adapto $13-$15 and filter $20-$30.

Mine ran $85 with a red sensor from Spectre. Looked nice, I noticed some extra pep but it rattled and it didnt sound good on a Mustang so pretty as mine =)

Maybe I'll spring for a BBK ...$311 locally.

whaaa!? no way dude a BBK should only be $180.. and u can get a much cheaper one from american muscle for $75 free shipping too and you wont have problems with it rattling or whatever

[Hikaru]

Originally Posted by Markstang690

whaaa!? no way dude a BBK should only be $180.. and u can get a much cheaper one from american muscle for $75 free shipping too and you wont have problems with it rattling or whatever

Oops sorry....meant K&N CAIs.

I see the BBK one:
BBK Cold Air Intake (99-03 3.8 V6) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

basically, it was the same thing Spectre offers, but in metal instead of ABS. And it comes with a dam.

....alas Im going to keep the car stock now.

[martial mustang]

If I were you, I'd buy the one from american muscle for $70, and if you like K&N, put a K&N filter on it if that's possible. Has anybody else done that?

[Silver J]

Originally Posted by Markstang690

whaaa!? no way dude a BBK should only be $180.. and u can get a much cheaper one from american muscle for $75 free shipping too and you wont have problems with it rattling or whatever

+1 My BBK only cost ~$200 shipped... They are way overcharging if the price tag is $300+!!! And I bought that before I ever joined AFM and heard of American Muscle - otherwise, I too would've gotten the AM CAI. Same thing, no name brand label, but save 100 bucks.

As far as the K&N filter on a CAI: ny CAI already came with larger, washable, performance cone filter (similar to a K&N)... so unless you could find an even bigger one from K&N, I don't know if that changes much?!? *shrugs* Anybody tried it?

[Markstang690]

Originally Posted by Silver J

+1 My BBK only cost ~$200 shipped... They are way overcharging if the price tag is $300+!!! And I bought that before I ever joined AFM and heard of American Muscle - otherwise, I too would've gotten the AM CAI. Same thing, no name brand label, but save 100 bucks.

As far as the K&N filter on a CAI: ny CAI already came with larger, washable, performance cone filter (similar to a K&N)... so unless you could find an even bigger one from K&N, I don't know if that changes much?!? *shrugs* Anybody tried it?

wow i got mine for 179.99 exactly no shipping or anything i figured it was a good deal.. i got it from summit.. thats also where i got my pypes catback.. summit's pretty cool but i think im hooked on american muscle now lol

[martial mustang]

Originally Posted by Silver J

+1 My BBK only cost ~$200 shipped... They are way overcharging if the price tag is $300+!!! And I bought that before I ever joined AFM and heard of American Muscle - otherwise, I too would've gotten the AM CAI. Same thing, no name brand label, but save 100 bucks.

As far as the K&N filter on a CAI: ny CAI already came with larger, washable, performance cone filter (similar to a K&N)... so unless you could find an even bigger one from K&N, I don't know if that changes much?!? *shrugs* Anybody tried it?

I seriously doubt if that filter is of the same quality as a k&n though.

[Silver J]

Originally Posted by martial mustang

I seriously doubt if that filter is of the same quality as a k&n though.

It is a high-end filter (washable, cone-shaped, quality materials, rubber flange for easy mounting) made by BBK, so I think it's probably just as good - it looks almost exactly the same... I would think that AM's, BBK's, and K&N's filters are all about the same - we are only talking about a couple of hp here.

[Markstang690]

yeah comparing any one filter to the other is probably only comparing like half or less of a horspower

[martial mustang]

Originally Posted by Markstang690

yeah comparing any one filter to the other is probably only comparing like half or less of a horspower

True, but with that, I'd be more concerned that it wouldn't filter stuff out quite as well.