Air intake restricted.

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Rcroome

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Hi,
I have a stock C5. When I accelerate the rubber part of the air intake gets squeezed shut and the engine loses about 80% of its power until I back off the throttle.

I have ordered a new air intake, which I am told will take 60 days because the part is discontinued.

My question is, is it likely that the squeezing of the rubber part of the air intake is the symptom of another problem, or is the rubber perished and likely the cause of the problem.

I have had the car diagnosed and the air intake sensor is not throwing up an error. The person who diagnosed the car recommended replacing the air intake.

Many thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
 
Welcome to the forum Rc. Wowsers. That really sounds like a plugged intake somewhere north of the collapse area. I'm not a mechanic but common sense tells me if the intake was able to get an adequate air flow through the filter and into the intake, it wouldn't be collapsing the intake tube. Hard to believe it's not throwing a code somewhere but the MAF sensor signals the computer which can sort itself out if it's been slowly getting that way over a longer period. When I installed a ram air sometime ago, it took a while before the computer adjusted itself to the additional air flow, but it did. Maybe it has the capacity to adjust to a lesser air flow as well. But that's all pure conjecture. Someone here way smarter than I am will no doubt have some answers. Have you checked to see if some forest animal has chewed it's way into the intake somewhere and has built a home? Good Luck.
 
Rruuff Day said:
Welcome to the forum Rc. Wowsers. That really sounds like a plugged intake somewhere north of the collapse area. I'm not a mechanic but common sense tells me if the intake was able to get an adequate air flow through the filter and into the intake, it wouldn't be collapsing the intake tube. Hard to believe it's not throwing a code somewhere but the MAF sensor signals the computer which can sort itself out if it's been slowly getting that way over a longer period. When I installed a ram air sometime ago, it took a while before the computer adjusted itself to the additional air flow, but it did. Maybe it has the capacity to adjust to a lesser air flow as well. But that's all pure conjecture. Someone here way smarter than I am will no doubt have some answers. Have you checked to see if some forest animal has chewed it's way into the intake somewhere and has built a home? Good Luck.
Click to expand...
 
I'm with rruuff... There might be a blockage somewhere..
Undo a clamp or two and look around.
Do you have the stock air intake system?
Try removing the air filter box, maybe have another stock filter available to hold you over until your new CAI set-up arrives.
The animal nest thing might be your issue.
Keep us posted.

Graham
 
I would have to agree with you guys, there is obviously a restriction/blockage somewhere in the intake.
 
I'm assuming you've already ordered a replacement intake? Now would be a good time to upgrade to a Vararam intake. :D

Have you taken the air bridge (the part goes over the radiator) and the filter off and looked for restrictions? Basically, I would start at the intake manifold and remove the whole system right up to where the air comes in and look for the restriction to find the cause. If there is nothing there or if its only partly fixed, maybe the restriction is in the exhaust? Part of a collapsed catalectic converter or an animal making a nest in the exhaust? Just giving more ideas in case the diagnosis doesn't fully cure the problem.

Let us know how it turns out!
 
Riley P said:
I'm assuming you've already ordered a replacement intake? Now would be a good time to upgrade to a Vararam intake. :D

Have you taken the air bridge (the part goes over the radiator) and the filter off and looked for restrictions? Basically, I would start at the intake manifold and remove the whole system right up to where the air comes in and look for the restriction to find the cause. If there is nothing there or if its only partly fixed, maybe the restriction is in the exhaust? Part of a collapsed catalectic converter or an animal making a nest in the exhaust? Just giving more ideas in case the diagnosis doesn't fully cure the problem.

Let us know how it turns out!
Click to expand...


Thank you all for your great advice and help.

I got my screwdriver out and with my zero knowledge of really what to do, I disassembled the air intake system to find that the air filter had sand in it.

I washed it out with the hose and put it back together again (and didn't have any bits left over), and hey presto, my girl has her mojo back. Woohoo. Thanks a million guys.
 
Now there is a good bit of news. Well done, pleased the beast has found its legs again.:thumbs:
 
Rcroome..
WooHoo..! I'm glad you got in there and found the issue.
So, what CAI have you got on order.? Gonna install it yourself, now that you are an expert?

graham
 
Aha! The old sand in the filter trick.... I quit beach dune racing my Corvette for that very reason.... lol.... Glad it was an easy solution and you got it fixed... Happy Motoring Rc.
 

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