Im looking to buy a CAI for my 03 eco.
Im wondering if there are any wheel well/other mods that need to be done to supply the CAI with cold air.
Where exactly do the filters sit? Will they be able to get air without cutting up my fender guards and that?
Thanks!!
Hey
I just installed a AEM cold air in my 03 ecotec. It was my first time installing a cold air intake, i have done short air before and they are much easier to install, but it really isn't that bad. Just follow the instructions step by step and you will be fine. If you have any questions like where bolts are or where this bolt goes, just ask me and I can help you because I know I had trouble finding out where the washer fluid tank bolts were it is tricky. The first thing you should do though is take your front left wheel off and fender liner and your left headlight out. The instructions never told me to take my headlight out, but wow did it make the install much easier once it was out, because the screws for the washer tank are underneath it as well as other stuff. So definately do that. In the end, the instructions never say to take off the fender liner or to cut it, but I place it back on and I thought to myself, how is it going to get enough cold air from just that little hole from the front bumper. I cut the fender liner in half so the bottom was off but it still protected the wheel from splashing rain onto it. I drove it in the hard rain already and it works just fine. I just wouldn't cut the fender liner if you have rain all the time of the year like Seattle, WA but if you only have it several spots a year like I do in PA, you will be fine cutting it. You can also leave it on and it shouldn't be a problem, I just wanted more power! Again, if you got any questions I am here because I just installed mine a few weeks ago, and I LOVE IT!
"What we do in life, echoes in eternity"
My apologies in the search fail.
i did try, i just didnt leave the ORG.
And thanks justin, ill give you a shout if i need anything.
kris brickman wrote:Im wondering if there are any wheel well/other mods that need to be done to supply the CAI with cold air.
Where exactly do the filters sit? Will they be able to get air without cutting up my fender guards and that?
The only other "mod" you will need to do before installing the intake is removing the air intake resonator (bong) from the wheel well.
Here is a picture of how the filter on the AEM cold air intake sits inside the wheel well on an '02
ECO:
I would definitely recommend removing it for winter because snow and salt and junk flies all over and you don't want to risk getting any of it in the filter.
Justin Smith wrote:In the end, the instructions never say to take off the fender liner or to cut it, but I place it back on and I thought to myself, how is it going to get enough cold air from just that little hole from the front bumper. I cut the fender liner in half so the bottom was off but it still protected the wheel from splashing rain onto it. I drove it in the hard rain already and it works just fine.
Yeah, I wouldn't recommend cutting the fender liner at all. It's there for a reason and there's no reason to cut it. The intake is made to work with the fender liner just the way it is. You might not have had any problems with water yet, but who's to say you won't down the road? Just my $.02.
