How To Install: MDesign Carbon Fiber Cold Air Intake

[10bird]

My stock intake is different.   It doesn't come apart like the picture. It curves down to the bottom of the airborne.  I  will  post pictures in a bit.  I need to put the stock setup back together while it's still daylight.

[10bird]

Disregard my previous post.  I didn't realize I had left the missing piece in the house. 

[kinnder]

Hey All,

I just bought the MDesign CAI over Christmas, and I just got to installing it today (thanks for the write up, IA 5HO!). Let me tell you, that this was a bit more of a pain than it probably should have been, mainly due to the stock design. The biggest pains I had were removing (well, in my case, breaking) the couple of retaining clips on the IAF sensor, as getting them unclipped without breaking them seemed to be impossible.

The other issue I'm dealing with is putting the IAF sensor into the charge pipe (see pics 1 and 2). I removed the blue stock o-ring on the sensor, and pushed it into the grommet with as much force as I could, but, I still feel as though it's just going to fall out at some point. The IAF basically stops moving into the grommet right where the stock blue o-ring would be. I even put a bit of dish soap around the sensor's body, hoping to grease it up into the grommet a bit more. Any advice?

It looks great, and I can't wait to give it a test run tomorrow!

[SHOdded]

Maybe secure it with silicone sealant?  Is the sensor wire too taut?

[kinnder]

Maybe secure it with silicone sealant?  Is the sensor wire too taut?

Thanks for the response!

I never thought about using silicone sealant, but could try it. I noticed that IA 5HO used electrical tape, so I might try that first. There's just enough wire length where it could seat properly, so I'm not sure what the underlying issue is.

[derfdog15]

On my AirRaid CAI I had to put a new O-ring on the sensor, since I broke the blue one taking it out of the stock tubes. I also had to remove one of the wiring clips to give me more slack, and re-rout the wires slightly to allow enough length to connect. May be worth a shot.

When I installed the sensor, I put a dot of oil, from the oil fill lid, on the O-ring, then put a flat head sensor in the slot on the sensor and pushed down , once I heard it go into place, I connected everything up. Once it is in place it should be almost impossible to remove again. The AirRaid also has a small screw and washer that holds it in, in place of the factory screw in/click in stub. Does the MDesign not have that?

[kinnder]

On my AirRaid CAI I had to put a new O-ring on the sensor, since I broke the blue one taking it out of the stock tubes. I also had to remove one of the wiring clips to give me more slack, and re-rout the wires slightly to allow enough length to connect. May be worth a shot.

When I installed the sensor, I put a dot of oil, from the oil fill lid, on the O-ring, then put a flat head sensor in the slot on the sensor and pushed down , once I heard it go into place, I connected everything up. Once it is in place it should be almost impossible to remove again. The AirRaid also has a small screw and washer that holds it in, in place of the factory screw in/click in stub. Does the MDesign not have that?

Thanks for the response. I might try buying a new O-ring for the sensor, as I snapped the OEM one when I took it off. I had to break off more than one retainer clip, so wire slack is not an issue for me. With the MDesign CAI, I just can't seem to get the sensor to get in the grommet past where the O-ring would be.

[derfdog15]

On my AirRaid CAI I had to put a new O-ring on the sensor, since I broke the blue one taking it out of the stock tubes. I also had to remove one of the wiring clips to give me more slack, and re-rout the wires slightly to allow enough length to connect. May be worth a shot.

When I installed the sensor, I put a dot of oil, from the oil fill lid, on the O-ring, then put a flat head sensor in the slot on the sensor and pushed down , once I heard it go into place, I connected everything up. Once it is in place it should be almost impossible to remove again. The AirRaid also has a small screw and washer that holds it in, in place of the factory screw in/click in stub. Does the MDesign not have that?

Thanks for the response. I might try buying a new O-ring for the sensor, as I snapped the OEM one when I took it off. I had to break off more than one retainer clip, so wire slack is not an issue for me. With the MDesign CAI, I just can't seem to get the sensor to get in the grommet past where the O-ring would be.

If you go on the hunt for an o-ring I recommend having the sensor and the intake with you, as there are a few sizes of O-ring that look like they will work, but are just barely too thick/thin and cause issues.

Pictures of what you are working with would also be helpful. Like I said, the sensor should basically "click" into place, I had to use a reasonable amount of force pushing it in with a flathead on my AirRaid, but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to remove it if I tried.

Also did you buy your MDesign intake new? I noticed on the how-to, item 10, that there is a supplied replacement O-ring. The sensor should stop at the O-ring location, assuming the O-ring clicks in place. Like I said, it will be audible. if you do not have the O-ring than like I said, take both the sensor and pipe with you, and start your search! Good luck!

[lsfox86]

This thread was very helpful when installing my M Design CAI.  Thanks for all the pictures!

[FistyMcgee]

I would like to just get the CF tube to replace the accordion pipe on these cars. also wouldn't mind a CF engine cover so I can do away with the nasty plastic piece that all cars come with now.

[SHOurpp]

It looks great, and I can't wait to give it a test run tomorrow!

lots of space beside it to mount alky pump and tank