Emissions legal CAI question

Flusher

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So my car failed the visual inspection because of a JLT sewer pipe style CAI and a fake Airaid EO sticker. It passed otherwise.

A few months ago, a failed hose pressure washed the and killed the throttle body servo. I didn't have time to mess with it then, so I had the dealership fix it.

While the car was at the dealership, I inquired about the Ford Racing CAI and if they would offer a tune that would be CA legal.

First, that dealership doesn't do any tunes anymore for liability issues. Second, he told me that my car did NOT have a tune and if it did, he would have been alerted immediately. It's my understanding that the JLT CAI requires a tune.

This weekend, I installed an Airaid 453-177 because of the CARB EO #. I didn't think much about it while doing the installation, but the JLT MAF has an inside diameter of 88.9mm and the outside diameter of the Airaid is barely 74.3mm (didn't take it apart to measure the ID).

On first fire (<10 seconds), it of course ran rough and I got the wrench light. I reinstalled the JLT and now I have a CEL. I don't have access to a scanner now to get the code.

My question is, what should I do to resolve this issue? Should I change the tune or get a different CAI? I'm not sure what to believe about the tune, I don't really want to do anything that will detract from its current performance.

Thank you
 

tjm73

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The simple answer is reinstall the stock CAI for inspection.
 

Flusher

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The simple answer is reinstall the stock CAI for inspection.

I would have already, but the car already had the JLT on it when I bought it.

If the JLT does in fact require a tune, wouldn't I have the same issue with the OE air filter assembly?
 

Flusher

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Forget to say, I don't have the OE air filter assembly.
 

tjm73

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eBay, Craigslist, FB marketplace. One will yeild a source for an OEM Cai.

You need a tune for stock and a tune for Airraid. Or just run the stock cai as the power increase means next to nothing.
 

Flusher

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San Bernardino / Riverside / Orange County / Santa Fe Springs
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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So my car failed the visual inspection because of a JLT sewer pipe style CAI and a fake Airaid EO sticker. It passed otherwise.

A few months ago, a failed hose pressure washed the and killed the throttle body servo. I didn't have time to mess with it then, so I had the dealership fix it.

While the car was at the dealership, I inquired about the Ford Racing CAI and if they would offer a tune that would be CA legal.

First, that dealership doesn't do any tunes anymore for liability issues. Second, he told me that my car did NOT have a tune and if it did, he would have been alerted immediately. It's my understanding that the JLT CAI requires a tune.

This weekend, I installed an Airaid 453-177 because of the CARB EO #. I didn't think much about it while doing the installation, but the JLT MAF has an inside diameter of 88.9mm and the outside diameter of the Airaid is barely 74.3mm (didn't take it apart to measure the ID).

On first fire (<10 seconds), it of course ran rough and I got the wrench light. I reinstalled the JLT and now I have a CEL. I don't have access to a scanner now to get the code.

My question is, what should I do to resolve this issue? Should I change the tune or get a different CAI? I'm not sure what to believe about the tune, I don't really want to do anything that will detract from its current performance.

Thank you
The Airaid 453-177 CAI does NOT require a computer tune re-flash. It has a built-in MAF housing which is the same size as the OEM airbox MAF. The JLT CAI on the other hand does require a tune re-flash due that it's inside diameter of 88.9mm is larger than the stock airbox MAF. In order to resolve your issue, reinstall the Airaid 453-177 CAI, disconnect your positive battery terminal for approx 2 min, then reconnect as this will re-set the ECM by erasing the CEL's from the ECM's keep alive memory. Also check all your hose and MAF sensor connections along with making certain that both your throttle body and MAF sensor are clean. Once again, you do not need a tune with the Airaid 453-177 CAI as it's designed to function properly with the factory tune remaining in place!

https://www.airaid.com/453-177-performance-air-intake-system
 
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01yellerCobra

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Disconnecting the battery won't do anything for him if theres a tune for the JLT in the computer. He'll need to flash it back to stock. Or get the dealer to reflash it if he doesn't have the handheld.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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Obviously the Ford dealer was incorrect about his car not having a tune, as his JLT intake does require a computer re-flash. Therefore the OP will need to re-flash his car back to stock, if he has an SCT programmer. Otherwise, as mentioned have a Ford dealership re-flash his car back to stock. Once his car is re-flashed back to stock, he can then use his Airaid 453-177 CAI with the stock tune in place.
 
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Flusher

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Thank you for all the replies.

Everything I have read about CAIs implied the JLT needs a tune. I can see the cross-sectional area difference and therefore velocity over the MAF is huge. When discussing this with the service manager, he was adamant that he would have known if my car had a tune, almost to the point of being offered. I didn't push the issue with him and figured I would just try it and deal with whatever comes along.

I did try to source an OE assembly, finding one just didn't happen . I chose the Airaid because it has EO # D-609-18 and positive things written here. The Airaid will make me complient with the smog regulations. I have also read that a CAI really doesn't make any difference in and of itself. I decided to move forward and see.

My concern is that i have read about these cars having poor throttle response and, if I am to believe the marketing propaganda about the power increase provided by a CAI with a tune, putting the tune back to stock will limit an already underpowered engine. Unfortunately, my only seat time is driving in traffic. A V8 in So Cal traffic is just not in the budget.

It appears that adjusting tune parameters for a CAI is common. Can my existing tune be be modified?

I do not have a handheld.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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If you do not have a handheld programmer? your only options are to purchase a handheld programmer from a tuning vendor such as JDM engineering or from VMP tuning that include preloaded tunes in the handheld. Otherwise the only other option is to find a local tuner who can custom tune your car on their chassis dyno and also provide you with a handheld programmer for an additional cost that will also include your dyno tunes. However your existing tunes cannot be modified by another tuning vendor for proprietary reasons.
 

Flusher

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I have one more question regarding the throttle response. I have heard that this could be hardware that plugs into the throttle pedal, or is this part of the tune? What would i look for?

I don't know what a stock 4.0L is supposed to feel like. I only know that the throttle is touchy with no hesitation That is in comparison to my wife's '14 3.8L, which feels pretty good, and other fly-by-wire throttle equipped vehicles.

I just don't want to have to make reservations to pull out into traffic.

Thanks again
 

Pentalab

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U don't want a touchy throttle response....like a light switch. Tuners do that to provide the illusion of...'more power'.
 

Flusher

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U don't want a touchy throttle response....like a light switch. Tuners do that to provide the illusion of...'more power'.

I'm a mechanical injection drag boat guy. I like touchy. It's okay if it's just an illusion. I can't use any more power sitting in rush hour traffic anyway.
 

01yellerCobra

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My advise is to get reflashed at the dealer and run the Air Raid with insert. Get through smog then worry about looking for a tune. Not having a stock tune can be a pain down the road.
 

06 T-RED S/C GT

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Understood. Thank you

I totally agree and recommend you follow the advice provided by "01yellerCobra's post below, as your going to have to re-flash back to stock first before uploading an aftermarket tune anyhow. Then I would try out the stock tune with your Airaid 453-177 CAI and see if you like it, if not? then look into getting a tune for your Airaid CAI. Just so your aware, it's the tune that provides most of the improvements in throttle response, torque and HP by re-mapping the spark, fuel and timing parameters and not so much from an aftermarket CAI by itself as the stock motor's intake manifold and heads are only capable of allowing the maximum amount of airflow for which they were designed for by the factory. By just adding a large diameter pipe doesn't increase the amount of airflow going into the stock intake manifold nor thru the stock heads intake/exhaust ports, but rather just as a larger volume, but in reality, it accomplishes nothing more other than trying to force more air into the same size opening and is therefore considered as overkill. Once you do upgrades such as adding larger heads, throttle body, cams, LT headers or upgrade to either supercharged or turbo? which all require more airflow, this is when adding a larger diameter CAI will provide the most benefit along with tuning. At any rate, you will definitely notice an improvement in throttle response, torque and HP by just getting an aftermarket tune and there is no need to swap out your Airaid CAI towards another that has a larger pipe diameter. In the meantime, just have your Ford dealer re-flash your car back to stock and run it with your Airaid CAI.

My advise is to get reflashed at the dealer and run the Air Raid with insert. Get through smog then worry about looking for a tune. Not having a stock tune can be a pain down the road.

Couldn't agree more!
 
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Pentalab

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He has a 4.0 L eng with 225 crank hp....(V6).
225 hp x 1.5 = 337.5 CFM @ redline.
That's dick for air requirements.
 

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