I was experiencing the same problems with my CAI so I decided to go over the old filter box with a fine tooth comb and this is what I came up with.......

First off it's not that the piping on CAI's is to big that causes this, it's the fact that they are missing something that directs the air more towards the MAF then the rest of the pipe.

MY THEORY: Today I decided to fix my issue. I was looking at the OE intake box when I noticed something different about where the MAF sensor used to sit as opposed to the open pipe it sits in now. inside the OE pipe was two little half H looking things which is where the MAF sensor would sit inbetween, so to me this was a way to send more air coming into the pipe through the MAF instead of around it. your aftermarket CAI doesn't have an H thingy, it's just a wide open pipe so more air actually bypasses the MAF then goes through it which causes it to read just enough air to think its choking which is when your CEL comes on thinking there is something wrong with the MAF but there isn't, it is just the fact that there isn't enough air coming in direct contact with the MAF for it to function properly.....

MY FIX: Next was to solve the issue. I spent 45mins in autozone before I finally made my decission on what I was going to do and parts needed. All in All it was a $6.00 fix. I went to the section where they have all that misc. piping and adapters to create your own intake tubing. What I needed to find was something that I could fit securely in the pipe that would re-direct the airflow through the MAF kinda like the H thingy did. What I ended up buying was a rubber coupling which had a smaller shorter ring on the inside that could be used to condense the pipe. I pulled apart the CAI and inserted the rubber spacer from the coupling into the pipe right by the MAF on the side furthest from the throtlebody. re-installed the CAI and no more Issues!!!!!! runs great, real smooth and pulls just as hard if not harder with no hesitation. And no CEL yet either!

This custom adjustment worked for me hopefully it can help some of you. if you think about it, the idea does make sense. I came up with the idea myself and I am not saying I am the most intelligent person but I put a lot of thought into it, so it should do the trick. GOODLUCK TO ALL WHO ATEMPT!!!!!!

 

hey man, good idea, can you post a picture of this coupling you used so i know exactly what to look for. I am having the same problem and none of the dealers are open around Thanksgiving.

 

I will do you one better! go to autozone and tell them you are looking for a "spectre coupler kit" part# 8752

 

well damn, i guess if i had common sense i could have asked for the part number. thank you

 

i went to autozone and found the part number 8752, but that part did not have a sleeve adaptor, so i just went down the line to 8771 which is just a 3" tube that has the 2.5" adaptor ring on the inside. i hope this works

 

THANK YOU! I have driven the car down to springfield, MO from Saint louis and the car is still working fine at all stoplights and idling speeds. Good idea!

 

DAMN!!! cel back...made appt with dealer, pretty sure it has nothing to do with intake though! maybe the idle air box?

 

Hey thanks for the advice i have baught the 8771 which is just a 3" tube that has the 2.5" adaptor ring on the inside. It has worked wonders. Really i feel my car faster and easier to handle....

 

my new problem is that the car has trouble taking off after being stopped. it feels like i am not giving the car enough gas but i know i am so it takes more pressure with the foot to get it going! when i get to about 3500 rpm, the car really pulls as if i had gunned it from the beginning.

 

Yeah, I have that issue too. what it is, for some reason with the cai on the car the variable valve timming likes to kick in harder but at a higher rpm range which is why your car will feel slugish at first. kinda gives you that feeling of a high rpm turbo kit or something just not as much power. the cai opens up the HP for in the higher rpms but kinda kills what little torque we have at the lower rpms. its kinda one of those give and take modifications. I will what I can't do to come up with a way to fix that.

 

so i took the car to the dealer and they replaced the purge valve! the car still hesitates around 40mph/2000rpms. I think i am going to put the stock intake back in and then see what happens then. if the problem persists then i can take it back to the dealer and they will tell me what is actually wrong rather than saying it is probbly the aftermarket intake.

 

thats a good idea. your problem should go away though after you put that stock intake back on. it did for me when I tried it.

 

Take off the MAF, clean them up with a Q-TIP, be gentle and not break anything especially that little brown thing. It's $100+ to get that new. Problem should go away, if not, take off the intake and clean the ETB. How long have you had the filter for?

 

brand new intake, maybe 1.5 months old! Ive already cleaned the maf

 

If that's the case, go to autozone and get the code pulled out and solve the problem.

I have had few friends that had the same problem on the 3...

What brand is your intake?

Sorry if this has been already mentioned, I was lazy to read what was mentioned in this whole thread.