Cold Air Intake Does Nothing + CEL is On!!

[MatadorGV]

I am new to the forum so please bare with me if this is not the right place to post my problem and please let me know. Thanks! But yeah, I just got my cold air intake today and I put it in literally a few minutes after I got it in my 03 Murano(The process took about an hour or so) and after everything, it seems like everything is exactly where it is supposed to be but my problem is that even though if i rev the engine or bring the rpm pretty high, it will make an amazing sound, I really feel absolutely no difference in power and if anything it seems like the car isn't picking up as much speed as before? I can be driving on the highway doing 80 and it will feel like im doing 40, it just doesn't seem different at all, just worse! And now the check engine light is on as well, it came on right after everything was done and I started the car. Any suggestions?


O and another thing, has anyone done an lcd swap on their 03 murano? I have a basic orange lcd that just tells you the basics, no bose, no navi, no color, nothing, just the basic one and I was looking to either put in a new in dash screen(but it seems like everyone i talk to and everywhere I go they say that no company makes one for the murano, it has to be straight from the factory). Or if anyone has done the swap from the basic factory monitor to the colored one, can you give me details on it? Thanks a lot everyone!!

[Hilbe]

Sounds like a hose is lose or a connection is not tight enough. Probably air escaping somewhere...

[Eric L.]

I second the loose intake hose prognosis.

An intake alone won't make the car feel more powerful. Its more for high rpm growl than added power. Even if it added, say, 5hp, its not like you can feel the difference anyways over the 240+ you already have.

[TheMantis]

Did you think putting a cold air intake on the car was going to make it faster?

[sawasan]

[QUOTE=MatadorGV;141658]......And now the check engine light is on as well, it came on right after everything was done and I started the car. Any suggestions?



On the Z forums, a lot of people say to disconnect the battery for a couple minutes to reset the computer, although I didn't have that problem with the Z or Mo'. Btw, which intake did you get? I went with a JTW intake which is not a cold air intake.

[chuck jones]

The best suggestion I have is go back to stock. Those cold air intakes are 99% hype and 1% BS, which equals 100%. They do NOTHING for a Murano. I ran Porsches for years and saw guys get talked into going this way and invariably the CEL would come on because the computer is set up to detect a certain amount of pressure...when you change those parameters, it sets off the CEL. Muranos are NOT a good platform for aftermarket performance doo-dads. The Subaru's have a lot of aftermarket performance enhancing products that really work, but face it guys, a Murano is designed as a family car...with comfort, accessories, and styling in mind. It's not designed as a 0-60 in 5 seconds type of vehicle. All this K and N filter stuff along with the other so called performance enhancing doo-dads is so much BS. Have ANY of you ever seen ANY charts, graphs, or specs from tests on these claimed HP increase products? It's one thing for a vendor to claim it ads 5% or 10 HP, but where the independent proof? Besides, you'd never feel a 10 HP increase if it was possible anyway. Exhaust products for a Murano give you sound, that's all. You want to spend $1000 for sound? Put your money into the stereo system although the upgraded Bose is great already. If you just want it to sound bad a$$ed, then go for the gusto, but sound is all you'll get and maybe a smile from someone who also appreciates the sound. All that money chasing promises of performance that isn't there. If you want performance, buy a Subaru WRX or STI, or a Miata or NSX, Porsche or Corvette. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy what the Murano was designed for.

[Pilgrim]

I second every word Chuck wrote above. ^^^^

I'm not a believer in tacking mods onto a motor. Performance is a balance of factors...for instance, if you put more air into an engine, you won't get a performance change unless you also get more air out of the engine...meaning exhaust mods that get very expensive.

This vehicle is not a performance vehicle, it's a great family vehicle with better than average handling. I'll keep the stock air intake, etc and then I'm good for parts and service anywhere I travel.

[cirruspilot]

Originally Posted by chuck jones

The best suggestion I have is go back to stock. Those cold air intakes are 99% hype and 1% BS, which equals 100%. They do NOTHING for a Murano. ...

12 years of SCCA racing and I agree. You have to tune a car for a CAI, exhaust, etc. anyway to really benefit. Most CAI are poorly designed and get heat soaked from being in the engine bay. A true CAI, like I have on my track car, would likely get hydrolock on the road from sucking in water when it rains. The Murano has a well designed semi ramair set up that brings cool air into the intake, away from the engine. Plus, no CAI is going to filter as well as even a cheapo Fram from WalMart. Only benefit might be the sound, if that floats your boat. Most CAI's are just rice jewelry.

[njjoe]

Originally Posted by cirruspilot

Only benefit might be the sound, if that floats your boat.

Perception. It is all a matter of perception.

Some people perceive the increase in engine (intake) noise to be an increase in engine power. It's just noise.

I never understood why it is referred to as a cold air intake when it is positioned aft of the radiator.

-njjoe

[turbizzy]

It sounds like you might have left the mass airflow sensor disconnected. Which CAI kit did you buy? The AEM one or a cheap ebay one?

Also, all my cars have CAIs on them and they work. Its true to get the best performance out of them you need to tune the ECM to accept it but i've seen first hand on a dyno as much as 15 WHP gain just by swapping the stock intake out for a stocker. Yes Muranos aren't performance vehicles but adding an intake should help some with fuel economy. Its all to each his own.