Celica Forums General Discussion General Hole in CAI pipe... what to do?

Ok, so I have had my AEM CAI on for about a year now. I went out today to clean up the engine bay when I could feel the intake knocking on something hard whenever it moved. I traced my hands down the pipe and discovered where it was hitting. Come to find out, there is about an 1" diameter hole there. It's been hitting on what I believe is the front of the transmission. There is a bolt whose head put the hole in the intake. I'm trying to figure out what is the best method of fixing this without replacing the intake system. For the time being I put about 5 layers of duct tape over the hole just to protect it until I can come up with something final. Maybe I could put a rubber intercooler connecter over it and secure it? I need something padded that will prevent this from happening again.

The hole has definately been there for a while. I haven't noticed any problems from it. The car still runs fine.

I think the intercooler coupler is the best method. That will allow me to surround the pipe, thereby covering the hole, all while providing padding for the intake. I need to know what diameter the AEM CAI is? I think it's 2.5 inches.

probably 2.75" since stock is 2.5"

yep 2.75" ... please save yourself the trouble and dont buy 2.5" cause they wont fit. I had a bad experience. IF you want couplers they should be about 10-15 bucks... the real AEM one is 20.

The other Prob you should look for is where is all the pieces of the CAI went hope none of them got pulled into the eng. Go with the couplers, caus i dont think they make heatshrink tubing that big but its worth looking in to
good luck.

Why not takt off the pipe and take it to someone that knows how to weld and just have them fill in the hole??

A piece of sheet metal (aluminum?) and JB weld.

After you patch it, make sure you put something to cover the bolt head that made the hole to make sure you don't get another one.

How the hell did that work out, hitting the transmission and all

hey my Injen CAI WOULD of had a hole in it until I put some pipe insulation around it and used nylon tie straps to hold it up and put some foam weather strip on the part where it was hitting and its been ever since. But anyways it would hit I guess when I would shift hard or while i race someone. I looked at the part where it was scraped pretty bad and it was close to a near hole oh well. Good luck

Patch the hole, clean your MAF, and change your engine oil and filter.

haha...i have the same hole...lol..

Apparently the space is just big enough for the pipe to get through the area. I ended up using a 3 inch rubber coupler to cover the hole. I had to trim some excess off the couple because it was too large for the pipe. I used two hose clamps on the couple, and wah la! No more hole. I'd reccomend that anyone with an AEM intake, especially the GEN 2, check theirs for a hole. It's at the lowest point of the intake, just at where it bends upwards to go towards the filter. If you crawl under the car when there are no plastic shrouds, you'll see it. Hopefully you're luckier than me.