Engine Installed RAI = Lost Power?

Installed RAI = Lost Power?

I have a 2000 Corolla 1.8 VVTi, Auto. I installed a RAI the other day, finally got to drive it last nite. It feels like at 4k rpms that its starving for air. I have some serious lag when accelerating from 55mph+. It also seems to idle a little rough, I thought this was b/c my MAF was dirty as hell, so I cleaned it with Electronic Contact Cleaner. Installed the MAF making sure the air goes accross the sensor in the same direction. Any ideas? Anone have similar problems?

Very true, mine was the same way but my mpg increased like hell. What it does is that the SRI sits near the headers so it just sucks in hot air and hot air = less power. You'll see your mpg increase though lol.

That's how all Short Ram Intakes are. Doesn't matter what car you put one on, they will all operate the same. Exactly what Mayur said, a SRI draws in hotter air. Stock Airboxes are closed off and have a tube leading somewhere to draw cold air. A full Cold Air Intake will give you the conical filter but typically places it inside a fender, away from the motor.

Some companies like K&N offer a "heat shield" which is like half an airbox, but this still doesn't solve the problem.

My suggestion, rip it off, and switch to a full Cold Air Intake, or go back to stock and use a K&N filter. (I run stock box with K&N filter)

Sorry to be nitpicky but it's header, not headers. LOL I don't see a V6+ under my hood.

I agree that RAI run a lot worse than stock. Waste of time and money imo. Like DeebsTundra says, either get a drop in filter for the stock air box or get a real CAI. In this case, you'll have to build a CAI. The only CAI for 8th gens was the ELP CAI, which is extremely rare to find.

Alphawerks also made a CAI for the 8th gen but I have yet to see someone with one.

Alphawerks said a lot of things, but I haven't seen them put out. I haven't heard of it anyways and there's no way to contact them, so I wouldn't even bother with such a shady company. Have Dr. Tweak custom build one. He has already made a custom 8th gen CAI. Have him duplicate it.

its impossible to make a good intake for the rolla because of the battery location. The best thing to do is to relocat the battery and place the filter where the battery currently sits with a heat shield around it.

wow, Thanks for all the info. I think Im gonna switch back to a stock box, this RAI is just making me loose wayy to much acceleration and power. I floor it and go now where, its worse then turbo lag.

Thanks again.

Tweak made me a custom CAI but that's relocating the battery to the trunk.

The only CAI working around the battery is the ELP. It works great.

yeah but according to dr tweak, the design isn't that great since it is curving around like that around the MAF sensor area (curving around the battery) which is why he suggested i relocate. and he's right, the throttle response is a lot better and after all the work done, my exhaust sounds a lil different. hard to explain but at full throttle, it has a mean growl to it that wasnt there before

It isnt great because since it has to route around the battery, there are more curves in the pipe making it harder for the air to go directly to the intake manifold. Your setup is much better because there is only curve the air has to go through but for the rest of us that dont want to relocate our batteries, the ELP is the best and only one out there.

I know I don't get the maximum power gain with the ELP, but that's good enough for me. I don't think the power increase would be that much more with a relocated battery.

yeah. to each their own.

Tweeks is right, there are way too many bends on the ELPrototypes CAI. The bends create air turbalance under vaccumm which is not a ideal condition especially for MAF sensored vehicles.

tweak was actually surprised the car doesn't stall since theres a bend near the MAF.