I was driving through some standing water today and almost sucked up water into my Hahn cold air intake. That got me thinking. Can I temporarily disconnect my cold air intake drive through the water and then reconnect it? Would temporarily disconnecting the intake cause any damage (as long as I don’t drive though dust lol)? Would the car even run, because the MAF is not getting any readings?

 

Yes*

The car will run when the MAF is unplugged, using a speed-density type of calculation. You will (obviously) get a code though.

 

Dooo not do that.

 

Why not drive around the water or take another route? Stamina is technically correct, you can run the car without it temporarily, but you're going to throw a code and the car will get pretty pissed off at you.

If you're going to make a habit out of driving through water though, I would think the better bet would just be to buy an SRI instead.

 

Or one of those Jeep/Land Rover/Hummer type air intake snorkles!

 

lifted AWD cobalt w snorkel? IDK i think i would rock one

 

I just picture the GC commercial where it's plowing through water in slow mo while the announcer is proclaiming all the water-tight features in it.

 

Lol yeah I need a snorkel today. I live in clearwater FL and its flooded all round here. It's as much water as when we get a tropical storm. There are about 3-5 days a year here when the streets are flooded. I cant get home right now, I'm stuck at my job until the water goes down. I might try to disconnect the CAI so I can get through the water. Id take another rough but there is only only one way to my house.

 

I would disconnect the CAI for sure ..... the little bit of dust and a code popping is a lot better then hydro locking the motor. Just pull the battery cable off and reset the code when you get home 8)

 

You'd have to drive through about a foot of standing water for it to pick up by the Hahn intake. It's not THAT exposed. I would advise putting on the water resistant sock. I had problems with the MAF getting damp after a cold start due to water dripping on the filter from above. Below? It's quite well protected.

 

where do you find the hydroshields for CAI filters? i looked in adv auto & autozone & they dont carry em. is there a certain one i should buy?

 

Until you drive in a downpour. There is an opening above the foglight that blows right onto the CAI at speed, the main reason I switched to an SRI again after soaking the MAF & getting a lot of condensate in the IC a few times. I'm sure the rain sock helps that a lot though.

The SRI will get a bit damp also, but 1/2" X 3/4" foam weatherstrip on the front edge of the hood above the passenger headlight keeps the water off my SRI.

I can't notice any IAT2 temp difference either CAI or SRI with a decent IC. Both soak heat from the engine compartment stuck in traffic or at idle.

 

how deep is that water anyway?? dont drive through deep water like that lol if u get a little in there it wont hurt it, it will vaporize due to the turbo heat before it even gets to the motor. just ur maf may get f'ed up