Ok everyone, I'm a newbie when it comes to these cars and I need some help. I'm new to the site as well so navigating to see where I can read to solve the problem is an issue as well.

I have a 2009 SS/TC and I love it! I got it used with 8k miles and the previous owner had put an AEM cold air intake on. Well, periodically my check engine light will come on and when I use onstar they tell me i'm throwing intake codes. This will happen and it'll stay on for like a day or two and then the car will go back to acting normal. I can go a whole month or 2 without having issues but then I can go 3 months with it coming on twice each month. It's very random when it happens. Now, I can ignore the light but I can feel the effects it has on the car. I can now tell when it's about to happen before the light comes on - the turbo won't produce any psi and it's like the turbo doesn't spool and activate. I get no boost and the car is sluggish and no matter what the boost won't build up and help the engine...it sucks (especially when you need to pass someone on the highway and the car just doesn't have the get up and go).

I had heard that putting aftermarket intakes would screw things up but I know that people, especially car enthusiasts, HAVE to modify their intakes because that's like one of the first steps in modding lol What can I do to solve this issue? I hate losing my pressure and it's annoying going 3 or 4 days without boost and the car is slow. That intake is the only mod and it looks professionally installed (like I said, it was on the car when I bought it). I hate that I can't tell why it randomly does it either...

Any suggestions!?

Thanks,

J

 

Either get a stock intake and put that on or get tuned.

 

Yup the original AEM intake has issues. Get a K&N intake or go back to stock...

 

where in tx are you, i can help ya out with a trifecta tune if you'd like

 

Well, thanks for the advice guys...

I'm in the Dallas area of Tx right now.

Not to thrilled about how to fix the issue - I don't have a stock intake to put back on, I can't afford to buy a different intake or tune because I'm in paramedic school and that has taken all my funds. Guess I'll have to deal with the light?

How much is a tune blackstealth?

 

Get a tune or take it off!!! but newbs on this site say, "omg, but i might void my warranty"

 

wtf is your problem...you obviously didn't read my post douche...thanks for the reply

 

its simple your just like the rest who avoid tunes to fix the fuel trims

 

Uh, no. the intake came with the car when i bought it and I don't have the money for a tune. I didn't know there was issues when I bought the car. This is my DD I don't plan on modding this car...I have another car for modding thank you. I will be the first to say that when it comes to this car I don't know much about the inner workings, I apologize that I came to a CAR FORUM to ask a question and for help.

 

its okay, I'll give you a couple of pats behind the back. everything will be okay... now go hook up with that guy in TX and get that Trifecta tune and everything will be golden.

 

Yeah take off the AEM and put on either the stock intake or the K&N. The K&N is the only intake that can be run safely on the stock tune or the GMS1 tune, like me. Hahn would be the only cold air intake you could possibly run without a tune. You can find a K&N for $200ish new, or post a wanted ad in the classifieds section for the stock intake for maybe half that. Many many SS/TCs here have aftermarket intakes so I would imagine someone would sell you their stock one for cheap.

Its throwing codes because your fuel trims are so far off. If anything, you are losing power because of that intake.

 

I guess it is time to start saving up for a tune? how much would a simple tune to fix this issue run me? Blackstealth, what's your price down there in Tyler?

 

ill pm you, and we can meet in dallasto tune when you get the funds, i need to grab some e85 while im there seeing as we have none here in east tx

 

^ This

 

On a side note, I don't think I've yet to hear of anybody on here getting their warranty voided by a trifecta tune. In fact I think the trifecta tunes are more reliable than GMS1

 

Another idea for you....

Go into the Regional forums and post in the Texas section that you'd be willing to trade your intake for someone's stock intake. I bet there is someone out there looking for one and you would be able to just meet up and swap them. Would take 15 mins at most and your problems would go away. It's also free!

 

Or buy hptuners and get a real tune......... Nothing aginst trifecta.. or u you blackstealth ......

 

That right there is a pretty damn good idea. 35thz, try doing the above first.

Before I read that post. I was going to suggest your only option is to either get a K&N intake (proven to work correctly and not throw codes due to fuel trim skew with the stock tune) or get a tune.

^The tune or the new intake are both gonna run you $200 or more. Im shocked the previous owner had an intake and no tune! Unless he flashed back to stock before trading it in.

You want this gauge. Trust me, its probably one of the most useful tools on the turbo cobalt. Plugs right into the OBDII and doesnt require much to install.
Aeroforce Interceptor scan gauge demo - YouTube

 

hahahaha none takn bud, you need to make a trip to tx to show off your work and maybe get some business.......

 

you can also try to sell the current intake on your whip to get some quick cash and get yourself another intake like KN right away. i wouldn't recommend Hahn for the stock tune you'll skew lot more but no worse than the AEM. I had the 2nd AEM revision intake with my stock tune with no issues, until I later got my tune to get the full benefit.

 

thanks for all the help guys! I'm just gonna deal with it until I can get a tune, I really don't feel like taking parts off and putting parts back on just because I don't have the time, I really wish I did but I'm just too busy to be working on the car myself.