I stopped by PepBoys today to see if they knew anything about a CAI for my Equinox...they claimed all they sell is generic ones for about $150, it's a whole kit, and it should fit any car...Thought that was odd, I thought these were all custom to each car


Stopped by their service department on the way out and the guy confirmed and said they don't even install them...I'd have to go to a performance shop, but basically you get some pipe tubing and a filter and it should mount down near the wheel well....thought that was odd too as the GMPP CAI for Cobalts is mounted up near the hood.


Anyone feel like setting me straight? I'm tryin to pump a few extra hp out of this beast, and maybe bump up my 14MPG a mile or two. I'm almost 40k miles and am going to have to replace the air filter soon so I figured I might look into a CAI.

Thanks guys.

 

for all real effect a pipe is a pipe.

it either fits, or it don't, it will either leak, or it won't. i have an ebay CAI on my 2.4 and it fits better than almost any other i've tried.

 

I'm assuming your Equinox has a MAF...I would be weary if there if there no provision for a MAF sensor in the intake track. So if this is the case, buy one specific for your car.

 

If the MAF is anything like the one on ours... the stupid universal fitters don't fit.

 

What makes these thing specific to each vehicle? The MAF fitting? I wonder if I could just torch cut the fitting to make it larger to fir the maf correctly? Or does the MAF throw a CEL if it detects certain air flow pressure as being too high?


I was looking at the Injen CAI for Cobalts 2.2, it looks like it *might* fit if I go with the short ram.


What other ways can I bump up my hp a little? Would be nice to get close to 170whp, right now i've got 185hp at the crank, maybe 160ish whp.

 

Well I decided I'd just save my money for now and just get a K&N Air Filter to replace the stock one, I'm almost at 40k miles and it's ready for a change out anyways.

Question is, when I tried to open the air filter box, I couldn't get the stupid MAF sensor out? These just plug right in correct? I tried pulling, a little twisting, squeezing, nothing. It seemed to budge a little when I slightly and carefully pry'd it with a screwdriver, but it still did not come off? Of coarse the owner manual just says "Unplug the Mass Air Flow Sensor..." Doesn't say how to unplug it..

Air Filter will be here tomorrow and I'd like to get it in right away. How do these MAF sensor's usually unplug?