I know, I know... I've been yakking about it for several months, but I finally got my new K&N CAI (cold air induction) purchased last week from an eBay seller. Here comes the shocking part: I actually got it installed Sunday in my tC!

Luckily, K&N's included directions are pretty good. I only had to run to the auto parts store for one bolt that was too short. I started around 10am and finally finished around 5pm. Not too bad, considering all of my self-imposed interruptions.

Why did I get a CAI system?
- slightly better gas mileage (about 3 MPG increase)
- 6 HP gain above 3k RPM
- the cool blue color (Why would I get silver for my silver tC?)
- at my age, I don't need to turbo charge my wheels - but stock is boring

I'm not sure about the mileage gain yet (will post that later), but I know it HAS made a difference in sound and performance. The sound is VERY different now when I accelerate heavily. It's louder and doesn't sound quite so ricey. And I've definitely noticed better acceleration at the high end.
I'll post photos later.

 

Glad to hear you like it.

I am debating about getting the K&N myself. I am interested to hear how you like it after you get some miles on it.

 

what bolt was to short? I put that in my car and didnt have to go to the parts store for anything. It was a easy install I thought.

 

gerry...

Silver actually looks pretty nice with the ssm tc. I debated getting blue for awhile for contrast, but i really like how silver turned out.. It matches really nicely

http://www.palmerforpresident.com/ga...g2_itemId=2159

 

I am definately interested in any MPG gains you see. As this is my last deciding factor in getting one my self.

 

I seriously doubt the mpg increase... you are only allowing slightly more air.. meaning more fuel, not less. If anything my mpg has dropped.. but an negligible amount if any. The engine is not "working" to suck in more air with a more restrictive intake.. it simply cannot work as hard with one, meaning less fuel consumption. With a CAI you are adding more fuel at once.

I have had the K&N on mine for about a week and a half. I did some good before and after driving.. and can tell a slight increase in throttle response and pull... not stellar, but it is just an intake. It sounds nice as well. So I am happy with it. The short bolt you speak of is most likely under the wheel well. Simply take one of the stock air box bolts, remove one of the relay box bolts (the one you need to connect to), and tighten the intake bracket into that whole using the airbox bolt from the bottom side. Then screw a 10 mm nut on from the top to hold down the relay box again. Works great!

 

Yeah, the problem bolt for me was the one that gets removed from the mounting bracket for the fuse box and then replaced. The 3 bolts that came in my pkg were all the same length. After putting the bolt in, it didn't stick out at all, thereby not allowing me to attach the intake pipe's bracket to it. No big deal, though. I just went down to Advance Auto Parts and picked up what I needed.

The only other minor nit is with the fact that the pipe in the wheel well is so close to the body that it often rattles against it. I'll be looking at dense foam tape or caulk that doesn't dry hard to quiet it down.

No info on MPG yet. However, I should be getting some good numbers by next week since I drive 70 miles to work each way. Because of my wonderful commute (most of it on interstates at high speed), my tC already has 58,000 miles on it. Youch!

 

I agree that the silver looks great. I'm going with a blue theme so these items stand out more. I'll be painting my calipers blue, getting blue lights inside, etc.
No, I didn't get a blue tC because I like the silver and blue contrast.

To each his/her own, I guess...

HAS ANYONE GOTTEN THE RATTLING I'M HEARING? I was afraid the pipe going into the wheel well would rattle against the body, and it does. Which would work better to quiet that? Dense foam tape? Caulk? Suggestions?

 

i got the same rattle as you. i have the injen cai and they supply you with a rubber strip that slips on the edge of the metal. mine kept falling off so i just used some rubber cement the next time i put it on. it does not rattle at all now

 

Harmonic_tc:

Thanks. I'm glad it's not just the K&N with this problem. I'm sure it's because they can only make the pipe bends just so sharp. Because I can easily fix it, I don't consider this a major issue at all.

ADDENDUM: I just snagged this from the ToyotaNation website:
Since the metal the pipe is rattling against is very thin, I should be able to cut a slit lengthwise in a piece of gasline hose and use that to quiet it down.
I'll let you know how well it works, but I have high hopes.

 

I did that on mine and it worked grat.

 

FWIW:

I got mine from a guy on eBay who does business as exotictruck-auto (Exotic Truck & Auto Gear), for only $199.95 - including s&h. Nice!
Yes, the unit is brand new and I got it in only 2 days.

 

I had the same rattle when i started out and bogged a little (engine shakes) my fix was the door edge guard at the parts store for like 2 bucks cut a small piece and place it on the sheet metal on the inner fender it still rubs but it isn't as loud... also i like to double check under the hood every now and then to make sure the brackets are still tight and such

 

is there anyone that has a video of a tc with the k&n intake

 

http://www.socalpunkandska.com/media/tcdrivebyvideo.wmv

 

I love mine...not loud enough though...I did have to put extra rubber at the fender entry point cuz of a rattle:

 

I dropped by Advance Auto Parts on my way home from work and picked up a 2' section of 1/4" gas-line hose for $3.98. Then I cut a 3" piece and put it on the edge of metal the pipe was bouncing against. Success! It's back to being nice and quiet again -- except when I hit the gas -- and that's when it SHOULD make noise. LOL

 

Even for an old fart like me to watch, that was sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

(Of course, the audio isn't realistic if one is just listening for how the CAI would sound since that guy's tC has tuned exhaust, too.)

 

Here are some photos:

(The 1st photo was taken this evening after installing some "protection".)
(The last two were taken Sunday after I hosed off my engine area.)

Look closely and you'll see the fuel line hose protecting the intake pipe going into the wheel well: (see 400amonth's post above, too)


At the carburetor intake:


Installed and ready to rumble.... errr, roll!

 

Mine actually clears that side ok.. it is the ear that the original intake tube connected to that it touches... but no rattles so far.