AEM Intake question
May-4th-2003, 11:29 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 43
AEM Intake question
Hi, I am new on the board. I have a 2003 LX 2.0L and I want to hear a better sound than the stock air box.
I saw information on the AEM short ram intake and I want to know peoples opinion on this board about the product.
I did get information about the injen system but I think its a pain in the a$$ in term of installation for the difference you get.
Any troubles reported with that product?
The difference with the stock air box worth the money?
Do you think the dealership can install the product to prevent trouble with the warrenty? If not, anyone know a good place near Montreal to buy the product?
I made a search on the subject and the most recent topic is from november 2002... It may be the time to start a new tread about intake.
I saw information on the AEM short ram intake and I want to know peoples opinion on this board about the product.
I did get information about the injen system but I think its a pain in the a$$ in term of installation for the difference you get.
Any troubles reported with that product?
The difference with the stock air box worth the money?
Do you think the dealership can install the product to prevent trouble with the warrenty? If not, anyone know a good place near Montreal to buy the product?
I made a search on the subject and the most recent topic is from november 2002... It may be the time to start a new tread about intake.
May-4th-2003, 12:24 PM
#2
Da' Butcher
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 668
I have the AEM on my Protege5 and am really happy with it. It looks good, sounds good, and small performance gain. I would liek to make it into a setup similiar to a cold air intake, but for now am happy with it the way it is. The dealer does not need to install it to affect the warranty. It took about 20min for me to do with some basic tool.
Don't know of anyplace in Canada, but I got mine from http://www.Adventon.com
Don't know of anyplace in Canada, but I got mine from http://www.Adventon.com
May-4th-2003, 03:07 PM
#3
Wok the Wok
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 785
I just recently installed my AEM as well. Sounds good, looks good and a performance gain you can feel around 3-5500rpm. I can actualy pass on uphills now. I ordered mine through a local shop here in town.
May-4th-2003, 10:15 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 43
My Dealer sales the Ractive intake for 110$. Is it a good alternative to the AEM intake? I rent my car for 4 years and I dont plan to keep it longer so I think it could be another possibility...
Any horror story or good opinion on that one?
Any horror story or good opinion on that one?
May-5th-2003, 09:29 AM
#7
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 59
Got the AEM on my Pro5 and am happy with it. Has a nice growl under acceleration and has more power. (e.g. before I would only "chirp" the wheels going from 1st to 2nd, now I squeal the tires).
The best price I could find in Winnipeg was Parts Source for $292CDN. It took three weeks for delivery.
The best price I could find in Winnipeg was Parts Source for $292CDN. It took three weeks for delivery.
May-5th-2003, 09:35 AM
#8
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 59
Oh ya... installation is a piece of cake. Follow the directions carefully and there shouldn't be a problem.
My only hitch was that the flex hose on the brake line (driver's front) was rubbing against the air filter. I bent the OEM air box bracket up (watch out for the hood) and everything was clear.
It took me an hour... but I was being really careful.
My only hitch was that the flex hose on the brake line (driver's front) was rubbing against the air filter. I bent the OEM air box bracket up (watch out for the hood) and everything was clear.
It took me an hour... but I was being really careful.
May-5th-2003, 10:19 PM
#9
No more Protegé5 =(
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Jenks, Oklahoma
Posts: 246
If all you're wanting is sound (over performance) then go on eBay and buy a cone filter with a MAF adapter bracket. The sound is unbeatable (nice growl at WOT) and it improves throttle response immensley. Installation is a cinch, too!
The only downside is the filter will just hang there untill you have time to make a custom bracket. The bracket isn't hard to make either. Here's my intake and cars:
The only downside is the filter will just hang there untill you have time to make a custom bracket. The bracket isn't hard to make either. Here's my intake and cars:
May-7th-2003, 10:16 PM
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 43
Thanks for the pic, good job for the bracket.
I will talk to my dealer if they can install it perfectly in less than 1 hour it would be a good thing.
Do you feel a real difference in term of response or the real reason to do this mod is the sound?
I will talk to my dealer if they can install it perfectly in less than 1 hour it would be a good thing.
Do you feel a real difference in term of response or the real reason to do this mod is the sound?
May-8th-2003, 09:47 AM
#11
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Posts: 59
I've gone through the threads, talked to a bunch of people and came to this conclusion... If you want to pretend you have more power, go with the Ebay special. If you actually want to have some performance gains, spend a couple bucks and get the AEM or Injen.
Down the road, if you get a performance exhaust system, you will get even more benefit out of the AEM or Injen.
Down the road, if you get a performance exhaust system, you will get even more benefit out of the AEM or Injen.
May-8th-2003, 11:28 AM
#12
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 282
If all you're looking for is a nice sound, you can do what i did and just remove all that piping before the filter box in the intake system. If you follow the piping out towards the front grill from the filter box, you can remove all that stuff and it sounds PIMP afterwards, but im pretty sure there is a performance decrease 
May-10th-2003, 10:48 AM
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Montreal
Posts: 43
I will probably go with the ractive intake. I went to a tuning shop and the guy there was honest... He told me that he had 4 intakes, starting from 120$ to 500$ for my car. He told me that all those intake wont make big gain no matter wich one I pick. He said to expect about 2 hp for the cheaper one to about 3-4 hp if I take the expensive one, if I dont do other bigger modification.
After the discussion he recommend me to take the cheaper one at 120$(ractive intake) and I think he is right. I dont want to pay 300$ more for a difference of 2 HP with the injen cai. He told me that he installed about 10 of those intakes last year with no problem at all. He can install me the intake in 30 min. and he will also reset the ECU. I talk to him about the possibility that the engine could suck hot air and he said the way he install the intake it wont have any difference with the stock box because the engine block is small for the space under the hood, that the air circulation is good in our car, that we(I) live in canada and that the air is usually cold and finally that I dont have other mod like a turbo wich create more hot air under the hood. That guy was rationnal and he have no gain to recommend me the cheaper intake so I will probably go with this choice.
After the discussion he recommend me to take the cheaper one at 120$(ractive intake) and I think he is right. I dont want to pay 300$ more for a difference of 2 HP with the injen cai. He told me that he installed about 10 of those intakes last year with no problem at all. He can install me the intake in 30 min. and he will also reset the ECU. I talk to him about the possibility that the engine could suck hot air and he said the way he install the intake it wont have any difference with the stock box because the engine block is small for the space under the hood, that the air circulation is good in our car, that we(I) live in canada and that the air is usually cold and finally that I dont have other mod like a turbo wich create more hot air under the hood. That guy was rationnal and he have no gain to recommend me the cheaper intake so I will probably go with this choice.