alright so I took out the filter box and replaced it with a K&N cone filter. Now I have the hose going from the airbox to the AIV just sitting there, taking in non-filtered air.
is this a problem? I havent driven it too much since I swapped the filter. Now I'm thinking about taking the AIV out and plugging it.
so is it bad that its sucking in air thats not filtered.
air filter AIV....again.
neither. removal/malfunction of your aiv could mess up your emissions like it did for me. Some say that it gives them a little more power, but I've never seen any numbers to support the claim. Personally I'd go for the filter if you've got strict emissions laws like I'm subjected to. Makes for an easier time to get everything back together.
i live in texas and we have some of the most leanyent emmission laws. when l got my 97 mr2 j-spec and got it installed in my 93 shell they didn't even notice that it wasn't the motor that should have been in there. also they didn't even pop the hood the next time i had got it checked, and never have since "4 years of inspections". texas doesn't even test emissions, if so i've never been tested. so in that aspect i'm not worried... my question to you is what problems did you have and why havve no one else reported any problems in doing it. I am not saying that you are wrong, I am just tring to get all the facts before doing anything... thanks for the info..
If the reference is to me, then the reason why I say there are some issues that with the removal of the AIV is this. I failed smog 3 times in CA since the implementation of the dyno testing in my area. I had already done a full tune up (fuel filter, plugs, wires, dist cap/rotor, o2 sensor, the works) and was fairly confident going into my first smog. Clean as a whistle on CO and HC readings but off the charts for NOx. After having a word with Nistech and a my local Nissan dealership's head mechanic, they both pointed me in the direction of my egr or bpt. Had the same head mechanic check them out along with new vacuum hoses and although it reduced my NOx, it didn't clean it up to passable levels. By then I had done the 3 smogs. After another discussion with Nistech and that same mechanic, they both pointed to the catalytic converter and the AIV and if you check out the online mechanic section about "NOx emissions too high" there's a lengthy explaination about how it could be the AIV or the cat. However, they both pointed out that it's a possibility but not for sure that the cat is worn out although the other numbers associated with my emissions would say that my cat was still working fine. The AIV is there to let air into the cat to help it breathe so it can function properly.
So there's my explaination as to why it could possibly be bad for emissions testing.
About the "gains" in power, the reason I question it is because it's just there to suck air into the catalytic. Nothing else. How can power be gained by removing such a device? It doesn't do anything to the processes leading up to combustion and the removal of those gasses. Hence the reason why I find it suspicious. Another reason why there haven't been too many complaints about it is because of the fact that not everyone who's done it lives in CA, or hadn't had the opportunity to butt heads with the dyno testing policy.
Also if it does change your emissions for the worse, it should be a concern for you too, since that's the air you breathe.
So there's my explaination as to why it could possibly be bad for emissions testing.
About the "gains" in power, the reason I question it is because it's just there to suck air into the catalytic. Nothing else. How can power be gained by removing such a device? It doesn't do anything to the processes leading up to combustion and the removal of those gasses. Hence the reason why I find it suspicious. Another reason why there haven't been too many complaints about it is because of the fact that not everyone who's done it lives in CA, or hadn't had the opportunity to butt heads with the dyno testing policy.
Also if it does change your emissions for the worse, it should be a concern for you too, since that's the air you breathe.