Problem with custom intake...please help!!!

[PBfrEAk]

Alright.

I didn't want to buy an intake from ebay...and I couldn't find anything out there for the VG30 anywhere else. I was bored and had some spending money so I went to good ole autozone with my little brother and decided to make my own.

I bought a 45 degree bend, a straight piece, a 60 degree bend, a rubber coupler and a plate that (I thought) would work for the MAF. I started by using the stock rubber boot that connects from the end of the intake manifold to the stock plastic intake and then ran the 45 to the straight then to the 60. I then took the rubber coupler (which I had to stretch to fit and it is still snug as a bug) and connected the 60 bend to the MAF.

The piece I bought to connect from the bolted end of the MAF to the filter didn't match up hole wise. So I decided to drill out the pop rivets on the plate on the inside of the stock air box. Which worked great. The filter (which was a K&N filter my brother got for free as part of a payment for installing a stereo) fit very snug over the lip on the other side of the plate.

I was really excited to start my car only for it to start and completely die. Acting like the MAF is not getting any airflow.

What I think I went wrong but I need someone to confirm is the breather tube that was connected into the stock air box is currently sitting separate with a breather on the end of it.

Does that have to run into the intake after the MAF?? Would that be cause my car not to start. Or do I have bigger problems??

Thanks a lot for all your help. I'll try and draw a paint picture to show you what it looks like cause my dig. camera is up at school right now.

[PBfrEAk]

Ok the pink arrow is (supposed to be) pointing to the tube that I assume is the head breather or something like that...and I have just a little breather filter on there now. The black is the stock pieces (the rubber boot and the MAF). The red is the intake manifold. The silver are the three pieces I bought at Autozone. The grey is the spectra rubber boot I bought. The yellow/gold is the plate I drilled out of the stock air box and the blue are the filters (they aren't really blue...I just made them different colors for fun).

As far as I can tell there are not leaks and everything is snug. Any help would be great because I'm just not sure and I don't want to start drilling a hole for the tube if that isn't the problem.

[MinisterofDOOM]

If that's the tube I think it is (feeds the IACV), the car should run fine with it just going to a breather filter. If you plug it off, THEN the car would stall, but as long as it's getting airflow it should run.

Is the breather filter on the end plugged?

[PBfrEAk]

It shouldn't be.

But you know what...now that I think about it...the clamp that was originally on there might be sqeezing that too tight and pinching it off cause the breather doesn't have a very stiff neck...I'll go check that right now!!

[PBfrEAk]

Ok so I popped off the breather and now it starts but whenever I give it gas to rev it a lil it just dies.

I'm beginning to think this "custom intake" is harder than I planned.

I don't think its the MAF because I was VERY careful while I had it off not to bump it or anything or get any dirt in it.

It doesn't feel like there are any leaks in the intake.

What would make it just die like that?

Stupid question but what is the IACV??

[MinisterofDOOM]

IACV is the little green dealie on your illustration.

Idle Air Control Valve. It regulates idle.

Did you put the breather on the hose or was it like that before you did the custom intake?

[PBfrEAk]

I threw it on there because originally it ran into my stock intake...through a little tube.

So I wanted to be safe by putting a filter on there just in case because I wasn't exactly sure what it was for.

Alright so I went back down and as long as I rev it, it will stay running but as soon as I let off the throttle it dies.

I did order a 6 dollar kit to put a grommet and tube into the intake pieces I bought so then I can run the tube back where it is supposed to be, off of the intake itself. But that isn't going to be here till the 3rd.

[mtcookson]

The IACV must be connected to the intake after the MAF. Otherwise, it will suck in un-metered air causing it to run lean. Its basically like having a huge vacuum leak. Hook that back up and it should run perfect.

There are actually CAI kits for older Honda Accords (90-93 I think) that work perfectly on the VG Maxima's. Those are the most popular way to go for VG intakes. The two piece style like this is the one that works: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...25667

Definitely get a different air filter. The K&N's are terrible to have on cars with a MAF. The oil from the filter will get on the wire and will cause issues.

[PBfrEAk]

The IACV must be connected to the intake after the MAF. Otherwise, it will suck in un-metered air causing it to run lean. Its basically like having a huge vacuum leak. Hook that back up and it should run perfect.

There are actually CAI kits for older Honda Accords (90-93 I think) that work perfectly on the VG Maxima's. Those are the most popular way to go for VG intakes. The two piece style like this is the one that works: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...25667

Definitely get a different air filter. The K&N's are terrible to have on cars with a MAF. The oil from the filter will get on the wire and will cause issues.

THANK YOU!!!

It makes sense now...at first I was just dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.

As for the intakes...I wish I would have seen that earlier but oh well I already have the stuff on there. I will however get rid of the K&N. I'll let my brother put it on is Eclipse or I'll just sell it. What filter do you recommend of the top of your head??

I was thinking of just getting an AEM dry one but if you know of one better I'd like to know.

But thanks again man...very glad you chimed in!!!

[danielekfuj]

mtcookson is right on. I had the same problem when my IAC tube was pinched. However, I used a K&N filter and did not have any problems. I know there are more maxima owners that used them w/o problems also. Just make sure that you don't put too much oil in it.

[PBfrEAk]

Well at least I didn't **** up the MAF.

I would have been jacked.

Now I have to wait for the third to get that tube in there.

Matter of time now...Yippie!!!

[Sentientbydesign]

Definately go with the AEM Dryflow. It's so much easier to deal with. No greasy mess and no worries about your MAF getting coated with oil.

Be careful because they come in many diameters in .25" increments.

[mtcookson]

Yeah, that AEM should get the job done. As long as its a dry filter and filters good, it should work fine.