How to Install a Cold Air Intake System

Replacing a vehicle's air supply requires the removal of your factory stock air box. It is important to know where your factory air stock system is located and how it works. Higher-end cold air intake systems may require body work to fit the intake pipe.

Instructions

Prepare to Install Your System

1

Collect the tools needed for the installation. Consult your car and cold air intake kit manuals for specific socket and wrench sizes.

2

Park the vehicle on a level surface, with the parking brake set.

3

Make sure the engine is cool to the touch before continuing.

4

Open the hood and disconnect the battery cable from the negative terminal.

Remove the Factory Air Stock System

5

Find the factory air tube that connects the stock air box to the throttle body. If you cannot locate the tube, refer to your owner's manual.

6

Remove the vacuum hoses from the factory air intake tube. You will need your pliers to remove the clamps attached to the vacuum hoses.

7

Use the appropriate screwdriver to loosen the clamps that attach the intake tube to the stock box.

8

Loosen the hose clamps that attach the intake tube to the throttle body.

9

Remove the air intake tube.

10

Disconnect your mass air flow sensor (MAF) and set it aside. If your vehicle does not have an air sensor, skip this step.

11

Remove any obstacles that are blocking access to the bolts of the stock box. In most vehicles, an air resonation system sits around the stock box.

12

Use your socket wrench to unscrew the bolts of the stock air box.

13

Remove the stock box from the engine bay.

Attach the New Air Filter to the Cold Air Intake Pipe

14

Make sure you have all the parts of your cold air intake system. You will find a list of parts in the instruction manual.

15

Check that the air filter is preoiled and not damaged.

16

Place the air filter at the end of the intake pipe, and secure it with a hose clamp.

17

Pull on the air filter gently to make sure it is secure.

Install the Cold Air Intake System

18

Compare the number of vacuum hoses in your vehicle to the number of holes on the cold air intake pipe. If there are more holes than hoses, plug the extra holes with the grommets that came with your kit.

19

Attach the silicone coupling that came with the cold air intake kit to the throttle body.

20

Secure the coupling by tightening a hose clamp at the end.

21

Place another hose clamp on the front of the coupling, but do not tighten it.

22

Slide the intake tube into the silicone coupling.

23

Notice any mounting obstacles your tube may encounter. Your intake pipe should be running from the throttle bay away from the engine bay.

24

Tighten the second hose clamp on the silicone coupling and secure all the brackets on the tube. Make sure the intake tube is tightly secured to avoid rattling.

25

Plug the mass air flow sensor into the new cold air intake system.

26

Reconnect the battery terminal and close the hood.

27

Turn on the vehicle to check whether the engine is idling smoothly.