Hiccup this morning

[speedsports]

Alright guys, time to get your thinking caps on.

I installed an INJEN CAI last week, and I was driving into work this morning. It was raining. I can guarantee that I was extremely careful driving around in the wet with a CAI, having had both of my WRXs with CAI.

SO, here is how it went down. I was in 4th @ 45mph. I got on the gas a little and the car sputtered a little bit. I immediately turned off the engine and pulled to the side. I didnt have my tools with me, so I couldnt check if the MAF sensor was wet. The filter was a bit humid though. I waited around30 trying to figure out what to do. I turned the engine back on, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. So i drove very slow and the car felt fine. Im friends with a mechanic nearby my work and the car is in the shop, they are taking the MAF off as we speak to see if there was any water/ humidity.

Also, Im in Charlotte and there is a gas shortage, so I have been unfortunetly been running on 87 since there is no 93 premium to be found, and I need to get to work.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY CAR?

 

[AutoEuphoria]

Boost cut, maybe? Could have spiked past 18 for a fraction too long and hit boost cut...that's what it feels like - a sputter/cutout/misfire/etc.

 

[speedsports]

IDK... no boost gauge. how would that feel?

 

[AutoEuphoria]

Not too violent, but it slows you down in a hurry. Feels like a massive misfire.

 

[speedsports]

It felt like a misfire. It started to rev and then it happened. I was not WOT though. I wished I would have remembered the RPM.

 

[AutoEuphoria]

If you weren't at WOT it probably wasn't boost cut. You would have to be spooling the turbo hard to get that, unless there is something wrong with your boost control setup. You are still at factory boost, right? No boost controller or anything like that? It might just be from the ECU relearning to accomodate the extra air flow. Just take it easy for a couple of days and see if it happens again. If it does, put the stock air box on again and see if it still does it. If that cures the problem, it's obviously something with the intake.

 

[speedsports]

I was definetly not WOT. Yeah I'm pretty much stock. No MBC or ECU. I will keep my eye open for any other weird issues.

The guys at the shop havent called me yet, but Im almost positive it wasnt hydrolock or anything. There is no way that it could of swallowed water. Right?

Thanks guys.

 

[Zimmer]

I have Cobb's SRI. On occasion on the highway when I get on it in a high gear w/out down shifting the car hiccups. I'm guessing the car's responding to loading the car in low RPM's. I only get it in high gears already at cruising speed. I can repeat it. I never have a problem when I'm accelerating through the gears.

If I down shift to fourth and accelerate then hit fifth and accelerate no hiccup.

It occurs near the 2700-3000 RPM range

 

[coyfish]

Why dont you try an injen hydroshield. After a HEAVY rain day where i was driving all over town for like 2 hours I came home and looked at the filter. It was completely dry under the shield. It only costs like 10 bucks and it doesnt hinder the air flow. Gives me peace of mind even though im still very carefully about those puddles.

 

[speedsports]

Funny you mention that, I ordered my Hydroshield on Monday. Cant wait for it to get here...

Did anyone keep the factory splash guard on after they installed a CAI. Im thinkng about taking a dremel this weekend and seeing if I can fit it in its original place for just a little more blockage.

 

[shane02pro5]

I'll bet it's more due to a bit of detonation getting into boost from the 87oct causing the ecu to pull some timing. If it was water getting to the maf you'd most likely get a cel immediately.

 

[speedsports]

Well sir, you seem to know more about the issue than I do, so I will take your word for it.

Thanks!

 

[CWPspeed3]

You shouldnt put a big load on a car at low RPM's, downshifting would solve that if it indeed was the cause of the hiccup. A hydro shield is also a good idea to get regardless.

coyfish where did you pick up your hydro shield for $10?

 

[shane02pro5]

You didn't get a cel right when it happened right?

 

[speedsports]

Nope.

 

[shane02pro5]

Nothing to worry about but i'd try to go a little easy on her until you can get some 91+ in there.

 

[AutoEuphoria]

LOL I didn't even notice the gas thing. Yeah, that's probably it...87 octane causing detonation. Be VERY careful not to let that happen too much. Get some 91+ as soon as you can...hell, I'd add a can of that octane booster at this point just to be safe.

 

[speedsports]

The shop just called and the MAF sensor was wet. But no check engine light and the car is running fine.

Any thoughts?

 

[AAMguy]

put some octane booster in it until you can get some 93

 

[AutoEuphoria]

Boy that just doesn't sound plausible. How much can you trust that shop? I mean, think about it...you didn't drive through any huge puddles, so we're talking minimal exposure to any moisture at all...to think that it made it all the way past the filter and to the MAF, and was enough to coat the MAF so that it was still wet after a day? I'm not buying it. I have to think it was just the low-grade octane. 87 Octane is just not meant to be compressed the way it is in a boosted engine. It spontaneously combusts (detonates) from the pressure alone.

If the MAF is wet, the filter is still going to be wet. Check the filter, see if it's dry. If it's saturated with water then I might believe the shop's story. If it's dry, then I wouldn't. That filter would have to be soaked to allow water in that far.