Hey, the AEM cold air didn't have one of the plugs for the harness that has the MAF Sensor on it. This has caused my check engine light to go on. I'm guessing I can get rid of the light by reseting my ecu? Do I just unplug the battery for a minute?

Thanks,
Jon Swift

 

Can you explain more?

One of the electrical connectors isn't there? Or the plug for the electrical connection to the VFAD?

S

 

There's two connectors, one goes to the MAF Sensor the other is a small harness that might have connected to the stock air box, I'm not sure I bought the car with it on there.

 

normal,

the vdaf it gone.. that is were the extra plug goes.. cel. who knows.

beers

 

How are you sure that the CAI is whats causing the CEL?
Did you get the code pulled?
If you intend to do a reset on the KAM (which contains the sensor profiles) you'll need to do the 20 brake deal (turn the key to ON, depress the brake ~20 times until the oil pressure gauge sweeps)
Swoop is right, its normal to have the extra harness after installing an AEM intake. The harness was for the stock air box.
Only way I see the intake causing a CEL (realistically) is if the MAF got dirty and needs cleaned or the intake manifold lost it's plug (where the VFAD used to go).
But like I said, find out what the code is and let us know so we can narrow it down better.

 

If you unplug the VFAD plug, you WILL get a CEL as soon as you rev it above 6K-7K

Happened to me.

What I did was, I keep the part, plug it in and stick it behind my K&N.

No CEL.

 

I will try to plug it in, unfortunetley I didn't do the install (the owner before did) so I'm not to familiar with what goes where. If that dosen't work, I'll get the code.

Thanks!

 

I couldn't find anything to plug it into, does anyone have a pic or maybe a description of what I should be looking for.

Thanks!

 

Attached shows where the plug goes onto the intake manifold.

 

I couldn't find anywhere for it to plug into near the throttle body/intake manifold.

If I remember right where it says it plugs into, it felt like a nipple that possibly once connected a rubber tube to somewhere? I'm not sure, like I said the previous owner had done the install some I'm unfamiliar with the stock RX8 air intake system.

 

Here is a pic, its the green plug. It's zip tied pretty tight and looks professional so I'm not sure if that's factory or not, probably not, more likely just a clean job. I'm not able to find this plug. If anyone has a picture, I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks

 

That connector was for the VFAD unit that you no longer use since you have an AEM intake.
You're correct about the "nipple" on the intake manifold. My AEM intake came with a green plug that goes on that nipple. That is where the rubber tube for the VFAD use to plug into. So verify that the nipple is plugged.

 

Yeah, it wasn't plugged, I figured that it probably needed to be. Any suggestions on where to get a plug from? I guess I could always get a rubber tube from home depot and crimp it but I'd like to keep it clean. So then the VFAD Connector just stays inactive? I think I'm going to have to get the code from the ecu, I wouldn't imagine that an air leak would cause the check engine light to come on.
Thanks

 

I had to replace mine a few weeks ago (accidentally dropped it and couldn't find where it landed) so I went to AutoZone and picked up a pack of different size plugs.
And yes the VFAD connector just stays "inactive". I too have mine zip tied out of the way.
I do believe that this would cause a CEL to illuminate. After you install the plug reset the ECU to clear the CEL (or wait for a couple days for it to clear itself).

 

Thanks for the advice, I'm going out of town for a few days, when I get back I'll update if that doesn't do the trick.

Update: Actually the CEL magically went off and hasn't came back on the last 4 times I've driven it. Maybe it knows I'm coming for it, haha, I have a feeling it will probably come back on though.

 

my check engine light has been on since i baught the car and i have a safety and emissions test tommorrow .. any one got any ideas on how to reset it. the place where i got my oil changed didnt reset it which is why it keeps coming on?

 

If you clear the PCM then try to get it checked, it'll report that the data is insufficient and they'll ask you to drive it around some before coming back.
By then... the CEL could come back and you'll have to get it fixed.
I had to go through this during my first e-check.
I bought a new battery and during the swap, the PCM was cleared.
When I took it up to the e-check place, they told me to drive it around some and come back when the car has generated enough information/data to complete the test.

So take it to Autozone, get the code pulled, and fix the problem.
Two likely and easy items are the EVAP leak (replace gas cap) or misfires (replace spark plugs).