CAI installed, now the truck won't run

First of all, Hello!! I'm new to the world of Tacoma's and just bought mine about three months ago.

Now, I started to mod my taco just a little while ago, and I decided to go with a DIY universal kit (possibly a bad idea?) it didn't come with nearly enough adapters and connectors, or a MAF sensor piece, but after getting it all together it looked good. Everything checked out. Plugged in the MAF, plugged in the battery. Started up the truck, and it started, and died immediately. Start again, rev it up a bit. It'll stay alive, sometimes, if I keep it around 4-5 K rpm. Anything lower, and it just dies. Interesting

Upon someone's advice, I replaced the MAF sensor. Problem persists.

Now, I don't know a lot about tacos, and I don't know a lot about automobile engines, I've always been a motorcycle guy, but it seems to me like there's 3 things that it could be; spark, gas, air. It's suckin TONS of air, and has new spark plugs.

The truck runs without the MAF sensor plugged in. Enough so that I can drive up to about 30 mph/2k rpm, no/minimal throttle response. I feel like there's no gas pressure.

Already cleaned and replaced the MAF. It runs no differently with the filter (unoiled) on or off. It runs no differently with either of the vacuum hoses connected.


What could be going on here?

I was gonna wait until my truck wasn't a total bone stock boring truck before I got an account here, but fate rushes things I suppose.

Thanks a ton!!!

 

Welcome... Pics or it didn't happen

 

Camera recently took a fairly nice fall. As far as I know it's not in working condition. The pipe diameter is 3 inches. I'm not sure if this is larger? The sensor isn't in exactly the stock location, but it's only about a foot away.

 

Go with C4x4s advice first, put the OE stuff back on, will give you an immediate answer as to if the problem is in the CAI or not. Truck was running perfectly normal before the CAI I assume then?

Could be something is clogged, restricting flow. That or a leak.

Either way, it's not getting enough air at start-up to even idle. Is that air being restricted or is being lost somewhere? However when you rev the engine you may be sucking enough air into the engine to run a little but would run like crap.

You say, "it's sucking tons of air". Please explain, are you hearing a different/louder noise with the CAI on?

 

There's some kind of line I remember going to the top of the air box on mine... I thought it could be a vac line?? Could this be it?

 

I had a pic!
It's this 'un

 

I would check your piping.... it seems like you have a massive leak somewhere..... whether the piping is to small or large it won't make it die... it will make it run lean or rich but it won't die unless the piping is massively different in size...

 

Already checked for leaks. I sealed on all my vacuum hoses; no leak small or large.

The 3 inch pipe can't be THAT much larger, if any. The MAF doesn't have a ton of room around it when I put it in.

Mowtaco; thanks for the pic. There is that vacuum line, and it is connected and sealed.

What I mean by it's sucking tons of air, is that if you start up the engine (remember, runs without the MAF plugged in) you can feel the suction against your hand pretty strongly. Its going SOMEWHERE and since there's no leaks, I'd assume it's going into the engine.

I'm puttin the stock stuff back on later today, when I get off work at 4:30

 

Not to argue but how would a slightly larger pipe cause miss-readings? I've worked with a wide range of modified vehicles, including turbo and have never experience miss reading due to pipes. Out flowing from huge turbos, yes...but a pipe an unrestricted pipe shouldn't cause any air speed/density changes at the sensor....at least I can't think of any.

 

Is the MAP sensor installed with the correct flow? Did that on a Tundra and it would start, but then just die out. Turned it around and ran great....

 

These symptoms occured when I was wheeling my old ranger a few years ago. I restarted it several times and it would just die, and it would only run if I kept the rpms up. So, we set the e-brake and popped the hood. All that happened was the clamp came loose and the k&n fell off the end of the intake tube. We put it back on and all was good. Therefore, I can only guess that it is possible you're getting too much unrestricted air. What kind of filter did this kit come with btw?

 

did you tighten the clamps at the MAF and at the throttle body?

 

had the same situation on a "universal" CAI on a Stratus R/T that i had. cant remeber the exact problem but it was related to the MAF sensor. got a differnt CAI and it ran great. i currently have a URD CAI on my tacoma

 

Alright, here we go. Changed back to the stock system, and it runs, no engine codes, with my old MAF even (anyone need one for an 07?) I've gotten it down to the only changes AT all in position/intake/output/anything that would matter... the MAF was turned 90* to the side. I'll let ya'll know if I get it figured out with my CAI, and figure out a picture

Thanks a TON for all the replies guys!

 

That's what I was thinking. I'm modifying the piece I have to see if I can make it work.