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Cold Air Intake Check Engine Light

443 Views 18 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  short21yang
Hello guys I drive a 2012 Honda Civic LX , today I installed my first performance mod which was a Spectra Cold Air Intake system , I drove for about 50 miles , the check engine light threw. I got the light checked at auto zone and told them I installed the part they said since the car isn’t use to that much airflow , it’ll throw a single and technically doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it .

is that normal or should I look into swapping out my sensor?
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You need a tune to account for the lean condition


Sent from my iPhone 13 Pro while on the toilet.
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You need a tune to account for the lean condition


Sent from my iPhone 13 Pro while on the toilet.
I was told that it’s nothing actually wrong with it just flashing due to the mod being added . Plus I know I won’t get EVERY Single HP boost with the intake without tune but I also know I don’t actually 100% NEEED one to do it because it still makes a bit more power
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I wonder if the autozone guy will say the same thing when your valves and spark plugs burn out.
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& why would that happen? Gotta remember I’m new to mods and just asking questions about the situation
& why would that happen? Gotta remember I’m new to mods and just asking questions about the situation
Now that you have a presumably larger air intake versus the stock one, your engine is now receiving more air into its combustion chambers, which is why you're getting a check engine light. Like Jn2k said, you need to have your car's ECU tuned in order to compensate fuel for the addition of air that your car is now receiving. Otherwise you're running the engine lean.

Consequences of running your engine lean is an overheating engine, damage to valves, piston heads, head gasket, spark plugs, etc. Your exhaust system, moreso the cat, could also suffer damage from the now hotter than optimal air exiting your engine.

It is your car at the end of the day, and if that's how you want to run your car, it's ok. But, I wouldn't risk the future problems you may have over a mod that gives you no perceivable difference in performance other than cool noises. I would say it's important to get a tune using a Ktuner or Hondata device before messing with any powertrain mods. That way when you add a mod like a larger air intake or a different exhaust system, you have the tool you can take to a tuner in order to compensate for your newly added items.
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Would replacing my cars oxygen sensor work or tube is the only option
& why would that happen? Gotta remember I’m new to mods and just asking questions about the situation
Now that you have a presumably larger air intake versus the stock one, your engine is now receiving more air into its combustion chambers, which is why you're getting a check engine light. Like Jn2k said, you need to have your car's ECU tuned in order to compensate fuel for the addition of air that your car is now receiving. Otherwise you're running the engine lean.

Consequences of running your engine lean is an overheating engine, damage to valves, piston heads, head gasket, spark plugs, etc. Your exhaust system, moreso the cat, could also suffer damage from the now hotter than optimal air exiting your engine.

It is your car at the end of the day, and if that's how you want to run your car, it's ok. But, I wouldn't risk the future problems you may have over a mod that gives you no perceivable difference in performance other than cool noises. I would say it's important to get a tune using a Ktuner or Hondata device before messing with any powertrain mods. That way when you add a mod like a larger air intake or a different exhaust system, you have the tool you can take to a tuner in order to compensate for your newly added items.
Also , thank you this was WAYYY better explained .
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Would replacing my cars oxygen sensor work or tube is the only option
No, you need to get a simple tune or take off the intake
You only get a new oxygen sensor if the sensor is bad. Right now the sensor isn’t bad, it’s doing what it’s suppose to do. Reporting incorrect air to fuel ratio and thus throw a check engine light.

You can try replacing it but it will stay on since there is nothing wrong with it.


Sent from my iPhone 13 Pro while on the toilet.
I got another code reading today @ a different place & it actually says my oxygen sensor is bad , at first at auto zone it popped up something was wrong with the intake but not on a different coder with more details , the down stream sensor 2 bank 1 Oxygen Sensor is going out , which is why I asked my last question but thank you all I appreciate it , also I let 2 mechanics look at my installation, it didn’t look like my installation was bad either . Thank you for the all the advice
How many miles does your car have by the way? I still think you should revert to stock air intake box until you get a tuning device.
Around 155K and some change
Best advice is to go back to stock and keep it stock till whenever you can get a tune the intake other than some sound has no performance benefit whatsoever.
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Thank you , thank you for the advice and switching to stock tomorrow and buying that tune in a few months
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You need a tune. When you remove the stock intake, you lose the engineered Helmholtz chambers that prevent standing frequency-induced flow stagnation ... i.e., airflow reduction at certain mid-range RPM's.

If you're not going to tune it, do like @kev604 says and return it to stock. The only benefit you get from an un-tuned engine with a CAI with a straight pipe (no OEM engineered side chambers) is sound and a little better throttle response from idle ... that's it. The CAI without a tune will endure some power loss at certain mid-range RPM's.

OF
Thank you , just put the stock one back on.
I had a K&N intake on mines for years and never had a CEL. As for O2 sensor change, it’s kind of a pain for the SI (not sure how the engine layout is for the LX) but you can check out my video here if you want to DIY it should be very similar.
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