I am looking to plumb a new intake setup in my '92 3.1L (or at least modify the stock one to flow better). But I am hesitant to mess with the stock air cleaner housing for this reason: there is some sort of sensor there in the housing w/ electrical leads. The Haynes manual makes no mention of it whatsoever. What is it, and how would I work it into a new intake setup?

 

That is an airflow sensor. When I installed my SLP CAI I at first removed it thinking I didn't need it. Well that messed up my mixture and caused my car to run rich and trip a computer code causing the check engine light to come on. As long as the sensor is there, it's good, you can modify everything around it. Such in my SLP CAI i just drilled a hole and dropped it in, and it's all better now! Hope that helps!

Mark

 

OK, thanks for the info...the thing I'm thinking now is that if it's an air flow sensor, then changing it's mounting will change it's perception of what the airflow is at a given RPM. This probably could be modified, e.g., by incorporating a resistor. But without the proper values, I'm taking a chance at confusing the computer and messing up the engine's performance.

 

As far as changing it's mounting I don't think it effected it's perception of the airflow. My car does not throw any computer codes, and I gained performance, not lose performance. If the computer get confused it'll be sure to let you know by throwing up some codes!

Mark

 

ITS NOT AN AIR FLOW SENSOR ON A 92. Its your IAT(Inlet Air Temp) sensor. And yes you can remove it and your car will run just fine. At this moment mine is dangling under what used to be the stock air filter mounting plate. I have not taken the time yet to drill out teh opening in the ABS Plastic to insert it there.

go to www.geocities.com/generationxracing there when you open the second page look for the link to "my idea for 3rd gen CAI" at the bottom of the screen I think...you'll the the beast of an intake I built...

Or even better do a search on this board for my topic called "hows this for CAI" It has pics there too...

 

Thanks for correcting me hunter. Sorry for the terminology mixup! That is indeed what I meant. I just never knew what the name of it was.

Mark

 

Cool, guys, thanks for the info. Like I said, no mention of this sensor whatsoever in the Haynes (that I could find, at least). Wouldn't it make more sense, however, to integrate the sensor into the new intake so that the computer can see that the intake charge is cooler, and can adjust accordingly? In any case, thanks for clearing up the confusion. And that is a monster of an intake, what did you relocate to make room for that?

 

I had to relocate the smog canister from the passenger side to the drivers side next to the battery. All the hoses and things needed for the relocation were included from SLP.

Mark

 

if your talking about mine. I relocated the battery, ripped out the stock air cleaner and mounting plate. I also removed the actual plates that hold the battery and the air cleaner assembly.
If you look at where they used to be theres nothing but open air...
And if you looked at that thread I posted you'll know that those 2 tubes are 3" ABS plastic...

 

CHD how'd you remove those panels below the batter and the other side?

 

he drilled those plates where the welds were and it dropped....

 

Yup. 14 or 15 spot welds PER SIDE and alot of them were a BIATCH to get to... Lotsa cuts on that one...