i just installed my new AEM brute force intake on my 99 lightning and shes not runnin to good. it starts up fine, idles low and when i go to accelerate it just bogs down. once i do finally get up to speed it seems to clear out for the most part and runs alright. but if i keep it at a steady rpm sometimes it will sputter. i checked all the sensors and hoses at least a dozen times so i know its installed correctly and my check engine light is not coming on so i know the sensors are working properly. do i need my fuel mixture ajusted?

 

not really sure if this will do anything: disconnect the battery for at least 30 minutes and then reconnect (have the computer "recognize and learn" the NEW intake). I was suspecting hoes/lines and/or sensors but you have already checked those. Good luck

 

you need a new tune most likely. that intake uses a new maf housing that will throw off your tune.

 

should i take it to the dealership for a new tune?

 

no, they can't help you. you need a chip programmed for that intake if it changes anything about the maf.

contact any of the SV's here: PSP, JDM, JLP, or find somebody locally.

 

My buddy called AEM and was told you do not need a tune change if you are stock and adding the intake. The tech said the diameter change in the maf pipe doesnt matter because the stock maf can compensate up to 25% which the size difference between the stocker and the AEM is like 11%. I have the AEM also just haven't gotten around to installing it yet.

 

As I understand it, the MAF is a sensor that measures the airflow into the engine. If you change the diameter of the tube which holds the MAF, you throw it out of calibration and it has no way of recalibrating itself. If the tube is bigger, less air flows over the sensor itself and the system cannot compensate, no matter what the tech says. Bigger MAF housing means a new tune. If you want an easy check, just put the stock pieces back on, with no other changes and see if the problem goes away.

 

oh yeah, I got the same problem when I installed mine.......dam "CHECK ENGINE" light will come on after 50 miles or so........finally took it to get it check out and they told me that same thing........the bigger tubing is causing it. I had to buy a new SCT MAF and re-dyno my L
I also added the 4# pulley while I was at it.......hee......hee......

 

of course it needs a tune! AEM would never sell them if you knew it required a tune. I'm sure you are running dangerously lean right now.
get it tuned asap

 

If an air intake is causing that many problems, it qualifies as JUNK in my books. I would send it back.

You get it tuned , and you do this and that... How in the hell do you know if it was any good in the first place.

TB

 

i put the stock box back on and it is runnin fine. not sure if ill just sell the aem.

 

For the ones who had a problem what year is your lightning? Going with what AEM says that the stock maf can compensate up to 25% that would put the 80mm 99-00 lightning on the edge of having problems. Although everyone says you need a retune. Not disagreeing with them or agreeing with AEM just putting this out there. There were 2 guys on here with 01+ that have the AEm that I talked to and neither had a problem with theirs. How did they get the that propipe intake to work with the stock sensor? It also had a large tube replacing the stock maf housing. I think it was Babolt pro pipe or something to that effect.