Just installed my takeda CAI. I have read that many people have had issues with the splash guard, like I have ran into.

I am now worried about rain/snow getting the filter wet...

My question is, should I be worried? I have read everywhere on this site about it being okay, but then some people say it isn't. Very mixed emotions.

 

#1 what grille are you running?

#2 dont drive into a lake

 

its unfortunate you have issues with your splash guard. i recently installed my sold takeda CAI to Thirty_seven and i warned him that the shield might not fit. its a hit or miss with that thing. after hearing that he was nervous and had mixed emotions about having to use the CAi system without it. i told him ive got caught in heavy rain, and obviously the filter got wet, but i didnt do any highway driving, i stayed local. my hypothesis was highway driving would have a greater chance of hydro locking bc the air flow into the filter at great speeds can push the water further up the tubes than at slower speeds when local street driving. i also like to check the weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

ive also used the car in a NYC winter, snow melts during the day, and gets the filter wet, then as you drive the moving cold air can refreeze it, as well as the colder temps at night. running it in the winter is much riskier bc its hard you have no control over the conditions outside. its just COLD and snow all day. unless you own another car, put the G away for the winter.

For the countless rain storms ive driven through and 2 NYC winters the car came out unscathed. im saying its ok to run it without a rainshield, just as long as you change your driving habbits when faced with those type of weather conditions. 2 of my friends arent running the shields here in NYC and they all are A OK.

on a side note. my 2010 X coupe had the rain shield issue. Thirty_seven's 2008 S Coupe. maybe its designed for the 2008's. ?????

 

been thru plenty, from light mists to torrential thunderstorms at hwy speeds, w/no issue.

that's just my .02, they make a water shield for a reason, but i think the risk is low and rises w/drenching or submersion

 

Squarehead your G is on point

 

squarehead your G is crackin'!! What type of tein springs do you have on? I'm thinking S?

 

Plus one for that, I installed one on my sedan tho, But didn't have any issues with it before I installed the sheild. Actually thinking about taking it off. LOL

 

I'm glad that the shield ended up fitting. It's an added piece of mind but OP, I wouldn't be worried if it wasn't on there. I think the chances of hydrolocking are very low. I haven't seen it happen a single person with a CAI on a G.

I'm guessing they test fitted the splash guard on a 2008 and something in the bumper changed in 2009 (hence why it didn't fit EnYcee's AWD car).

I've had the Takeda on for almost 2 weeks and I've washed the car twice (sprayed water right into the thing because I forgot it was there lol) and everything seems fine. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

If the filter is an oil type then no worries unless you submerge the car.

 

^ that was my thinking but can you really oil a dry type filter? arent they paper vs a cotton blend?

 

I am running a stock aero bumper.

Does anyone know if there is a makeshift splash guard I can run in there?

If not, I will try my luck I guess. No turning back now...

As far as the splash guard I wasted my money on, do you think they will honor a return from afe power?

 

Square head......your car....is bananas man!!!

 

I've had mine on without the guard (tho I do have it lol) for almost a year now never any issues. I avoid the heavy rain when possible, but mostly I don't worry about it. I'll put it on when I get the midnight grill

 

I contacted aFe when I was having fitment issues installing my splash shield and I believe the test car was a 2009 sedan. The test G they used did not have a bracket and they just assumed that all bumpers were the same. aFe said until I contacted them, they had never heard of anyone having any problems with fitting the shield.

I have a 2008 G37S and could not fit the bumper back on with the shield installed. I had to make cuts on the shield - 1 for the bracket and 2 on the sides to allow the grill to fit:



By the time I got everything to fit, the shield was so hideous I just left it off.

 

That stock intake is already cold. Why bother.