Hey, i just got an AAM Plenum spacer. pretty sure i put it in right, and im getin problems with it. At idle it gets rough and eventually stalls. any suggestions?

 

Did you torque the bolts down correctly? Have you re-checked all the vacuum lines? If that's not the problem, you may have a problem with the gasket itself or worst case a cracked plenum. Just a couple thoughts...

 

i tightened them all up. how tight do they need to be?. im pretty sure everything is connected right. thanks for the ideas. ill doubble check in the morning.

 

The torque specs are in the install instuctions. Check the intake connection to the plenum, airbox to tube, gaskets for the spacer/plenum (even though I don't think that would make it stall). Did you plug the air sensor back in? That is, if you took it off.

 

You really need to be using a torque wrench when installing one of these. It's very easy to snap a bolt from overtightening. If you don't tighten it enough, you can get air leaks around the 6 center bolts. Also, make sure you put the rubber washers on those 6 bolts.

 

Yeah man, remember everything in there is aluminum... which is easy as all hell to strip by overtightening. I think a general rule for the plenum is to tighten until you don't hear leaks and that's IT... anything more and your day's gonna suck.

 

o man looks like my day is gonna suck then. i just tightened it till it was tight. i didnt get any instructions with my kit tho.

 

and i didnt put thoes rubber washers on the center
maybe thats it. iimmm dumb

 

^ Definately need to put those rubber washers on... but that shouldn't be causing your car to stall. Get in contact with someone from AAM (check out the Mid-A forum or got to their website)... they should be able to email you a copy of the instructions.

You said you tightened until tight... did any of the threads bust? If not, you should be good, just check for leaks (turn car on, get spray bottle of soapy water, spray around where the plenums meet the spacer.. also around the center bolts).

 

This will solve your no-manual problem:
http://www.alteredatmosphere.com/man...ion_Manual.pdf

Do you have all the hardware, i.e. the rubber washers? If you need them, I belive you can get just the hardware from AAM.

 

yeah, the problem with AAM spacers, which i have, is that the plenum pulls down at WOT and will cause air leaks around the bolts. I used the rubber washers and put a little dab of silicone seal to make sure i don't have a leak. I went over all the bolts again in a couple of days to find some felt loose again, so i tightened them again. But i had the same thing, rough idle, misfiring. AAM really needs to design some angled plastic washers for inside the plenum so it can't flex.

 

Wierd... I never had that problem. Actually never heard of it. Is it common?

 

Most probably won't have the problem with the rubber washers, or don't notice it. I only noticed mine with the leak after i had my cams put in, the tuner recommended taking the spacer out so they can tune the ecu without the leaks which were causing a way too lean condition. I put the spacer back in because it does help balance out the air flow to the front. Not bashing the product since it's on my car, it does work, just needs a little more help like some plastic inner washers like motordyne's would have been nice.

 

so on the center screws just put the Oring washers? whats the extra 1000 metal washers for.

 

yeah, use the o-ring washers, should be okay after that.

 

I've never heard that one either, in fact it doesn't make sense. The vacuum in the plenum is highest at idle, not at WOT. I could see deflection being a problem on a plastic plenum like the Kinetix, but not the stock one. The stock plenum is strong, very strong. You can stand on it without bending or damaging it.

If you follow the tightening instructions you should have any problems with leakage.

 

It doesn't make sense but i definitely heard the air sucking in, when it was revving, not when it was at idle. The plenum is pretty solid, i think so too, but that's what the tuner told me. He said without the inner supports it does flex a little, just enough to get an air leak on one of the center bolts, that is without the o-ring washers. I did get it to seal better by taking out the 2 studs and putting 2 screws in instead, and using silicone gasket stuff. Just passing along the info, you can take it or leave it.

 

Those are spacers for your strut bar.

 

welp did everything like the manual said, still rough idle then eventual stall.checked for bubbles with soapy water. cant find anything.

 

alrighty i fixed it at the cost of being late for work haha. the gasket was just slipped in the back, i noticed it while spraying water over the entire damn thing. thanks for ur help guys