Myself and another NAMster (who installed his JCW CAI himself) installed the JCW CAI on my car today. The problem is the flap is not opening at all. We double checked all of our connection points and I'm not getting any CELs. Has anybody had this problem? We are wondering if maybe it's a faulty CAI.

 

From my understanding of the JCW CAI the flap opens at 4500 RPM (correct me if I'm wrong). Are you saying your flap is stuck and it wont open or you haven't been able to verify if it opens at that RPM range? If I were you I'd just get rid of the flap alltogether.

 

Your right, I should have been clearer. The flap is not stuck, you can move it by hand. It won't open at 4500 RPM.

 

Check the electrical line with a voltmeter, to see if it is sending the signal at 4500 rpm.

If it is, then check the vacuum line to verify vacuum at the box.

If it still isn't working, it's got to be the JCW intake box.

 

Number 1 answer.
From messing with mine I'd guess your not getting vacuum.

 

I was thinking that I would get a CEL if it was not getting vacuum? Is that not the case?

 

I believe you need your software upgraded.

John

 

you could just take out the flap.

 

No and the small vacuum line going inside the box is very easy to pull loose inside when your putting the top on. I even spread just a little silicone around the tube with my finger finally just to give it a little stick. don't get it to the very end so you won't clog it. No ECU upgrade is needed.

 

See if this helps

http://motoringfile.com/files/JCWUPGRADE.pdf

John

 

I will check the vacuum lines again

 

You most definitely are supposed to do a software patch when installing this.

I was messing with mine during the last DIY day at Mini of Dallas (thank you M.O.D.!!!), and one of the techs walked by, thinking that I was installing it for the first time, and said "Hey, you know you need to flash the ECU after doing that right?".


But.............. I don't know if that's what is stopping the flap from opening on you.

 

My `05 did not need a software patch, and I do not think that any others do either. If you check whether the electrical signal that tells the flap to open is getting to the intake, it will confirm that for sure, if there is voltage at 4500+.

 

Mini techs, while nice guys, are not gods and their word is not gospel. I've had to take my car back to the dealer plenty of time after repairs to have them finished properly.

 

the JCW intake does not, need a software update.

 

Repeat: No ECU flash is needed. Had mine installed at the dealer 2 yrs ago and they did not flash the ECU. The flap system is not that advanced. It only senses when a certain voltage, amp, etc is reached which happens to be at about 4500 RPM and the flap is activated where the vacuum than provides the push to open it, when it drops below that threshhold it deactivates. That is why no cel will occur if the flap doesn't open because of vacuum, it doesn't know it didn't open because there is no return signal.

 

no worries, no cel. i have the vacuum tube duct tapped to the cai after i decided on keeping the flap open. there has been no downside that i can detect to the flapectomy or locked flap open procedures......and attaching that vacuum tube has to be the most annoying thing i've tried to do on the mini! (i have big hands).

 

Last time a MINI tech worked on my car, they didn't reattach the vacuum line, and I got exactly the symptom you're describing. But a bad electrical connection would do the same thing.

And, since it hasn't been said enough, NO ECU FLASH is required for the JCW intake. This myth got started because, originally, the intake came in a kit with the JCW 380 injectors, and the KIT was listed as requiring a flash (because of the injectors... not the intake).

 

Okay in the spirit of learning here I entertain these thoughts.

But before I start one even playing field, no loose hoses no bad connections and so on . Lets just say all of the planets aligned and the JCW CAI was installed right.

1. We all know that vacuum pulls the flap open.
2. I think we all can agree that it opens around 4500 and closes around 4k
3. We also know there is some wiring involved here because that is what controls the vacuum control valve

So with that said where does the signal come from to open this valve?

It has been indicated that this valve has special senses?

Hummmmmmmmmmm I am still wondering way we connect this valve to the ECU when greater powers are at work here making this whole miracle happen.

 

I'm not an electrical engineer but the voltage, amp, etc in the circuit it is connected to builds as the RPMs go up, the flap requires X (which occurs at 4500rpm) amount of power to activate, when it drops below that it deactivates.

 

Something like that... The point is, the intake taps into an existing circuit already producing this signal for some other purpose (tach? Just guessing) - we're not reprogramming the ECU to send a special signal for the intake