I recently installed an Alta CAI and I've noticed that when the throttle is opened as little as possibe, like just a tiny bit to maintain highway speed, I can hear a squeaking noise. It doesn't sound like air flow or the super charger whine, just a squeak. Anybody else have this? Any ideas what it could be?
Thanks,
Joey

 

don't worry, its completely normal, just a peculiarity of ALTA's foam intake

 

I have the Alta intake and I have the same squeak (actually I think of it as a squeal, but whatever). I don't like it but it doesn't seem to hurt anything and after a while one does get used to it.

/gary

 

I have it too, much more pronounced on a fresh filter though.

 

Its normal. Your hearing a slight whistle as air passes through the butterfly in the TB

 

yeh, when i wash and re-oil mine, the squeak is more pronounced

 

Thanks guys - I knew these things were noisy, but I'd never heard the squeak described before. I drove around for a week or so listening to it and hoping it was a whistle, then decided I'd better check.

 

I just roll down the windows and listen to the burble a little more, the ALTA is one of those things where you know it will be louder but you don't know what it sounds like until you run it.

 

A squeak,maybe you got a mouse in there.

 

I have had the whistle since I put on the intake but now I have what sounds like a bird chirping also. It only happens at about 2500-2800 rpm. I have tried reseating the hose thinking it was an air leak but that did not solve the problem. The whistle I don't mind but the chirp is annoying. Other than that I love the additional sound from the intake.

 

Come on now, let's *embrace* the quaint noises our MINIs make! Each of use spent hours and dollars personalizing our MINIs yet when it comes to noises, we want to be assured that we are like everyone else, and share those noises in common! So what is it-- we're different, or we're the same? I vote for--my noises are not at all like yours...!

cheers, phil

 

My newest philosiphy is if I can hear the intake then its time to research an exauhst. My budget doesn't seem to agree. ddminikc, when was the last time you cleaned your filter. Its just noise over the TB, if you really don't like it re-install the cowl heatshield and it will all quiet down.

 

This is the same noise you'll hear if you have an intake leak from the fittings on most imports that have the filter somewhere near the bumper. When I first heard this I thought there was a leak somewhere...but I checked, and double checked everything and it was all tight. I would make sense that it was air squeaking past the butterfly valve though...

 

Bingo, I had the same inital reaction too.

 

Yeah...isn't it just the throttle body opening?? Don't worry!

 

If I was to replace the foam filter with say a K&N would I lose all that pssshhh noises I have. Really, they kinda bug me, just because I like total silence in my car and when cruising and I just sorta accelerate I hear a PSSHHH squeek squeek. If not, what intakes don't do any of that pssshh squeek junk. I was looking at the BFP Carbon Fiber intake, it looks great and produces good numbers, anyone have experience with it.

 

when i put VGS on my car, it completely stopped the squeaking. Try that perhaps, first, before spending money on a new filter?

 

Excuse my stupid question, what is VGS?

 

I was triping out when I heard it for the first time too.

 

A VGS is rerouting the vaccum lines for more efficent bypass valve functioning, there are two detailed threads on this if you do a title search, plus Andy explains it better than me. total cost was less than $5 and it gets you to boost quicker, and keeps you there longer.

 

NICE!! But how does that affect the CAI squeek and psshhhh?

 

i have no idea why the VGS affects the squeaking noises, but it did on mine .

As stated above, the VGS has a couple of advantages. You get earlier boost, and the more boost you make, the more it helps to keep the valve shut. A lot of people like what it does, and some people's cars don't like it. So give it a shot, you can revert it back to stock in less than 30 mins, and it costs virtually nothing

 

It's not the Alta intake, it is present on most if not all CAI's. I've heard varying opinions from a vacuum line to the way the throttle body is designed (throttle butterfly.)

 

I'm personally pretty certain the squeal is due to the bypass valve. Installing Andy's Vaccuum Gain System all but eliminated the squeal on my 2005 MCS auto.

 

Was the vacuum routing the same on the automatic as on the manual?
I too have a CAI with the annoying whistle. Love the performance but hate the noise.