Alta CAI Too Noisy.... Is there a fix
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,559
Likes: 0
From: Orange County NY
I put the rear cowl wall back in on the alta setup and the whistle is gone. I did make the opening about 3 times as big as the original. Not sure what the difference in performance is but I didn't feel I lost performance only the anoying low throttle whistle.
I don't have a whistle at all with my JCW intake. I have to say the person who suggested cleaning carbon out of the throttle body is whistling out his exhaust pipe.
First thing I'd do is try the stock hose & see if the noise calms down or goes away. As a last resort I'd try some Berrymens or CRC throttle body cleaner. I feel it will be of little good though.
Did the whistle start after your boost gauge install?
First thing I'd do is try the stock hose & see if the noise calms down or goes away. As a last resort I'd try some Berrymens or CRC throttle body cleaner. I feel it will be of little good though.
Did the whistle start after your boost gauge install?
Matt - see my blog for my saga...
My whistle sounds a bit different than yours - best test is to remove the CAI hose completely and drive it around the block (of course, on a low pollen, non dusty, no bug cloud day)... if it still whistles, it's the throttle.
Mine does it, and the throttle is so clean I'd eat off it... but sounds like mine does it at a narrower RPM range (though it isn't at all RPM driven for me - it's throttle angle driven - so RPM would vary by gear on a manual)...
Sanity saving solution for me was JCW - but not everyone will find this palatable.
My whistle sounds a bit different than yours - best test is to remove the CAI hose completely and drive it around the block (of course, on a low pollen, non dusty, no bug cloud day)... if it still whistles, it's the throttle.
Mine does it, and the throttle is so clean I'd eat off it... but sounds like mine does it at a narrower RPM range (though it isn't at all RPM driven for me - it's throttle angle driven - so RPM would vary by gear on a manual)...
Sanity saving solution for me was JCW - but not everyone will find this palatable.
Last edited by BlimeyCabrio; Feb 28, 2008 at 08:25 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
From: Uniontown, PA
Time to revive this post...
I too use the Alta CAI and I too LOVE the added SC "whine" and I even like the additional "whoosh" (the air sound sort of like brushes on a snare drum). All that's GREAT...
HOWEVER... With my installation, I also get a very high-pitched, "nails on a chalkboard" whistle at about 2000RPM, which escalates in volume until about 3500-4000 RPM. Over 4000 RPM, the SC whine drowns it out, but seeing as how I cruise on the highway at about 3000-3500 RPM, the whistle is usually there all the bloody time. It's very intrusive.
I mailed Alta and spoke to one of their techs (they got back to me really fast, which was great) and they advised that the whistling noise varies from car to car (drat), and that the cause could be a build-up of carbon on the throttle body. He advised to pull off the CAI hose and use a commercially-available throttle body cleaner to remove all the carbon.
I asked about the interior surface of the silicone hose and he advised that he had not heard of a hard edge in there as a general cause for noise - I guess if all else fails and I still get the whistle after cleaning the throttle body I can temporarily reinstall the corrigated OEM air hose. If the whistle goes away 100% then I know it's turbulence in the silicone hose and if it persists then I know it's increased volume past the throttle body causing the whistling and the only solution will be to de-install the Alta unit in favor of a return to stock or a different unit such as the K&N Typhoon... I hope I don't need to do so, however - I really like the look of the Alta unit and love the additional noinse (other than the whistle, which absolutely, positively has to go).
I'll post an update when I make the change and clean the throttle body - can anyone suggest the right cleaner I should be using?
I too use the Alta CAI and I too LOVE the added SC "whine" and I even like the additional "whoosh" (the air sound sort of like brushes on a snare drum). All that's GREAT...
HOWEVER... With my installation, I also get a very high-pitched, "nails on a chalkboard" whistle at about 2000RPM, which escalates in volume until about 3500-4000 RPM. Over 4000 RPM, the SC whine drowns it out, but seeing as how I cruise on the highway at about 3000-3500 RPM, the whistle is usually there all the bloody time. It's very intrusive.
I mailed Alta and spoke to one of their techs (they got back to me really fast, which was great) and they advised that the whistling noise varies from car to car (drat), and that the cause could be a build-up of carbon on the throttle body. He advised to pull off the CAI hose and use a commercially-available throttle body cleaner to remove all the carbon.
I asked about the interior surface of the silicone hose and he advised that he had not heard of a hard edge in there as a general cause for noise - I guess if all else fails and I still get the whistle after cleaning the throttle body I can temporarily reinstall the corrigated OEM air hose. If the whistle goes away 100% then I know it's turbulence in the silicone hose and if it persists then I know it's increased volume past the throttle body causing the whistling and the only solution will be to de-install the Alta unit in favor of a return to stock or a different unit such as the K&N Typhoon... I hope I don't need to do so, however - I really like the look of the Alta unit and love the additional noinse (other than the whistle, which absolutely, positively has to go).
I'll post an update when I make the change and clean the throttle body - can anyone suggest the right cleaner I should be using?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
I've had the whistle since day one (back in early spring) and decided to try "living with it" since then, but I really can't stand it any more. It just sounds... cheap. I like to look of the Alta quite a bit, but I just hate the whistle. I'll reinstall the OEM box before I shell out the buku bucks for the JCW airbox, thanks.
Sounds like what I'm hearing is that the throttle body on some MINIs simply whistles, and the stock air filter serves as a muffler for that noise... If I go to a K&N (like CHKMINI uses), I might still hear the whistle - just because HIS car has no whistle does not mean that mine will not as well.
Wonderful...
I'll put the stock hose back on - I know I had zero whistling with that on the car. If I still hear the sound, I know 100% that it's not a flow defect inside the silicone peice causing turbulence anyway.
Sounds like what I'm hearing is that the throttle body on some MINIs simply whistles, and the stock air filter serves as a muffler for that noise... If I go to a K&N (like CHKMINI uses), I might still hear the whistle - just because HIS car has no whistle does not mean that mine will not as well.
Wonderful...
I'll put the stock hose back on - I know I had zero whistling with that on the car. If I still hear the sound, I know 100% that it's not a flow defect inside the silicone peice causing turbulence anyway.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 0
From: bryan tx
Hello All,
I installed my Webb motorsports Stage 1 kit this past weekend. It includes the Milltek cat-back, 15% Alta pulley, Iridium 'cold' plugs, Unichip ECU, and Alta CAI. I love everything about it! The power is amazing. Now I know why everyone who shelled out the clams for the JCW are so happy. Car accelerates much more authoritatively.
I was excited about the Alta CAI, as I love the supercharger whine. Reminds me of Hans-Stuck's record run at the Nurburgring in the M3-GTR (search for the video on Google.com). I had heard that it would further increase the s/c sound. One thing I don't care for, however, is all of the additional intake noise. Now, every time I tip-in to the accelerator, I can hear every molecule of air as it passes by the throttle body. At least until the s/c whine masks it.
Do other Alta CAI owners have this same phenomena? Is there any way to minimize it? I have read where other owners switch to a cone-type filter to reduce the noise.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
jeffro
I installed my Webb motorsports Stage 1 kit this past weekend. It includes the Milltek cat-back, 15% Alta pulley, Iridium 'cold' plugs, Unichip ECU, and Alta CAI. I love everything about it! The power is amazing. Now I know why everyone who shelled out the clams for the JCW are so happy. Car accelerates much more authoritatively.
I was excited about the Alta CAI, as I love the supercharger whine. Reminds me of Hans-Stuck's record run at the Nurburgring in the M3-GTR (search for the video on Google.com). I had heard that it would further increase the s/c sound. One thing I don't care for, however, is all of the additional intake noise. Now, every time I tip-in to the accelerator, I can hear every molecule of air as it passes by the throttle body. At least until the s/c whine masks it.
Do other Alta CAI owners have this same phenomena? Is there any way to minimize it? I have read where other owners switch to a cone-type filter to reduce the noise.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
jeffro
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 0
From: bryan tx
is the whistle really a high pitched whistle? the altas I have heard did not have this? just airsuction noises
but it's okay, it's a comical thing anyway
The whistle Matt is talking about is a real whistle - like a teakettle - that is created by the throttle itself when you open it a little crack - if you're lucky enough to have a throttle that does it, you'll hear it with any CAI that opens into the cowl area (like most). The CAI isn't creating it or making it worse per se - it's just letting a sound that's already there route to a place where you can hear it, and it's not muffling it in the same way as the stock airbox. So yes, if you have it, Madness, DDM, and others of that ilk will let it be heard. The K&N MIGHT be OK because it doesn't vent into the cowl IIRC... it's more of a hot air intake, with some cold air blowing in the area of the filter...
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunderful. I wonder if there's something that can be done to the to the throttle body ITSELF then? Doesn't the JCW unit add an extra valve in the body or something? I really don't want to give up my SC whine or my "whoosh", but yes, the "teakettle" analogy is very apt for the sound.
I was considering (seriously) taking the throttle apart and grinding a different edge profile on the plate itself... but then decided to go the JCW route, instead...
Now, here's an idea...
Even with the JCW on there, with top down and radio off, I can STILL hear the whistle if I listen for it - it's quiet, but it's there..
You COULD put your stock airbox back on (including stock hose and stock panel filter) and listen for it - IF you can hear it, you COULD take it to the dealer and tell them it's a defect - no car should make that sound - and see if you can get a throttle that doesn't do it... then go back to the Alta...
I considered this also... but the JCW was an easier, good-enough-for-me solution...
Now, here's an idea...
Even with the JCW on there, with top down and radio off, I can STILL hear the whistle if I listen for it - it's quiet, but it's there..
You COULD put your stock airbox back on (including stock hose and stock panel filter) and listen for it - IF you can hear it, you COULD take it to the dealer and tell them it's a defect - no car should make that sound - and see if you can get a throttle that doesn't do it... then go back to the Alta...
I considered this also... but the JCW was an easier, good-enough-for-me solution...
The valve on the JCW intake is on the airbox. A long way from the throttle body. Me I'd put the stock one back on & go talk to MAG.
IRC Mark had a whistle. Ask him what it was. A gasket maybe.
IRC Mark had a whistle. Ask him what it was. A gasket maybe.
mine is a true whistle sound...
You can read the whole enchilada of my pain and suffering on my blog if you'd like - but I stripped the car down to the throttle - no airbox, no hose, same whistle. Then built it back up piece by piece and compared results...
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 160
Likes: 1
From: Perkiomenville, Pa
Sometime on the Alta intake hose there is some obstruction in the hose it's self, a little peice that wasn't trimed right. It can creat a real high pitch wistle. correction to that is trim the error causeing peice. If thats not the root cause for you, good luck, i have a wistley whoosh on my car, but i like it. So i deal with it easy.
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 0
From: Uniontown, PA
I'll put the stock hose back on - I know I had zero whistling with that on the car. If I still hear the sound, I know 100% that it's not a flow defect inside the silicone peice causing turbulence anyway.
If you do that, you will lose whp. Wasn't getting the CAI in the first place to gain whp?
If you do that, you will lose whp. Wasn't getting the CAI in the first place to gain whp?
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