---> DIY MOD TWO <----

Another [B][I]DIY HOW TO for:[/I][/B]
To all of those Mazda 3 drivers with CAI that plan to drive in the rain!!

This mod was brought about my concern of water soaking/getting through the AEM air filter and into the engine. I have had this concern since I installed the CAI, due to the gaps where water can get in around the driving light, engine bay and vents from the front wheel guard. I did nothing until I had problems. I completed this mod about 2.5 months ago while on my road trip.

After arriving in Gladstone I washed the car so that no road grime would damage the paint ready to take it down to Mazda to have the cruise control replaced. After washing and drying I started the car, it coughed and conked, I restarted it and a CEL was thrown. Then once I started driving up the street the car coughed a few more times, and almost felt like it was driving on 2-3 cylinders, than all was good. Mazda took the car and checked it out. I was told the CEL was thrown due to the MAF sensor most likely from being wet.

After a while of pondering this problem I came up with a solution, heat shield! Sourced one out with great difficulty (remember its Gladstone) and installed it.

Once this mod was done I wet actually drowned the car and felt/checked the filter. It was mostly dry a big difference from before, started up the car and no CEL problem fixed. This mod was also tested when driving into Bundaberg as I drove though a very big wet storm and again no problems.

Parts needed:
MONZA heat shield - $ 25.00 (Supercheap) comes in red, blue, silver and black.
Few sockets
Ratchet
Screwdriver

Easy mod:
1. Turn steering wheel hard left. No need to remove wheel again.
2. Undo and remove bolts from splash pan.
3. Undo and remove bolts from inner arch.
4. Remove AEM air filter.
5. Assemble, bend to suit and attach and MONZA heat shield.
6. Replace AEM air filter loosely and move heat shield so that it protects the air filter from water ingress from around driving light and any water that falls from above.
7. Tighten clamp holding the air filter and reassemble wheel arch and splash pan.
8. Stand back and marvel at you handy work!

Photo one: MONZA heat shield.

Photo two: Bare AEM CAI.

Photo three: AEM air filter with heat shield fitted.

Photo four: AEM CAI with fitted heat shield in place and aligned.