How to Replace an Air Intake BootFirst what is an air intake boot?The air intake assembly supplies fresh air from the front of the vehicle through
an air filter, then passes by an oxygen sensor and then into the combustion
chamber of the engine. Depending on how much air is entering the engine, the
engine computer uses the readings from the oxygen sensor to calculate the proper
amount of fuel to add to make the perfect 14:1 air to fuel ratio. Non-metered air will cause
an improper ratio and hurt performance and mileage. The air intake boot is the
connective ducting between the oxygen sensor and the engine. The intake boot is
usually made of flexible rubber and over time, vibrations within the engine
coupled with natural degradation of the rubber can cause small cracks that allow
air to be pulled into the motor that was not filtered nor accounted for. Some of
the symptoms of a bad air intake boot are higher than normal idle and poor fuel
economy. Inspect the area between the ribs in the air intake boot by flexing it
and looking for signs of wear. If you can see cracks then it is time to replace
it.
Removal InstructionsStep 1. Park vehicle on a flat surface and let engine cool before starting. Open
hood and identify the air intake boot.Step 2. Loosen and remove the clamps that secure the air intake boot to the
oxygen sensor housing on one side and the intake manifold on the other.
Step 3. Use screwdriver or pry bar to loosen the grip the boot often builds
after not being moved in years. Use a twisting motion along with a little effort
to remove it.Step 4. Inspect both the replacement air intake boot and the new one before
installing it. Make sure they are the same. Installation InstructionsStep 1. Install and tighten the air intake boot clamps on both sides.Step 2. Check to make sure everything is tight and tools are removed from the
engine bay.Step 3. Start engine and listen for any vacuum leaks or hissing sounds.
Best Practices
Keep track of all clamps, nuts and bolts in a container so they don't get misplaced
Any air leaks will be a problem, all engine intake air needs to be metered so the engine computer can make the necessary adjustments for optimal performance
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