Hey guys, I just installed the K&N FIPK Cold Air Intake on my 2001 S Crew with the 5.4. Now I have this horribly annoying whistling noise. It shows up right after light to heavy acceleration, when you lift pressure off the pedal. It stays pretty constant at around 38 mph. It's loud with the windows down and louder or almost filtered(no pun intended) with the windows up. I called K&N tech department and they couldn't help. Both techs I spoke with were just looking up "previous tech phone calls". Get this.....After explaining my problem to this Girl Tech, she was quick to spout off..."oh it's your Idle Control Valve". I said where is that, she says "oh I don't know that"...oh boy. I called back an hour later and got a guy tech, he was just about as helpful. Anyway....I also was able to rev the engine at the cable and I could tell that the whistling noise was coming right from the filter area. I'm about ready to pack it back up and ship it back and try another brand. Anyone have any good or bad with the Volant CAI? Any help or ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks, Sean

 

The IAC (Idle Air Control) valve will cause a sound like you are describing. It normally comes from the dirt and oil being passed by the K&N filter. You can also expect to clean your MAF sensor, because the K&N setup will contaminate it with dirt and oil too!!!

 

Thanks for the reply Bob. So are you saying that the new filter could be passing oil into the MAF? Do you know where the IAC is located?? In the install directions it talked about the IAC hose plugging into the throttle body, I followed that back and saw and cylinder in line with the hose at the back of the engine compartment by the firewall, is that it, or is it in the MAF? I also priced new IAC valves and they are running like $70 which I don't want to do if that may not be the problem.
Come to think of it, I don't remember the whistling noise the first few times I drove it, so yes that is possible. Any tips to cleaning the MAF sensor? I would love to be able to fix this problem and keep the K&N, I love the way it looks and sounds. Sean

 

Unscrew the 2 Torx bolts on the sensor. (Grey metal part in the middle of the tube) CAREFULLY take it out, do NOT touch the wires. Take some electronics cleaner and spray it on it. I cleaned mine and I noticed an all around improved everything.

 

There has been many posts about the fipk causing a whistle noise under had acceleration. Seems to be a side effect of it. I have had a drop in K&N filter in my truck as park of the Banks Powerpack and I have never had any problem with it. I have driven about 50K miles with it with no problems. I have cleaned and re-oiled it once and still no problems.

K&N filters are a lightning rod for arguments on this site. Run what you want. Bottom line, it's your truck and no one elses.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the reply's. I cleaned the MAF and that didn't fix it. I ended up changing the crankcase vent hose back to the original one. It was a bear trying to get it on the new K&N set up, but with the extra tight seal, it seamed to fix the whistling. The new hose that I had to buy, had a slightly too large diameter and air must have been getting by or something. Good news is I figured it out and I get to keep the K&N. Thanks for all the help. Laterrr

 

I haven't had this problem...but was wondering, should i spray my MAF down anyway?

Rob
http://sgtsandler.tripod.com/index.htm (no updates in a about a year)
2001 Ford F150 SuperCrew Lariat 4X4
Hypertech Power Programmer
Hypertech Powerstat 160 Thermostat (not installed yet, thanks to posters on here...sounds like it's BAD news)
Custom dual rear exit pipes with Flowmaster muffler
K&N Series 77 Cold Air Intake
Cooper ATR 265/70-17