I have searched for an answer but could not fiine one.

I am buying a CAI and tuner combo (not sure which one yet). I know that the cars computer needs to be tuned to compensate for all the air now coming into the engine. My question is will the tuner I get come with a tune for the CAI and what exactly will it change from the stock tune?

 

A CAI & tune combo from most vendors (a.k.a. tuners) come with 3 tunes. These custom tunes are based on your PCM code, current mods and octane ratings of your chosing. The tune changes various operating parameters, the majority of which are NOT adjustable with the handheld device.

When you order custom tunes, the tuner will ask for all the pertinent info he needs to write your tunes. They'll come preloaded in the handheld with the combo or can be e-mailed to you and then you load them into the handheld. Be aware that not all tunes are equal. Two of the more popular tuners used by the members are Brenspeed and Bama. You can visit their sites for great info and call their tech guys and ask all of your questions.

Also, all of the tune-required CAI's are equivalent in performance so buy based on what suits your eyes and wallet. 75-80% of the power add is from the tune anyway so don't get all goofed up over which CAI. The tune is the kicker.

 

So what I want is pretty much stock with a tune to account for the CAI so I dont throw a code. Can that be done?

 

You can keep your stock intake and get a custom tune that matches your stock intake and PCM etc. per Nuke's post. This will give you the majority of the benefit (again like Nuke wrote).

Or you can get an aftermarket CAI and a custom tune to match that intake along with everything else. This will give you a little more power than above.

The CAI becomes more important as you make more engine performance modes.

 

I have no other "tune required" mods beside the CAI. My tune was written to account for the intake size. I have 87, 89 and 93 octane tuens from Brenspeed since those are the octanes readily available where I live. I typically run the 89 tune because it's characteristics suit my driving style (pulls better in the lower RPM bands than my 93 tune). I carry the tuner ibn the trunk just in case. i HAVE had occurences when I was on road trips and could only get 87 octane. Plugged in the handheld and was back on the road with the 87 custom tune (which kicks azz over the stock 87) in 3 minutes.

 

Great thanks guys