Do these work? Don't Laugh!

[1QUICK85]

So I drive a little '02 Kia to work and back........was wondering if these actually work and are safe to use??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7953447636&category=33597

Don't worry I am not trying to rice it out.........just thought for $10.......20hp(probably more like 5hp, hey?) is awesome.........especially a little 4 cylinder.

 

[BLACK6PACK]

The do actually work, but you can get that resistor at radio shack 5 for $1, maybe even 10 for a dollar. They've been doing this over on the Camaro boards for years. Its just a resistor for the air intake temperature sensor. Instead of reading the actual temperature it tricks the sensor into thinking the air is cooler. Only problem is that if its 100* out, it could cause the car to knock. I doubt the compression is high enough on the kia to worry about that though. I doubt you'll get 20 hp too.

 

[gn4u2c]

dyno tested at je import for the honda. lost 1-2 hp with it maybe because the car warmed up on the dyno. so no improvement at all on a honda if that helps you refrence it.

 

[bruce]

Originally posted by 1QUICK85
So I drive a little '02 Kia to work and back........was wondering if these actually work and are safe to use??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7953447636&category=33597

Don't worry I am not trying to rice it out.........just thought for $10.......20hp(probably more like 5hp, hey?) is awesome.........especially a little 4 cylinder.

At one time, maybe. Nowadays, the calibrations are alot more optimized then they were. I'd be suspicious of any data that showed a 5 HP gain. Depending on the type of fuel and timing calulations in the code/ load computation, it might as well cost you 5 HP, or more, under some conditions. Say it lies to the ecm that the temp is 40dF, well when the temp drops to 30dF, then it's working against you. Not to mention that in closed loop, the engine's running at Stoich, so the most it could be doing is skewing the timing a *few* degrees. In some applic it might not effect anything really even related to engine performance, and might just be used as an enable for say the EGR, or CCP.

 

[dhjenkins]

I did the resistor thing on my '93 trooper and noticed a bit more 'giddyup' in the lower to middle power band, but that was about it. Of course, for a $0.01 part, I wasn't expecting much...

 

[1QUICK85]

Thanks for the input guys............I am just going to stay clear of it........need my Kia to last me forever............so I can dump money into the GN when I want. I knew 20hp had to be totally wack........I mean the darn thing probably has 90hp right now!! 1.5L DOHC........what a dog!! Thanks again for the info

 

[denn454]

it turns your kia into a supra that moves so fast they can't get a good picture of it! of corse it works! and you saw it on ebay so it must be true!

if you want some extra power why not do the stuff you know will work? i recently bought a $20 cone filter (k&n type cotton and oil filter) and $10 worth of pipes from home depot, and made my own cold air intake for my gs. does it work? no not really. i didn't notice a difference anyways. it does seem to get better gas mielage, but i haven't had it for a whole tank yet. i'm sure it didn't hurt though. but then again its not a weak little 4 cyl, i'm sure you'd notice at least something there.

when all else fails hit it with some nitrous!

 

[1QUICK85]

I am really not concerned with adding power to the Kia...........I was just curious. Nick