NEED HELP...start-up problem

BlackZ71Silverado · February 2, 2012

I need some help, posted a while back without any responses, here's what's going on;

2010 5.3L

On initial and cold starts when I start my truck, it feels and sounds like it is about to stall, only lasts for about 3 seconds then everything is normal like it should be. It only started doing this after switching my CAI from Airaid to Volant with the powercore filter. Ever since the Volant has been installed, this has been a problem. What would be the reason for this and what do I need to do to fix it?

I have tried leaving the battery disconnected over night for a reset and it still happens. This was not an issue with the Airaid CAI.

MikeNH · February 2, 2012

Check all your clamps and connections. Sounds like a loose hose connection made worse as the engine first kicks over?

BlackZ71Silverado · February 2, 2012

Thanks for the quick response.........Will make sure to check everything first thing tomorrow..I was pretty sure everything was tight but I could be wrong.

EDIT : Just ran out and had a look, seems the PCV breather hose is slightly loose and not sealed properly, able to slip it off and on easily, that should be the problem. It didn't come with any clamps but I will be putting clamps on tomorrow. Will report back with results.

Thanks again.

BlackZ71Silverado · February 4, 2012

Ok here's what's still going on....Everything is tight and still at cold start the engine stumbles like it is going to stall then idles up. This never happened with the Airaid CAI, ONLY started after installing the Volant with PowerCore filter. I am lost here and don't understand what's going on. When the engine is warm it starts fine, this problem only happens when the engine is cold. I do have DiabloSport 87 octane tune but the only thing that was changed was the CAI. Any more ideas? Is it possible that the PowerCore filter is somehow the issue, or the CAI itself?

EDIT : Think I found the problem this AM. The problem seems to be that the MAF is not in the correct position when installed inth the Volant tube. It appears to be sitting a littl to high (out of center), higher than it was in the Airaid tube. Went over the Volant instruction again and they are supposed to send an o-ring with the kit, I did not receive one. Looks like I will be going to buy different thickness o-rings until I get the MAF where it needs to be centered in the tube. With the MAF sitting to high, I am pretty sure it is not getting the correct reading and that I am pretty sure is causing my problem.

BlackZ71Silverado · February 11, 2012

Problem solved.......So I uninstalled the CAI last night and went over everything. The breather part of the intake tube had plastic over it from the mold. I never bothered to check BUT there was no airway for the PCV breather hose, it was solid plastic. I drilled that out and cleaned the inside of the tube really good to make sure I got al lthe plastic pieces out. Also replaced the OEM o-ring with one just a little bit smaller and now the truck runs great. No more problems......If you get the Volant, make sure you check everything over really good or you may run into some issues.

Morgan1986 · February 11, 2012

Problem solved.......So I uninstalled the CAI last night and went over everything. The breather part of the intake tube had plastic over it from the mold. I never bothered to check BUT there was no airway for the PCV breather hose, it was solid plastic. I drilled that out and cleaned the inside of the tube really good to make sure I got al lthe plastic pieces out. Also replaced the OEM o-ring with one just a little bit smaller and now the truck runs great. No more problems......If you get the Volant, make sure you check everything over really good or you may run into some issues.

awsome that you solved your problem .

BlackZ71Silverado · March 7, 2012

Well the problem is NOT solved. Same thing hapening again with the first start / cold start issue. Truck still stumbles then finally will idle up to normal. Sent email to Daniel at Volant and got one reply requesting pictures of the install on my truck. Sent photos along with 2 other unanswered emails...VERY frustrated here, not getting any help from Volant and don't know what to do. I have a truck that barely starts and sounds like it's going to stall out.

From other forums, I have read that "Daniel" from Volant has helped many people and he is spoken highly of. Unfortunately, I have not had the same experience and don't know what to do other than put the OEM air intake back in the truck (if I can find it). REALLY disappointed with Volant. Anyone else have issues like this with their Volant CAI, or have any pictures of your installed to see what's different with the kit?

EDIT : everything is tight.....where the rubber fittings fit over the tube and are to be clamped, the tube has a lip on each side, it's not smooth. Did I get a bad tube?

halflenny · March 10, 2012

Sometimes those aftermarket filters are coated with oil that gets sucked into the MAF. There is also a slight possibility that if it wasn't seated right, it could have been damaged.Try cleaning the MAF (can of cleaner) and if that doesn't work, maybe try replacing it. I would bet that is your problem.

BlackZ71Silverado · March 10, 2012

The filter is a dry filter, no oil involved.....

Finally got a response last night from Volant. They claim they are testing a 2011 5.3 and noticed that the vacuum hose gets kinked and said that may be the probelm OR the PowerCore filter is bad....Well I have tried 2 different AEM dry flow filters with the same results and the vacuum line is not kincked, though it seems short.

There has never been an oiled filter on my truck. I had the AirAid dry filter, the PowerCore dry filter, and AEM dry filters, that oil theory doesn't work here. I don't know what's going on and neither does Volant. Wish I didn't waste my money on this thing, very disappointed. Should have kept the AirAid system, there was nothing wrong with it.

halflenny · March 10, 2012

I hate to preach if you already know this, so no offense meant. If you're getting that rough idle and it has something to do with the air intake, it's either a leak right there at one of the seals, or what the MAF "sees" and what the MAF reports to the computer are 2 different things. Sorry about the oiled filter thing, I'm not home so I didn't check into which filter you are using. The MAF being skewed in place would definitely throw the reading off, but it sounds to me that you already remedied that, as well as checked the seals. Have you taken a vacuum pressure reading lately? Also, solely out of curiosity... has Volant offered to do anything about the problem? Some of those filters just will never play nicely with the MAF sensor no matter what you do. Sounds like a headache to me man. Sorry to hear about it.

nickvrebel · March 10, 2012

Shot in the dark here, but perhaps this intake is exaggerating something simple, like maybe a sticking throttle body? Either way it wouldn't hurt to give it a wipe down with a little throttle body cleaner and a rag.

BlackZ71Silverado · March 10, 2012

"halflenny",

Volant has NOT offered to do anything as of last night, very disappointed with them.

Daniel at Volant just responded back to me yesterday about their "test truck" throwing codes because the vacuum line is kinked, OR because the PowerCore air filter is not glued properly.......From what I have read on other forums, he's the main man when it comes to Volant issues and he always gets it fixed and shows good service, not my experience so far.

Well I threw the air filter thing out the window because I replaced that PowerCore one and still had the same start up problem.

"NickV", I tried cleaning the throttle body and it didn't help with this issue. When i swapped the AirAid CAI out, I installed the Volant and immediately got this issue. Cleaned the throttle body and same thing.....Don't know where to go from here because Volant doesn't seem to be much of a help.

My brother now has my AirAid CAI installed in his Silverado. Going to swap the Volant one and see if it does the same thing with his truck, same year, same engine. That may narrow it down to either the truck OR the Volant system itself.

halflenny · March 11, 2012

Sounds like they're not being as helpful as they could. That's a golden opportunity with your brother's truck. Let us know how that goes. How's the weather over in PA? Does it behave any different when the initial start is warmer?

BlackZ71Silverado · March 11, 2012

It it warm today but I didn' bring my truck to work.

Going to swap out the CAI's tonight and will test tomorrow. It's supposed to be 60-65 outside.

BlackZ71Silverado · March 12, 2012

Definately a problem with the Volant CAI, it acts the same exact way on my brothers truck. Initial start up same problem....Guess I just have to keep trying to deal with Volant to get this solved.