Beware: GM cold air intake

TNTSierra · September 21, 2020

13 hours ago, econometrics said:

I bought my part from a Chevy dealer who sells them discounted nationwide. Anyone under the sun can order parts from any GM dealer and ask them to be installed by a different GM dealer without expecting to be charged some “recoup” fee. You’re making no sense.

Go read the instructions yourself on Chevy’s website.

Actually, I’ll save you the time:

You’re reading a lot into what is not clearly stated here if you think it matters from WHERE you buy the OEM part, or how much you pay for it.

He clearly must like to pay full price for his things! You did the right thing and if you can get it for wholesale pricing and not have to pay the outrageous dealer markup prices. Why wouldn’t you! The guy just wants to have a pissing match with you.
BTW. We all have worked for free many times in in our lives if we have been to college doing job shadows, internships, student teaching, etc.

Edited September 21, 2020 by TNTSilverado

econometrics · September 21, 2020

36 minutes ago, TNTSilverado said:

He clearly must like to pay full price for his things! You did the right thing and if you can get it for wholesale pricing and not have to pay the outrageous dealer markup prices. Why wouldn’t you!

What’s funny is that I could have gotten the CAI straight from Chevy Accessories website for $525 with a 15% off coupon. I called the dealer, actually, to order this through them. But they wouldn’t give me the 15% off.

Thus, I ordered it from the discount supplier and saved even more.

elcamino · September 21, 2020

30 minutes ago, econometrics said:

What’s funny is that I could have gotten the CAI straight from Chevy Accessories website for $525 with a 15% off coupon. I called the dealer, actually, to order this through them. But they wouldn’t give me the 15% off.

Thus, I ordered it from the discount supplier and saved even more.

You could have had it shipped to your local dealer for installation and the cost would have applied. But you choose to have it shipped to you and by doing that the dealer you wanted to have it done made nothing of the sale of the accessory and thus they charged you for it. I would say you are lucky they did it as many dealer WON"T do it if they did not sell it.

It's Tim · September 21, 2020

On 9/9/2020 at 3:38 PM, TNTSilverado said:

That is a complete joke.

I agree, wasting money on a CAI is silly.

TNTSierra · September 21, 2020

2 minutes ago, It's Tim said:

I agree, wasting money on a CAI is silly.

I have found benefits to having one. And its my money so I can do what I want with it.

diyer2 · September 21, 2020

I agree with elcamino. They made nothing so they charged you. If I understand the numbers you saved over $200.

Centex14 · September 21, 2020

I still want to know what this "flash" did. They probably just reset the computer so it would relearn with the new air intake and that's it. Something that can be done at home for free.

econometrics · September 21, 2020

25 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

I agree with elcamino. They made nothing so they charged you. If I understand the numbers you saved over $200.

How does a dealer “make” money when I bring my truck in for warranty repairs, and I pay $0?

They charge labor to GM.

Just like the CAI instructions CLEARLY state.

This isn’t rocket surgery, people. But I’m glad you all care so deeply for the $145 my local dealer captured for 15 min of work on my truck. It’s touching.

diyer2 · September 21, 2020

They charge labor to GM.

Got it now.

atxat4 · October 13, 2021

So did the GM CAI increase or decrease you MPG? I assume it does not truly affect MPG but if you’re putting more air into the engine, wouldn’t it also need more fuel to use the additional air?

Mudcon · October 14, 2021

The labor op that is included in the instructions for the dealer to charge gm for the kit and calibration is only if the truck was ordered from GM with the kit. Then the dealer installs it and charges GM for the price of the kit and labor which is included in the price of the ordered truck. As they do not install them at the plant. If you bought the kit from the dealer and paid them to put it on, the price of labor quoted in the accessory book is with then cover programming also. If you bought the kit from a wholesale place and had it shipped to you and you installed. You would then have to carry the supplied authorization supplied with the kit to a dealer to have it programmed. That supplied number is what the dealer will need to get the calibration from gm to program your truck. BUT you will have to pay the dealer for the cost of programming if you did the install your self.

KARNUT · October 14, 2021

18 minutes ago, Mudcon said:

The labor op that is included in the instructions for the dealer to charge gm for the kit and calibration is only if the truck was ordered from GM with the kit. Then the dealer installs it and charges GM for the price of the kit and labor which is included in the price of the ordered truck. As they do not install them at the plant. If you bought the kit from the dealer and paid them to put it on, the price of labor quoted in the accessory book is with then cover programming also. If you bought the kit from a wholesale place and had it shipped to you and you installed. You would then have to carry the supplied authorization supplied with the kit to a dealer to have it programmed. That supplied number is what the dealer will need to get the calibration from gm to program your truck. BUT you will have to pay the dealer for the cost of programming if you did the install your self.

I’m just curious. I've installed a few cold air kits in my time. I never had to do any extra programming. So what’s the deal? Does that mean on these new Frankenstein trucks that changing the exhaust upsets these trucks too? For me part of the joy was doing little tweaking to make it my own. Up to my 14 a can tune, exhaust and intake was the minimum I’d do. And the first thing.

It's Tim · October 14, 2021

23 hours ago, atxat4 said:

but if you’re putting more air into the engine

"You're" not, that would require a turbo or supercharger. A chicom plastic box with a "filter" that lets all kinds of filth enter the engine ain't gonna cut it.

October 14, 2021

4 hours ago, It's Tim said:

"You're" not, that would require a turbo or supercharger. A chicom plastic box with a "filter" that lets all kinds of filth enter the engine ain't gonna cut it.

Why do you say this? Genuine question? It has been proven on dynos that almost all cars have *SOME* bump from cold air intakes/low restriction airlifters. To deny it is to lie and demonstrate you don't understand the physics behind what is happening. So what are you proving here? Is it enough to matter, probably not. Usually its between 1 and 5% in increases. So, in the case of the 6.2, between 4 and 20HP. Would I pay for that, no. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

J2Jones · October 15, 2021

On 10/14/2021 at 10:02 AM, Mudcon said:

The labor op that is included in the instructions for the dealer to charge gm for the kit and calibration is only if the truck was ordered from GM with the kit. Then the dealer installs it and charges GM for the price of the kit and labor which is included in the price of the ordered truck. As they do not install them at the plant. If you bought the kit from the dealer and paid them to put it on, the price of labor quoted in the accessory book is with then cover programming also. If you bought the kit from a wholesale place and had it shipped to you and you installed. You would then have to carry the supplied authorization supplied with the kit to a dealer to have it programmed. That supplied number is what the dealer will need to get the calibration from gm to program your truck. BUT you will have to pay the dealer for the cost of programming if you did the install your self.

I purchased the same kit from ShopChevyParts.com and took my truck to the dealer for the include reflash, showed them the paperwork and had no issues. Walked out for free with a receipt showing the reflash had been done and a charge of zero. Just like the the paperwork that comes with the item says it should be. I think it's pretty clear and most dealers are just being jerks. I will say I bought my truck from a different dealer because the sales folks were totally unreasonable. The service folks have been fantastic despite the fact the truck was purchased elsewhere.

Edited October 15, 2021 by J2Jones