Removing the AIV completely?

[Stan-O]

Can the AIV be removed completely? I'm about to install my hotshot headers, and thought what if i can remove this completely and plug the hole on the headers?

Will the ECU give an error code?
Will the check engine light come on?
Will there be any performance gains/drops?

What the hell does this thing do? the 95's and up don't have em.
All the turbo KAT's completely remove them as well.

Let's get to the bottom of this

Thanks
Stan-O

[AKADriver]

Originally posted by Stan-O
Will the ECU give an error code?
Will the check engine light come on?


In an '89-'90 it won't throw a code. '91-'94 I still doubt it would but I'm not certain.

Will there be any performance gains/drops?

What the hell does this thing do? the 95's and up don't have em.
All the turbo KAT's completely remove them as well.

The AIV sends fresh air to the exhaust at idle, taking advantage of a slight vacuum condition in the exhaust. Since it's only open at idle, there's no performance gain to be found removing it. Emissions at idle, especially at cold start, will get slightly worse.

S14s don't have them because their ECU severely leans out the mixture at idle.

[piratepete420]

So it's just for emissions? Doesn't the cat have to heat up to work so sending cold air to the exhaust will slow this down? The idle is not gonna get worse or anything?

[d240t2]

My 92 never threw a code with the stock ECU on removing the AIV. Actually...neither did my old black 92 turbo hatch.

All it takes is removing that one piece of pipe and the box and plugging up the hole in the exhaust mani. That takes about 5 minutes. Be forewarned...I'd use some JB weld or something to hold that plug in...I have seen them pop out and get lost on a number of cars.

Dennis

[AKADriver]

Originally posted by piratepete420
So it's just for emissions? Doesn't the cat have to heat up to work so sending cold air to the exhaust will slow this down? The idle is not gonna get worse or anything?

Well, heating up the cat is what the AIV does - it takes extra fresh air to burn off the extra fuel in the exhaust in the cat.

The idle should be unaffected if all the vacuum lines are properly capped off. A broken AIV makes the car idle poorly because it acts like a vacuum leak.

[turbo240sx]

i have a 91 i removed mine all together and it never threw a code or anything it runs fine, that and i have more room under the hood for the turbo and exhaust. just weld a big headed bolt or srew in the stock hole and its fine.

[BustedS13]

five year bump!

i'm in the process of getting my s13 roadworthy again, and am removing the EGR and other useless systems. as was never clearly answered in this thread:

will removing the AIV system affect my idle?

thanks in advance, i want to strip out as much useless junk as possible.

[projectRDM]

No. Removing it does absolutely nothing to the engine. I've tossed literally hundreds of them on cars.

[BustedS13]

rad! shit's going away