TRD cold air intake worth it?

Since you order the parts separately from Toyota, I take it you source the wire loom, vacuum line, zip ties, and plastic plugs for the air box separately...? Got any photos of said airbox holes that need plugging?

I'm considering this because I like the looks, but also to allow access to the passenger side of the engine. Early on, I had a fuel injector wire chewed by a critter, and it's a royal PITA to get in there for inspections with those resonators in the way.

 

I Order my parts from Bam whole sale Parts (you can too) I go to Toyota Web site Drawing for Part numbers. As for Zip ties I get from a Local Electrical Supply house (Codale Electric Supply) because I want good quality Zip ties (Panduit) that don't break like the cheap ones auto parts stores have.

The Wire Harness Adapter for the MAF I get from Michigan motorsports They have been of a good quality and extra Long at 24 Inches and Yes it cost more than the cheap Ebay ones but since I have to warrant my work.

And the Hole that needs Plug installed I have only seen that twice I do not have a Picture of that hole it is just 1 hole and both times it was the 4Runner Install and the First time I was not prepared for it so I took a piece of 1/8 inch plastic and used my Plastic heat weld to patch it close it was very time consuming So for the second one I just purchased plastic Hole push plugs and put a small bead of Silicone around it first.

 

vacuum hose is a standard item you can find in any auto parts store.

The wire loom cover is also a pretty stand part you can find on Amazon, auto parts wholesalers or at most electronic stores or online at sites like DigiKey. You could probably get away with just wrapping the exposed wire in tape but that doesn’t look as neat.

Plugging the holes is not critical. You can just put a piece of tape on the [edit meant to say side one] one if you want. The bottom one is a gap around one of the rubber isolators and it really should be left open as it functions as a drain in case water ever gets into the box.

 

It is the Little Side Hole that makes the Whistle Noise as for Tape? No can do that will just wash off and does not meet quality workmanship Standards.

The Top Hole in the Lid is for the Filter indicator Put one there.

The "Gap" around the bottom Rubber Mounting Grommet is fine to leave alone and as for Cutting Back the Wire Loom I no longer do that because for a Mere $19 I can purchase an very good extension and just plug it in be done in 10 seconds versus the time it takes to unwrap, separate and Rewrap with time being $$$$ and with guaranteeing my work I just can't.

So no Short Cuts no Tape Jobs No Problems down the road or some where way out in the Boon Docks where I really do not want the Break down to be My Fault.

 

I've not seen that wire harness extension mentioned before, just the separation of the oem wires out of the loom. Do you have a part number for that?

I'm a little unclear - do you install the filter indicator in the top hole, or plug that hole instead?

 

The indicator goes on top of the air box

 

I know that, I was just unclear whether @wdsteven used the indicator or plugged the hole.

 

Go to michiganmotorsports and Email them the Model, Year and Make with what you want because the ones I did were for 2020 TRD PRO 4Runner and a 2021 TRD Off Road 4Runner

I do not plug the Top hole I Install the Filter indicator because they Do work and save time out on the trail for quick checking of filter health.

 

So the pigtail connector from michiganautosports plugs into the existing connector in the original harness, then into the MAF plug on the air tube?

 

Yes plug -n- play but make sure you contact them for the correct one

Edit: oddly enough Toyota used 2 different brand MAF sensors and I do not know if same 5 wire plug I would think so but!

 

Typo in my post - i was referring to the small hole in the side of the box. Cut a piece of black gorilla tape round and pop it over that its never coming off and basically invisible unless you know where to look. I have the filter indicator in the top spot.

As to wrapping the wires.... I would agree that electrical tape looks less than professional at times - except - that the damn factory electrical tapes stuff all over the vehicle! I take it you are installing these for others as a service which is why you want it to look professional? If not, I'm not sure whats so hard about unwrapping the bundle and putting some loom on the sensor run, that part of the job took me about 10 minutes and cost me nothing as I had loom on hand... YMMV

 

To those who ordered parts separately - in watching one of the install videos, they show the oem MAF sensor that re-mounts onto the new TRD air tube being mounted with new allen-head screws. Do those screws come with any of the components you order separately?

Sorry for all the questions. I tend to research new projects into the ground before pulling the plug...

 

The Screws have come with some and not with some either way it is OK to me Just don't drop one Like I did on the very busy shop floor it was an adventure and a half to find it and the screws are Torx Head screws on some and other have just a plain Philips head. other than that all the Hardware required is there.

 

Yes I am installing them on other owners Rigs and I decided to go with the Extension when someone came to me with a MAF sensor not working after they Installed their own and did slice a wire with a Razor and and so looking at that made me look at what it would or could cost me to make that same mistake and it gets down the road out in the hills and fails. The cost is too high to risk reputation, Friendship, and what it would cost to fix it right.... Na I'll past on doing it that way.

 

You can purchase that part (hose)without the resonator and install that. It will save you some $

 

HPS makes the Runner specific hose but they won't sell to a CA resident even though they're in CA. I purchased the K&N tube but I never installed it and I'll be selling it soon.

 

Has anyone actually installed one of these? I'd rather do this than buy a TRD or other intake since we are just looking for cool noises.

 

I have not but I am definitely leaning this way instead of a new CAI. I just want the resonator gone, it does nothing but occupy space under the hood

 

Agreed, I’m surprised some enterprising person has not figured out a “ Resonator Delete” DIY mod.

 

The problem is the HPS tube costs as much as the total of the individual TRD kit parts. I don't know the K&N price, and don't see a Mishimoto listing for 5th gen 4Rs.

 

TRD kit parts, I’m not sure what you’re referencing but the TRD CAI is $400 on Amazon. I’m just looking to delete the resonator so I’ll spend $190 on the tube. There is no performance gain from my research on a new CAI so why spend the $

 

As mentioned multiple times in this and countless other threads on the subject, you can buy the individual TRD intake components separately from Toyota for about $250. I did some research yesterday, and found that to be true, with Roseville Toyota & Melbourne being the best pricing, with free shipping. I'm sure there are others.

 

If the HPS 4R tube was $150 or so vs. about $235 with shipping, I'd say you're on to something. But for a difference of $15, I'd say no thanks. Unless one is dead set on tube only.

 

No lol, it is just a waste of money. You will however, have dirtier oil. It isn't worth it, just like having a garbage K&N filter. My exhaust didn't result in a noticeable increase in acceleration. Sure, you might have gotten 3 hp at the top end, but that is nothing.

 

I didn't install the K&N tube but bought it just to add some engine sound. I tried install to but I broke the vacuum line fitting, ordered another and never tried installing again. I'd rather have the HPS tube but can't get it here because of tree huggers so I'd have to have a buddy order then send to me which is double shipping.

 

Not, its not worth it.

 

I ordered one of the wire harness adapters after verifying it would work on my 2023. They responded it only comes in a 16 inch length, but after looking under the hood I think that it will be plenty long enough. Thanks for making us aware that this was an option. I really prefer keeping the other wires untouched.

 

The 16 inch is plenty long enough when you only need at the most 12 inches of it, With the 24 Inch ones that they sent me for 2020 one I had to be creative in tucking the extra up neatly.

 

I just installed the TRD cold air intake on my 23 ORP. Using the wire harness from michiganautosports made it much easier. Plug and play. No cutting or taping. I still have a little clean up to do. But I knocked this out by myself in about 1.5 hours. I recommend watching a few YouTube videos first, and it will be a pretty easy install. Thanks to wdsteven for the recommendation.

 

Before deciding to buy a cold air intake, you should check out this video. He discussed the usefulness of a cold air intake.

If you don't want to watch the entire 10 minute video, skip forward to the 7:20 mark.

https://youtu.be/rKTyiATItc8