OK - here's an easy fix for a split intake hose caused by a body lift stressing the old rubber. I found the simple solution, though not cheap, to use the following silicone hose componenets: 1
reducing coupler, 2
90 degree elbows and 1
stainless steel joiner. The reducer connects to the throttle body-side of the intake, with the joiner connecting the reducer to one elbow. The mass air flow sensor assembly goes between and connects the two elbows and the last elbow connects to the air cleaner. I had to trim about 1.25 inches of hose of each elbow on the side that mated with the MAF body. So the MAF body sits at a 45 degree angle now. But the need to trim is where you can compensate for variations in the body lift. And the silicone elbows provide more than enough pliability to provide a stress-free hose assembly. I tried using hump couplers instead of elbows. But they are far too stiff to make the bends needed to span the ~12" gap between air cleaner and intake tube. That said, the total cost was about $70 US, plus shipping. And a few $ more if you want the fancy T-bolt clamps (they are very nice and work well, if you want some under-hood bling <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />). Yep, it costs more that the $40 Kia hose. But the Kia hose will eventually fail again. This setup will last. I will try to post a photo soon...
On another note, I was a total dipstick when I removed the throttle body while changing plugs and wires last year. When I re-installed the throttle body, I flipped the gasket that goes between the TB and the intake manifold. In retrospect, I know how it happened - I fiddling with the heater hoses that attach below the TB and dropped the gasket, then put it in backwards so the lower slot was not sealed. And that caused one more vacuum leak in the intake that was causing the P0171 error code... and it was the last vacuum leak to be found. Fortunately, it only took $12, a few hours and an extensive collection of self-degrading 4-letter words to dig myself out of that debacle (the $12 purchased 1 roll of rubberized gasket material - a lifetime supply, 2 feet of 5/16" hose and 3 small hose clamps... I bypassed the heater lines through the TB). Yep, that fixed the hissing sound coming from below the TB and my Sporty runs like a champ... at least until I work on it again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />
