removed silencer and air box, now get a tone while cruising?

[40oz]

I removed the silencer and the factory air box and swapped in a K&N. Now, when cruising at low rpms at a constant speed, just above idle, there is a constant tone coming from the engine bay. Hard to describe, not real high-pitched but kind of like blowing over a bottle.

I vaguely remember reading something about this in another thread. Someone suggested that the IAC makes noise when it gets old, but my 03 only has ~24K on it (over half the miles since I got the car 10 months ago). Is it remotely possible that the problem would go away if I removed and sprayed down the IAC with some parts cleaner?

It doesn't bother me much, but it seemed to start when I put in the open K&N. Is this what the silencer was supposed to silence? It wouldn't surprise me if I owned myself here lol. Anyone else experience this?

 

[gtstangau]

I have taken my silencer out, but I put in a drop-in K&N filter in the stock air box. Did you buy the FIPK or just the filter? I noticed a little more of a "sucking" noise from under the hood, but nothing to excessive. I don't think you should mess with the IAC unless it is having problems at idol.

 

[40oz]

Just have a K&N clamped in without the stock box. The filter is open.

 

[merc123]

My Merc Cougar would do stuff like that with an open element air filter. It was just the air and how it was coming in the filter. I would blip the throttle and it would go away.

 

[COramprat]

It's just the sound of air being drawn into the intake...your intake is no longer "silenced".

You could have a leak somewhere...just make sure the filter is tightly held onto the intake.