Air Intake Modification Issue.

denis · 28th September 2012, 23:25

I decided to make a new thread of this so it gets read. This is to do with being wary about cutting the corrugated bellows section off the air intake on the diesel 75 & ZT.

Following comments made by Marinabrian in an earlier post regarding possible MAF problems by doing the intake mod I decided to investigate further.

A tech bulletin to be found on line (MGR TB0090), and referred to by Marinabrian, is very informative and it shows a thin metal plate fixed to the centre of the underside of the slam panel and sitting over the electric fan housing. The plate is fitted to avoid water ingestion into the pre modded air intake. I checked my car and it is fitted with the plate. Some earlier cars did not have the plate fitted and was the reason for the issue of the bulletin.

The position of the plate would stop water that enters the grill on the 75 or ZT from blowing upwards into the intake area at the top of the engine. The original intake position sits forward of the back edge (engine edge) of the plate so water ingestion into the intake would have been avoided or prevented.

Those of us (including me) who have cut back the intake and removed the bellows section, have inadvertantly now placed the air intake mouth to the rear of the plate so it would appear that we have, afterall, made it easier for possible water ingress if water was to come off the back edge of the plate and blow upwards in to the engine compartment between the plate and the front of the radiator core.(It could be argued that this would be a good reason for removing the plate!!)

As I said, the plate is thin and you can get to the rear edge with your hands so, as the intake mod is already done, to avoid any water problem I have bent the rear edge of the plate downwards where it sits over the electric fan housing. Whilst not ideal this may help to avoid an issue with water turning up into the engine area.
I may look at this further and, if needed, improve or extend the plate towards the engine to complete the job. The only problem with this is that the modified intake mouth is now offset from the original along the line of the car which may mean that any alteration to the plate may have little effect. If I decide to pursue alteration of the plate (if I can be bothered) to fit in with this change I'll let you know.

I suggest that anybody contemplating the air intake mod finds and reads this bulletin before they proceed if only for peace of mind and to find out whether or not they have the plate fitted.

28th September 2012, 23:25	#1
denis Gets stuck in 2004 MG-ZT CDTi 135 Saloon in TROPHY YELLOW + Synergy Two-wow and an Aussy import RAV 4 2.4L Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Folkestone Posts: 784 Thanks: 4 Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts	Air Intake Modification Issue. I decided to make a new thread of this so it gets read. This is to do with being wary about cutting the corrugated bellows section off the air intake on the diesel 75 & ZT. Following comments made by Marinabrian in an earlier post regarding possible MAF problems by doing the intake mod I decided to investigate further. A tech bulletin to be found on line (MGR TB0090), and referred to by Marinabrian, is very informative and it shows a thin metal plate fixed to the centre of the underside of the slam panel and sitting over the electric fan housing. The plate is fitted to avoid water ingestion into the pre modded air intake. I checked my car and it is fitted with the plate. Some earlier cars did not have the plate fitted and was the reason for the issue of the bulletin. The position of the plate would stop water that enters the grill on the 75 or ZT from blowing upwards into the intake area at the top of the engine. The original intake position sits forward of the back edge (engine edge) of the plate so water ingestion into the intake would have been avoided or prevented. Those of us (including me) who have cut back the intake and removed the bellows section, have inadvertantly now placed the air intake mouth to the rear of the plate so it would appear that we have, afterall, made it easier for possible water ingress if water was to come off the back edge of the plate and blow upwards in to the engine compartment between the plate and the front of the radiator core.(It could be argued that this would be a good reason for removing the plate!!) As I said, the plate is thin and you can get to the rear edge with your hands so, as the intake mod is already done, to avoid any water problem I have bent the rear edge of the plate downwards where it sits over the electric fan housing. Whilst not ideal this may help to avoid an issue with water turning up into the engine area. I may look at this further and, if needed, improve or extend the plate towards the engine to complete the job. The only problem with this is that the modified intake mouth is now offset from the original along the line of the car which may mean that any alteration to the plate may have little effect. If I decide to pursue alteration of the plate (if I can be bothered) to fit in with this change I'll let you know. I suggest that anybody contemplating the air intake mod finds and reads this bulletin before they proceed if only for peace of mind and to find out whether or not they have the plate fitted. Last edited by denis; 28th September 2012 at 23:39..