K&N High Pitch Noise

BrianG · 02-03-2010, 10:51 PM

Installed a K&N kit on my '04 and now there is this horrible high pitch whistle at certain pedal positions. Driving me nuts!

Did anyone else experience this?

Any suggestions on how to eliminate it? I am assuming it is just the air being sucked into the intake, but I gotta figure out how to get rid of the high pitch sound.

occupationracer · 02-04-2010, 12:50 PM

is it that much of a bothering whistle? I mean i kinda like it. i have a zabteck true cold-air, does the same, also at sertin throttle pos.reminds me what i have under the hood. Before i also had a k&n but didnt do the whistle, but my guess is cuz mines an 05. i think its normal.

**JohnnyO** · 02-04-2010, 02:34 PM

Mine came with a roll of extra foam to put around the airbox lid where the channel fits over the filter. Did you get this and did you install it?

BrianG · 02-05-2010, 10:17 AM

Yes, the whistle is really annoying. It is so high pitched!

There is no air box, it was removed for the kit to be installed. there is just the tube, a support plate and the filter.

occupationracer · 02-06-2010, 01:14 PM

i dnt know what to say. mines aint that much of a bother. although mines whistling sound changed a little after i had it tuned with the sct. don't know if that's possible for you.

Gus Gorilla · 02-07-2010, 01:04 AM

Join the club. Mine does exactly the same. For the most part I've blocked it out. When friends point it out I notice it agian. When it really sucks is when the throttle is at that position on the highway. Mine comes in constant at about 65mph. It's in and out from 0 depending on throttle position, but stays constant at 65. I cleaned out my K&N filter with the kit and it actually got worse. Not louder but it stays through a larger throttle position. I have to believe it could be changed by intake tube position or length. But like I said, I block it out.

DanaM · 02-07-2010, 02:11 AM

Yeah, I hate that whistling noise on my Mopar CAI on my Charger. When I shot video or start the car and rev it for someone to hear, they hear and the whole header / borla setup sort that I want them to hear is impacted my the noise from the CAI. I just live with it too. Sound like it is really noisy on the Xs

D a n a

BrianG · 02-10-2010, 08:08 AM

Thanks for all the feedback. At least I now know I didn't install it wrong or something. Sucks that it can't be eliminated. I drove 5 hours and tuned it out somewhere around two. Oh, I did reduce it a little by adjusting the filter. It just changed the direction of the airflow or something, but it did reduce it a little.

dkmcclelland · 10-09-2011, 02:02 PM

I just installed my K&N and it whistles horribly... I took the lower air box out and it made it worse... I hate that I even put it on there....

CityBoyAtl · 10-09-2011, 03:15 PM

Yep, i get it too. There's got to be a way to change the airflow to remove the whistle. like adding some plastic or duct tape to cover a small area of the filter which would change the flow?

dkmcclelland · 10-09-2011, 03:21 PM

What's weird is I had that same filter on my G6 and it never whistled...

rokr1292 · 10-11-2011, 11:57 PM

I have a cheapo ebay "cai" and it pretty much only whistles when the tranny shifts, and I like it, albeit kinda ricer-ish sounding when it does. My bigger complaint is I can't hear my magnaflow over the sucking noise at idle

trackerjoe · 10-12-2011, 07:39 PM

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=50615

quoted from link above:
"With any cone filter you will get this wine because the air resonator is no longer there. Older model cars had the resonator after the airbox and newer ones are before the box sometimes in the fender like on most of Fords."

brianwsnc · 10-12-2011, 08:08 PM

I am so glad you guys posted this problem. I was seriously thinking of buying a K and N filter.. but not now. That noise would bother me to no end.

My 3000GT has a resonator after the filter. I wondered what is was for.. now I know

*OffTrac* · 10-12-2011, 08:10 PM

Noise aside...I don't think it's worth the money to suck warm air into your engine.

dkmcclelland · 10-12-2011, 08:10 PM

My G6 had a resonator before the filter and I used this same K&N.. Never got anything as annoying as this

trackerjoe · 10-15-2011, 06:39 AM

just curious... are any of you using the stock tubing at all? im using stock tube with adaptor and filter and i get no whistle...i do get a mean roar when i floor it. if i do get a whistle, i cant hear it.

*LONO100* · 10-15-2011, 09:13 AM

i used to get that whistle too and over time it pretty much minimized itself. i thought i had just learned to tune it out but when i first got the intake a lot of people would point it out. now, nobody ever points it out.

02-03-2010, 10:51 PM	#1
BrianG Wannabe Elite Explorer Alexandria, VA 04' Sport Trac 4X4 XLT Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 17 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	K&N High Pitch Noise Installed a K&N kit on my '04 and now there is this horrible high pitch whistle at certain pedal positions. Driving me nuts! Did anyone else experience this? Any suggestions on how to eliminate it? I am assuming it is just the air being sucked into the intake, but I gotta figure out how to get rid of the high pitch sound.

02-04-2010, 02:34 PM	#3
JohnnyO Sport Trac Moderator Pittsburgh, PA '08 Sport Trac Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,702 Vehicle Specs	Mine came with a roll of extra foam to put around the airbox lid where the channel fits over the filter. Did you get this and did you install it? __________________ '08 Sport Trac, Gibson exhaust, K&N, Firestone Destination A/T's, Steelers regalia. "It is not the multitude of ale-houses that occasions a general disposition to drunkenness among the common people; but that disposition arising from other causes necessarily gives employment to a multitude of ale-houses." -- Adam Smith, 1776

02-07-2010, 02:11 AM	#7
DanaM Wannabe Elite Explorer Columbus 2001 Sport 4WD Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 118 Vehicle Specs	Yeah, I hate that whistling noise on my Mopar CAI on my Charger. When I shot video or start the car and rev it for someone to hear, they hear and the whole header / borla setup sort that I want them to hear is impacted my the noise from the CAI. I just live with it too. Sound like it is really noisy on the Xs D a n a __________________ This is why I love driving my Explore in the snow: http://www.cardomain.com/id/danam D a n a

10-09-2011, 02:02 PM	#9
dkmcclelland Wannabe Elite Explorer Adel, Ga '04 ST Adrenalin Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 43 Vehicle Specs	I just installed my K&N and it whistles horribly... I took the lower air box out and it made it worse... I hate that I even put it on there.... __________________ 2004 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin 2WD 2006 Pontiac G6 GT Sedan: Sold 09/2011 2004 Limited Explorer 2WD: Sold 03/2010

10-09-2011, 03:15 PM	#10
CityBoyAtl Wannabe Elite Explorer Atlanta, GA 2002 Sport Trac 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 77 Vehicle Specs	Yep, i get it too. There's got to be a way to change the airflow to remove the whistle. like adding some plastic or duct tape to cover a small area of the filter which would change the flow? __________________ Matt front and rear brush guards, PIAA 520 fog lights, Custom roof crossbar lights, 4" superlift, Procomp 285/70R17 xtreme M/T, BlackRock wheels, 1.5" spacers, Eaton elocker on rear diff., K&N intake, Flowmaster 50 dual exhaust.

02-04-2010, 12:50 PM	#2
occupationracer Wannabe Elite Explorer miami 05 sport trac xlt Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 11 Vehicle Specs	is it that much of a bothering whistle? I mean i kinda like it. i have a zabteck true cold-air, does the same, also at sertin throttle pos.reminds me what i have under the hood. Before i also had a k&n but didnt do the whistle, but my guess is cuz mines an 05. i think its normal.

02-05-2010, 10:17 AM	#4
BrianG Wannabe Elite Explorer Alexandria, VA 04' Sport Trac 4X4 XLT Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 17 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Yes, the whistle is really annoying. It is so high pitched! There is no air box, it was removed for the kit to be installed. there is just the tube, a support plate and the filter.

02-06-2010, 01:14 PM	#5
occupationracer Wannabe Elite Explorer miami 05 sport trac xlt Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 11 Vehicle Specs	i dnt know what to say. mines aint that much of a bother. although mines whistling sound changed a little after i had it tuned with the sct. don't know if that's possible for you.

02-07-2010, 01:04 AM	#6
Gus Gorilla Wannabe Elite Explorer The Cradle of Naval Aviation 2001 Sport Trac 4X4 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 373 Vehicle Specs	Join the club. Mine does exactly the same. For the most part I've blocked it out. When friends point it out I notice it agian. When it really sucks is when the throttle is at that position on the highway. Mine comes in constant at about 65mph. It's in and out from 0 depending on throttle position, but stays constant at 65. I cleaned out my K&N filter with the kit and it actually got worse. Not louder but it stays through a larger throttle position. I have to believe it could be changed by intake tube position or length. But like I said, I block it out.

02-10-2010, 08:08 AM	#8
BrianG Wannabe Elite Explorer Alexandria, VA 04' Sport Trac 4X4 XLT Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 17 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Thanks for all the feedback. At least I now know I didn't install it wrong or something. Sucks that it can't be eliminated. I drove 5 hours and tuned it out somewhere around two. Oh, I did reduce it a little by adjusting the filter. It just changed the direction of the airflow or something, but it did reduce it a little.

10-09-2011, 03:21 PM	#11
dkmcclelland Wannabe Elite Explorer Adel, Ga '04 ST Adrenalin Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 43 Vehicle Specs	What's weird is I had that same filter on my G6 and it never whistled... __________________ 2004 Explorer Sport Trac Adrenalin 2WD 2006 Pontiac G6 GT Sedan: Sold 09/2011 2004 Limited Explorer 2WD: Sold 03/2010

10-11-2011, 11:57 PM	#12
rokr1292 Wannabe Elite Explorer richardsville va '01 Explorer Sport Trac Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 304 Vehicle Specs	I have a cheapo ebay "cai" and it pretty much only whistles when the tranny shifts, and I like it, albeit kinda ricer-ish sounding when it does. My bigger complaint is I can't hear my magnaflow over the sucking noise at idle __________________ Gold 2003 Ranger regcab 2.3 xlt. (Old dd, handed off) Silver 2001 Explorer Sport Trac 4x4 (new dd as of 3/7/11)

10-12-2011, 07:39 PM	#13
trackerjoe Wannabe Elite Explorer origin-Manchester,TN current-Parris Island,SC 2001 Volvo s80 i6 Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 139 Vehicle Specs	http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=50615 quoted from link above: "With any cone filter you will get this wine because the air resonator is no longer there. Older model cars had the resonator after the airbox and newer ones are before the box sometimes in the fender like on most of Fords." __________________ Don't shoot your mouth off unless your brains are loaded The only thing that stands between a Marine and God, is a CORPSMAN! HOORAH!

10-12-2011, 08:08 PM	#14
brianwsnc Wannabe Elite Explorer Winston Salem, NC 2004 Sport Trac Adrenlin Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 65 Vehicle Specs	I am so glad you guys posted this problem. I was seriously thinking of buying a K and N filter.. but not now. That noise would bother me to no end. My 3000GT has a resonator after the filter. I wondered what is was for.. now I know

10-12-2011, 08:10 PM	#15
OffTrac Elite Explorer Dublin, GA '01 Sport Trac 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,788 Vehicle Specs	Noise aside...I don't think it's worth the money to suck warm air into your engine. __________________ My Registry

10-15-2011, 06:39 AM	#17
trackerjoe Wannabe Elite Explorer origin-Manchester,TN current-Parris Island,SC 2001 Volvo s80 i6 Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 139 Vehicle Specs	just curious... are any of you using the stock tubing at all? im using stock tube with adaptor and filter and i get no whistle...i do get a mean roar when i floor it. if i do get a whistle, i cant hear it. __________________ Don't shoot your mouth off unless your brains are loaded The only thing that stands between a Marine and God, is a CORPSMAN! HOORAH!

10-15-2011, 09:13 AM	#18
LONO100 Elite Explorer Bay Area CA 03 sport trac XLT Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2,944 Vehicle Specs	i used to get that whistle too and over time it pretty much minimized itself. i thought i had just learned to tune it out but when i first got the intake a lot of people would point it out. now, nobody ever points it out. __________________ http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=350365