Missing Hesitation Feeling Problem Solved in PT Cruiser Turbo: Cheap Cold Air Intake Solution

I like many other PT Cruiser owners have had our share of frustrations with engine hesitation. As you are driving down the road, it feels like the engine stops for a brief moment, like it misses, but it never throws a code suggesting it misfired.

One driver at PTCruiserLinks.com describes it as, "It almost feels like im missing a whole cylinder when it hesitates."

I am here to say that a cheap $35 repair solved my problem. I removed the paper air filter and redesigned the factor cold air intake allowing more efficient air flow to the turbo. As well, I also placed a tornado in the intakes to the fuel injector, which also seemed to help.

After market cold air intake systems for the Chrysler PT Cruiser can costs upwards of over $300. For a car that is starting to show its age on the road, that might not be cost effective. However, it is easy to redesign your current airflow system to use the same technology at a fraction of the price.

First you will need a Spectre cone air filter and a Spectre 8728 Chrome Modular 22-Degree Elbow Air Intake Tube.

The directions are simple to make this homemade upgrade work.

1. Remove all connections to the current air filter system and remove the black plastic housing that protects the current paper filter.

2. Pop out the inner lower tubing of the cold intake assembly and cut the portion that sits within the box off so that it still securely snaps into the housing. This ensures cold air will get to the turbo.

3. Pop the tubing back in place and pop the lower portion of the housing back into place. Set the paper filter and the lid aside in a safe place if you ever want to return the car to original factory specs.

4. Connect the Spectre 8728 Chrome Modular 22-Degree Elbow Air Intake Tube to the intake tube.

5. Attach the cone filter to the Spectre 8728 Chrome Modular 22-Degree Elbow Air Intake Tube pointing the cone towards the cold air source in the box.

6. Attach the small vacuum line on the left side of the box to the box.

And you are done. Since I have done this, I have noticed an increase in gas mileage, no hesitation, and a cleaner feel when you accelerate. Best of all, the car is much peppier since it isn't choking on a paper filter.

Total for the upgrade?

$24.99 for the filter at Auto Zone, and another $9.99 for the tube.