How To Install a ETS (or any other) TMIC on your CX-7

[Alpha Wolf]

Once you open you hood the first job is to remove the engine cover/TMIC duct



There are two snaps that hold it down to the radiator support. Use a flat blade screw driver to pop the middle up and then they just pull out. Do not loose these.







Next just pull toward you and up and the cover will come off the two rear studs holding it in place.]

Remove the TMIC screen. Two bolts on the front need to be removed. Once removed push it back and up and the rear should unclip and come loose. Screw bolts back into TMIC so they do not get lost.





Next you need to remove the intake hoses from the TMIC. There is a clamp on each hose. Unscrew it until loose. Now twist the hose in a circular motion until it unsticks from TMIC. Now push it off being careful not to let the clamp fall off. Once off, tighten clamps just enough so they will not fall off until you are ready for them.

Now remove the hoses on the BPV valve. A pair of pliers and pinch the tabs together will loosen the clamps. Slide clamps down the hoses. Next push the hoses off the BPV nipples.

If you are also upgrading your BPV valve, remove the two bolts holding the BPV valve onto the inlet neck.. Once off, place BPV in large zip lock bag so no dirt/dust can get inside it and put the two bolts in there with it so you do not loose them. You will need the bolts to re-install you BPV valve.

Now remove the nuts off the studs holding down the TMIC. Be careful here as it is easy to drop them. I recommend when you are nearly off, you finish with your fingers. Now remove thw washer on top of rubber grommets. I use a magnet for this to insure I do not drop any of these.



Now lift TMIC straight up and off. Be carefull you do not dislodge any of the grommets and inserts on the studs and loose them.



Now that the stocker is off, unbolt the inlet neck. 4 small bolts. Clean the gasket or use a new one. Once gasket is clean, install inlet on the ETS TMIC. I recommend you use a tiny 1/4" ratchet as you are torquing steel bolts into aluminum and if you strip it you will have to install inserts. BE VERY CAREFUL and DO NOT OVER TORQUE those bolts.



Once the inlet is off, clean and seal up your stock TMIC as you may need it for warranty trips etc. I used painters tape over the openings. Then place a flat piece of card board over the radiator on both top and bottom and tape them together to hold them on. This will keep the fins from being damaged while stored.

Install the inlet onto the ETS TMIC with the 4 bolts you removed. If you are upgrading the BPV valve install new BPV valve and carefully tighten the two bolts. Again, steel bolts into aluminum!!!!

Remove grommets from stock TMIC and install on to the ETS TMIC. Now install the inserts with cylinder if you removed them from the studs back onto the studs. Now lower the ETS TMIC onto the studs being careful not to push the grommets out of the feet.

Install washers on top of grommets and then install and tighten the nuts. Note on mine the front foot was jigged wrong and was sticking up at a 45 degree angle and not sitting flat. I can tell you how to fix this if you encounter this. ETS says they fixed their jigs but just an FYI.



Now I put a little WD 40 on my finger and lube the part of the intake tubes where they go onto the TMIC and a little on the TMIC lip. Push both tubes all the way up until they are flush with the lip. Now slide clamps up until in the middle of the lip of the TMIC and tighten both of them down.

Now slip the two hoses back onto the BPV. Slide the clamps back up to seal them on the BPV nipples.


Double check:

1. That you have all TMIC mounting nuts on and tight.
2. That none of the grommets has come off during the iinstall.
3. That the both inlet hoses are on flush and that both clamps are tight.
4. That the BPV is on and both bolts are tight.
5. That both BPV hoses are on and both clamps are back on and tight and sealed.

Now disconnect the negative post of your battery. A few minutes later put it back on. Yes you will have to go through all the window clock radio stuff. Hold each window button up until it rolls up and clicks. Reset your clock. Reset your radio presets.

Now start your car. Turn you wheel lock to tock and then turn the car off.
Start car again and verify no odd noises and no warning lights.

Good to go.

[Raider]

Thanks for resurrecting the thread. This is a biggee for the Cx-7 people. Keep in mind, my wife installed her TMIC on her CX-7 back in the day. So n00bs, it is easy for the newer gearhead.

[char181]

Nice write-up with excellent photography.

[Raider]

Oh, and please note. Galaxy Gray CX-7's show a 25% additional bHP increase over any other color CX-7.

[ottoblotto]

Originally Posted by Raider Oh, and please note. Galaxy Gray CX-7's show a 25% additional bHP increase over any other color CX-7.

thats right bitchez.

[Alpha Wolf]

Originally Posted by ottoblotto thats right bitchez.

But the Liquid Platinum are 25% lighter .....

[Raider]

That is because they don't put any airbags into them. Just balloons. Wheels are made of recycled toilet paper too.

[Alpha Wolf]

ROFL...

Tires are filled with Helium.....

[Zdraveca]

brilliant black is win!

[Hectik1]

Originally Posted by Alpha Wolf But the Liquid Platinum are 25% lighter .....

The truth!

[mikomi]

New revised mod install guide

Materials
- part to installed
- a couple of buddies
- a flat or more of cold beer
- tools

Instruction
- mix everything (give buddies beers, tools, parts)
- ????
- done!

[BillsFan]

OK - so I had a free 45' minutes today and decided to do a quick TMIC swap - but the inlet hoses were not on board with this plan. I could get them to twist, but not get them off the stock TMIC.

Any secret tricks anyone can offer. They are the stock hoses and likely haven't been touched in 50k miles. Should of had Wheaties for breakfast instead of Waffle House.

I'll have free time either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning for take 2 - suggestions for getting those mofo's off is welcome.

Lastly - any issue with keeping the stock gasket between the TMIC and the inlet neck. If that's not advisable I'd rather have the gasket in advance - anyone now the part number?

[Raider]

Small flat blade screwdriver. Try to break the bond between the two. Or, look for used Street Unit hoses in the speed 3 and CX-7 Forrest sale section. If not, get em new. Just a thought.

[BillsFan]

Yeah - that's what I figured. I'll try again after eating some spinach...

[mikomi]

if they can rotate, they'll come off with a little elbow grease. a little penetrant spray or wd-40 also helps.

[Alpha Wolf]

Originally Posted by mikomi if they can rotate, they'll come off with a little elbow grease. a little penetrant spray or wd-40 also helps.

What Mikomi said.

Small flat blade screw driver to pry lip up carefully. Squirt a little WD40 in between and do this around the circumference until it breaks free.

Put a little WD40 on with your finger on the inside of the hoses when you go to put them back on. Makes it a whole lot easier..

[BillsFan]

Done - What Alpha said that Mikomi said was right, was!

Installed and no CELs. Did have a "problem" that when taking out the old unit the entire post came out on the front left side. Guess that nut didn't want to come out. Separated him from the post, got the post back in, etc.

Also had to put an extra washer under the strut brace, but at least I knew I'd be doing that before I had it all buttoned back up!

Took a little longer having my daughter lend a hand (she's 9), but she likes working on cars, so what the hell.

msf ftmfw

[mikomi]

Originally Posted by BillsFan Took a little longer having my daughter lend a hand (she's 9), but she likes working on cars, so what the hell.

Future car person right there.

[Raider]

Billsfan, nice install!

[BillsFan]

Originally Posted by mikomi Future car person right there.

She's a car person now - insists that we go to the new car show ever year, helps with oil changes, did the tune up (i.e. spark plug, oil and air filter) on the lawn mower last year!

Originally Posted by Raider Billsfan, nice install!

Once I got the hoses loosened up - I spent more time removing the strut tower and dealing with the TMIC mount post than anything.

[Alpha Wolf]

Nice job Billsfan!

Nice to hear you are get the next generation of motor heads involved

[Fatguy729]

Was this thread really necessary? Anyone who does anything to their car has prolly taken their TMIC off/on about a million times...

3 bolts and 2 hose clamps... 15 minutes total

[Raider]

For someone who might not know how to do it, yeah. Keep in mind, I wrote the how-to originally back in early 2007 for a different forum, being one of the first to install one on a CX-7. It has helped a lot of n00bs who have not worked on their car, get the job done.

[BillsFan]

Basically - what Raider said. This is my first turbo and the first car that I've done any modding with beyond the airbox, so...

[jstcruzin]

Looks good...hope my daughter will enjoy and want to help around the cars when she gets older too

[Alpha Wolf]

Originally Posted by mikomi New revised mod install guide Materials - part to installed - a couple of buddies - a flat or more of cold beer - tools Instruction - mix everything (give buddies beers, tools, parts) - ???? - done!

Might be done or it may be BOOMMMMM!!!!!

Depends on who your friends are and how much beer was consumed before/during the install...

Originally Posted by Fatguy729 Was this thread really necessary? Anyone who does anything to their car has prolly taken their TMIC off/on about a million times... 3 bolts and 2 hose clamps... 15 minutes total

While those of us with any basic mechanical ability no. I just did it.

But we have had so many ask who have never touched a wrench and now want to do this and they are nervous about doing anything that in their minds may damage their cars.

So it is here to help those that need a little help. For those that do not need help they will never bother to even look at this thread...

[kawaxi]

Can you upload the pics again? Some of them are not showing


nevermind.... turns out it was my tablet...

[kawaxi]

nevermind.... turns out it was my tablet...

[Raider]

Originally Posted by kawaxi nevermind.... turns out it was my tablet...

I was wondering! Lol.

[09 cx7 Mods]

looking at ets tmic w shroud for speed 3 ,,will it fit my 09 cx7??