Aftermarket Cold Air Intake -- causing Red Triangle dash light and other lights

My air cleaner box got damaged in a wreck. I installed a B&B Cold Air Intake (the company sent me the wrong adapters and for 2 years and 10 emails and phone calls the kit won't even fit onto the throttle body, so avoid this terrible vendor). I bought adapters using PVC adapters to make it fit. In the first engine start up, the RED TRIANGLE DASH LIGHT CAME ON! I took it off and installed an OEM air cleaner box (same MAF sensor) and disconnected the battery cable -- the Red Triangle went out! I put the Cold Air Intake back on, the Red Triangle came on! The ICE would not run, and the HV battery drained to zero til the car wouldn't move. I put the OEM airbox back on, the ICE started and car drove fine. Question: Using the same MAF sensor, the only difference was the air intake! The aftermarket intake kit uses a 4-in ID tube, and a free-flow air filter. What could the difference be to cause the Red Triangle light and prevent the ICE from running? Aftermarket kit vendor claims the engine will adjust itself to the new MAF sensor air flow signal, vs. the actual air flow, since a larger ID intake tube will have a slower flow velocity for the same mass air flow.

 

Thanks so much, Patrick. I rely on & appreciate your replies to plan my next steps. I'll try removing the OEM airbox lid but sadly I'm beginning to doubt I can make the B&B cold air intake work. Used OEM airboxes are $100+. The B&B Kit cost $100. B&B won't respond to requests for the right adapter or refund. It is wasted money that could have bought a used OEM airbox. Well, 2 yrs ago the cold air kit was a lot cheaper (OEM was $200+). The only other thing is the B&B air filter is too restrictive; I'll try running the cold air intake kit without their filter to see if it trips the red triangle. The ECU is probably cutting back fuel, based on a low air flow MAF signal. A restrictive air filter may cause the low flow signal (so could the bigger diameter intake tube). Stay tuned....

 

You're right on. I feel the Prius is a finely tuned and designed car. Did you see all the twists and turns and resonators along the intake tube just to quiet the air flow? With that much engineering detail, it's hard to suspect the air intake can be improved by changing it to an aftermarket CAI kit that won't even fit the throttle body (diameter 1/2 inch too big!!)!!