I noticed this thing sucking air and it's fairly loud... it looks like it's connected to the throttle body somewhere and when i put my finger over the hole worn into it the car idles down a bit.. the other end goes to a box just in front of the air box.. anyone know what this is or what it does? should i wrap it in electrical tape or something since it obviously isn't supposed to be open?

Thanks

It's the little orangish plastic peice on the air line that is on the front of the airbox.. sorry should have circled it...it also looks like it has a small spring in it like a check valve.

 

It is a check valve, about 20 bucks from the dealer, free from a pull it yourself yard, or you could bypass it with a section of tube. That is vacuum leak and should be taken care of.P/N is 36145-PM4-004.

 

Correct... that's a vacuum leak you got there.

 

I just sealed it with electrical tape for now...

 

vac leak for sure. replace it wen u can. tape wont last long.

 

Try finding something to put around it, like plastic and then put a hose clamp around it to seal it. That's how we do it in the hood. Your car's idle is gonna be fcked up until you get a new one.

 

Its a check valve for the secondary air valve. A flep opens and supplies additional air for the engine at high RPMs. The check valve keeps the flap closed until the ECU commands it open. You could just put a hose nipple in its place and reroute the vacuum hose directly to the diaphram and the air valve will open whenever you nail the throttle.