I was wondering if anybody knows why that AIV box is so important and so hard to find replacements for? I have an '87 XE-V6 and a couple of years ago, I noticed a little rust on that round box under the air intake (which I finally found a 2 paragraph section in the Chilton manual is an AIV Valve). Within 3 months, it was completely gone as was the metal underneath. There was suddenly a large hole from the engine compartment into the driver's side wheel well where I could see the tire. The engine started getting really sluggish and began stalling. I took a good look at everything and realized that my ENTIRE exhaust system was destroyed.
I have been replacing parts as I can (have a different daily driver) and have seriously had to purchase every part from headers to the tail pipe. I do not know if it was the catalytic converter or the AIV that went first, but apparently one affects the other in a chicken or the egg situation. I have finally tracked down that little AIV thing at a Nissan dismantling yard in California, but it wasn't easy. There is absolutely NO MENTION of this part anywhere on the internet, nor can you find a replacement for it. I had a hard time finding anybody who even knew what the heck I was talking about. My dad has a friend who rebuilds and races and he told me that this part is a feedback loop, and that not having it will make the exhaust system die a quick and painful death (again).
Does anybody know what exactly might have failed in this situation so I can avoid it in the future?
Or exactly what the AIV is and why it can kill your Pathy?
Thanks!