Check this out!! PICS

[130guy]

So, I was just doing a regular inspection of some of the rubber boots and hoses in the engine compartment and look what I found! Glad I caught it now before large chunks of rubber started getting sucked in! This is the rubber boot between the MAF sensor and the throtle body. The dry air here in the southwest has really taken it's toll. After I removed the boot there was more significant wear that was very close to as bad. You guys may want to take a look at yours! Here are a few pics:

Areas with the most wear were at the base of the throtle body, ASC plug, and between the ribs.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/5288/bfc025kh1.jpg

Close ups...

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2691/bfc028sh3.jpg

and another...



http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2052/bfc029mq9.jpg

[RamGoat]

happens to everyone....you can use a poxy to seal it....i used a clear super 3000 to fix it

[reds6960639]

Good thing we have humid air over in Houston :az

[130guy]

I just bought a new one, it was actually only a couple bucks more than most places online.

[TheStigg]

My former e28 m20 did the same thing, also in Albuquerque. The new boot really helped smooth out the idle. The cracked boot lets "false air" not reported to the DME mess up the fuel mixture, not to mention letting dirt into the intake.

[130guy]

My former e28 m20 did the same thing, also in Albuquerque. The new boot really helped smooth out the idle. The cracked boot lets "false air" not reported to the DME mess up the fuel mixture, not to mention letting dirt into the intake.

That was what I was worried about "false air" and besides dirt I didn't want chunks of rubber breaking off and getting sucked in. Strangely I wasn't having any idle issues so it must have just cracked all the way through very recently.

[tekviper]

Yeah thats very common. Replaced mine when I got the car, I think it was about $12.

[McDani3coupe]

how many miles were on your car when you noticed this?

[130guy]

I just turned over 118k:buttrock