Air Intake Install on 3.6L V6 Dodge Charger Challenger Chrysler 300
DIY Guide: Cold Air Intake Install (3.6L V6 Charger, Challenger, Chrysler 300)
If you drive a 2011-2023 Dodge Charger, Challenger, or Chrysler 300 with the 3.6L Pentastar V6, upgrading to a Cold Air Intake (CAI) is one of the easiest modifications you can do. The factory airbox is designed to dampen sound, which unfortunately muffles that nice V6 induction noise.
This guide will walk you through removing the restrictive stock box and installing a high-flow system.
- 2011-2023 Dodge Charger (3.6L V6)
- 2011-2023 Dodge Challenger (3.6L V6)
- 2011-2023 Chrysler 300 (3.6L V6)
⚠️ The "IAT Sensor" Warning
Your intake tube has an Intake Air Temperature (IAT) Sensor inserted into it. This is the most fragile part of the install.
- Do NOT pull it by the wires.
- The sensor twists to unlock (usually counter-clockwise).
- It has a small rubber O-ring. If this O-ring stays in the old tube, the sensor will be loose in the new one and cause a vacuum leak.
Tools Required
- Ratchet wrench
- 8mm Socket (This is the magic number for almost every bolt on this intake)
- 10mm Socket (For negative battery terminal)
- Flathead screwdriver (For hose clamps)
- Pliers (For the crankcase vent hose clamp)
Phase 1: Removal of Stock System
Step 1: Disconnect Battery & Engine Cover
Disconnect the Negative (-) battery terminal to reset the ECU. Then, lift the plastic engine cover straight up to unsnap it and set it aside.
Step 2: Unplug the IAT Sensor
Locate the sensor plugged into the intake tube near the throttle body. Depress the tab to unplug the wire harness. Gently twist the sensor counter-clockwise to unlock it, then carefully pull it straight out. Place the sensor somewhere safe immediately.
Step 3: Disconnect Crankcase Vent (CCV) Hose
This varies slightly by year:
- 2011-2019 Models: The hose is usually connected near the airbox filter housing.
- 2020+ Models: The hose connection moved closer to the throttle body or firewall.
Use pliers to squeeze the spring clamp and pull the rubber hose off the intake tube fitting.
Step 4: Remove the Assembly
Loosen the hose clamp connecting the tube to the engine throttle body using your 8mm socket or flathead. Then, locate the single 8mm bolt holding the airbox to the fender/core support (driver's side front). Remove this bolt. The entire assembly (box and tube) can now be pulled straight up and out of the vehicle.
Phase 2: Installation of New Intake
Step 5: Install the Heat Shield
Drop the new heat shield into the space where the factory box was. Secure it using the factory mounting point (reuse the 8mm bolt you removed in Step 4). Ensure the rubber trim is installed on the top edge to seal against the hood.
Step 6: Prepare the New Tube (The Critical Step)
Your new kit will come with a rubber grommet for the IAT sensor.
- Install the rubber grommet into the hole on the new intake tube.
- Carefully push your factory IAT sensor into this grommet. It will be a tight fit—use a little silicone spray or soapy water if needed, but do not force it or you will crack the sensor tip.
- Orientation: Ensure the plug side is facing the correct direction for the wiring harness to reach.
Step 7: Install Couplers & Tube
Place the silicone coupler onto the throttle body and loosely tighten the clamp. Insert the new intake tube into the coupler and align the other end with the heat shield/filter adapter.
Step 8: Connect CCV Hose
Install the provided replacement hose for the Crankcase Vent. Connect one end to the engine valve cover port and the other to the nipple on the new intake tube. Secure with clamps if provided.
Step 9: Install the Filter
Slide the large cone filter onto the end of the tube (inside the heat shield) and tighten the large hose clamp.
Step 10: Final Connections
Plug the IAT sensor harness back into the sensor. Reinstall the engine cover (if it fits with your specific intake tube). Reconnect the negative battery terminal.
🔧 Mechanic's Pro Tips
1. The "Whistle" Check
After installing, if you hear a high-pitched whistle at idle, it's usually the throttle body coupler. Loosen it, reseat the tube to make sure it's square against the throttle body, and retighten.
2. 2011-2014 vs. 2015+ Bumpers
If you are installing a "True" Cold Air Intake (one that draws air from the fender well), the 2015+ Chargers have a different headlight duct. Some kits come with a specific scoop to grab air from the Hellcat headlight hole—make sure you align this correctly for maximum airflow.
3. Save the Grommets
The factory airbox is held in at the bottom by rubber grommets that pop into the car's frame. Sometimes these stick to the airbox when you pull it out. Pull them off the old box and put them back into the holes in the car frame before dropping in the new heat shield.
