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| Secondary air pump problem ScottyB - 3 months ago |
Hello, Hoping to get some advice. My secondary air pump is not coming on. I confirmed it works but it's not getting voltage from the relay under the trunk. The relay is getting 12v switched and the 40 amp fuse is good. If i give the relay a good ground with the ignition on it it will send voltage to the pump! But if i let it run like this it will never turn off and I throw a p0418 code. Before doing this the secondary air system was the only monitor that would not clear. I desperately need this to clear in California for smog. I've searched for information as to how this system works but can't find anything. My guess is an ECU problem or maybe a sensor? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Scott
Scott
| Re: Secondary air pump problem Pedro (Odessa, FL) - 3 months ago |
The SAI has become an issue because of the age of the vehicles.
The easiest thing is to eliminate the air pump and reprogram the ECU to the RoW spec, but that's not legal in CA.
BTW, CA is the only state that required the SAI but Porsche said that they would not ship two different versions to USA, so everyone else get stuck with the system!
The SAI is turned on by the ECU during cold starts, so there may be an issue with a temperature sensor.
Because we just outright remove them, I have not really immersed myself into the issue.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro
Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 313,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)
Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar
"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"
"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna
The easiest thing is to eliminate the air pump and reprogram the ECU to the RoW spec, but that's not legal in CA.
BTW, CA is the only state that required the SAI but Porsche said that they would not ship two different versions to USA, so everyone else get stuck with the system!
The SAI is turned on by the ECU during cold starts, so there may be an issue with a temperature sensor.
Because we just outright remove them, I have not really immersed myself into the issue.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro
Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 313,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)
Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar
"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"
"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti
"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna
| Re: Secondary air pump problem ScottyB - 3 months ago |
Quote
Pedro (Odessa, FL)
The SAI has become an issue because of the age of the vehicles.
The easiest thing is to eliminate the air pump and reprogram the ECU to the RoW spec, but that's not legal in CA.
BTW, CA is the only state that required the SAI but Porsche said that they would not ship two different versions to USA, so everyone else get stuck with the system!
The SAI is turned on by the ECU during cold starts, so there may be an issue with a temperature sensor.
Because we just outright remove them, I have not really immersed myself into the issue.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro
Thank you Pedro. I didn't think of the temp sensor, I'll have to check on that. Thanks for your inpute! I'll report back here once i figure it out incase some other poor soul has to deal with it!
Boxsterra - 3 months ago |
The reason connecting ground to the relay triggers the pump is that that is how the DME activates the relay. It's good that you have already eliminated one of the most expensive problems (bad pump).
I recommend the following continued diagnostics:
- Unplug the X5/9 (white) connector in the rear trunk and inspect the pins for corrosion or other visible damage
- Test continuity between SAI relay pin 87 and X5/9 pin 8
- Test continuity between X5/9 pin 8 and DME pin 37 (SAI trigger)
These pins depend on the model and year, which you didn't mention. Also, depending on the year of your car you may be able to pass smog in CA with one readiness monitor incomplete. It is also possible to get the secondary air readiness to be complete by resetting the code and letting the car cool down enough to trigger another drive cycle but not enough to trigger the pump.
If you have access to one of the many scanners that allows you to manually trigger the SAI that makes diagnostics much easier and I would recommend different steps in that case.
Let us know how it works out.
I recommend the following continued diagnostics:
- Unplug the X5/9 (white) connector in the rear trunk and inspect the pins for corrosion or other visible damage
- Test continuity between SAI relay pin 87 and X5/9 pin 8
- Test continuity between X5/9 pin 8 and DME pin 37 (SAI trigger)
These pins depend on the model and year, which you didn't mention. Also, depending on the year of your car you may be able to pass smog in CA with one readiness monitor incomplete. It is also possible to get the secondary air readiness to be complete by resetting the code and letting the car cool down enough to trigger another drive cycle but not enough to trigger the pump.
If you have access to one of the many scanners that allows you to manually trigger the SAI that makes diagnostics much easier and I would recommend different steps in that case.
Let us know how it works out.
| Re: Diagnostics ScottyB - 3 months ago |
Quote
Boxsterra
The reason connecting ground to the relay triggers the pump is that that is how the DME activates the relay. It's good that you have already eliminated one of the most expensive problems (bad pump).
I recommend the following continued diagnostics:
- Unplug the X5/9 (white) connector in the rear trunk and inspect the pins for corrosion or other visible damage
- Test continuity between SAI relay pin 87 and X5/9 pin 8
- Test continuity between X5/9 pin 8 and DME pin 37 (SAI trigger)
These pins depend on the model and year, which you didn't mention. Also, depending on the year of your car you may be able to pass smog in CA with one readiness monitor incomplete. It is also possible to get the secondary air readiness to be complete by resetting the code and letting the car cool down enough to trigger another drive cycle but not enough to trigger the pump.
If you have access to one of the many scanners that allows you to manually trigger the SAI that makes diagnostics much easier and I would recommend different steps in that case.
Let us know how it works out.
Sorry it's a 2000 build, date 10/99. Right now my car is down. I have sent out the imobolizer, DME and key to repair the imobolizer and program it all together. They will also look at the DME. I was hoping they would come back and tell me they fixed something there that might resolve this issue. Does that X5/9 plug go to the DME? Thank you for the guidance! I will do some more investigating. I'm on vacation this week and have a few projects to try and knocked out while I wait for my DME and stuff to arrive. Doing the AOS and replacing some vacuum items as general maintenance. Brakes and rotors. Replacing the heater core. If I have time and energy I'd like to do the waterpump and change the trans fluid/filter! Oh and repair the right side convertible top transmission gear and install parts I've collected to make the top work with the switch again! Whew!
| Re: Diagnostics ScottyB - 3 months ago |
Quote
ScottyB
Quote
Boxsterra
The reason connecting ground to the relay triggers the pump is that that is how the DME activates the relay. It's good that you have already eliminated one of the most expensive problems (bad pump).
I recommend the following continued diagnostics:
- Unplug the X5/9 (white) connector in the rear trunk and inspect the pins for corrosion or other visible damage
- Test continuity between SAI relay pin 87 and X5/9 pin 8
- Test continuity between X5/9 pin 8 and DME pin 37 (SAI trigger)
These pins depend on the model and year, which you didn't mention. Also, depending on the year of your car you may be able to pass smog in CA with one readiness monitor incomplete. It is also possible to get the secondary air readiness to be complete by resetting the code and letting the car cool down enough to trigger another drive cycle but not enough to trigger the pump.
If you have access to one of the many scanners that allows you to manually trigger the SAI that makes diagnostics much easier and I would recommend different steps in that case.
Let us know how it works out.
Well it looks like I solved the issue! Swapped out the AOS this morning. While I had it out I used a vacuum pump on the canister to at least test that. It held vacuum! I put a smoke machine and did not see any leaks. Swapped the AOS out and what do you know. First start I hear the Air pump going! Car didn't really smoke but I did smell oil burning. I wrote that off to a RMS leak and residue under the engine I still need to clean. No oil burning smell, Air pump went through its cycle and the other problem i had when cold starting was a rhythmic variable idle. That would go away when warm. Now she purrs like a kitten! Also cleaned the throttle body which actually looked clean and the MAF sensor. Ready for some driving! Thanks for the help. Hope this may help someone in the future.
Sorry it's a 2000 build, date 10/99. Right now my car is down. I have sent out the imobolizer, DME and key to repair the imobolizer and program it all together. They will also look at the DME. I was hoping they would come back and tell me they fixed something there that might resolve this issue. Does that X5/9 plug go to the DME? Thank you for the guidance! I will do some more investigating. I'm on vacation this week and have a few projects to try and knocked out while I wait for my DME and stuff to arrive. Doing the AOS and replacing some vacuum items as general maintenance. Brakes and rotors. Replacing the heater core. If I have time and energy I'd like to do the waterpump and change the trans fluid/filter! Oh and repair the right side convertible top transmission gear and install parts I've collected to make the top work with the switch again! Whew!
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