Secondary air system causes check engine light to go on?

Tiny
MJDVM2013
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
The engine light went on months ago, and I didn't have money to fix it. Code was for the secondary air system. The air pump, solenoids, and both check valves replaced, and the light still came on. Mechanics cleaned hoses and runners with mechanic wire to clear out a lot of carbon, and still the code is thrown. Not sure what else to check, but they said the head may need to go to a machine shop. One check valve has great flow, the other is less. Not sure what the problem could be.
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022 AT 3:54 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If the ports are that bad, then the exhaust manifold can be pulled and the manifold can be cleaned as well as the head. I don't know why they would say you would have to pull the head and send it to the machine shop. That's more work than pulling the exhaust manifold and cleaning the head ports and exhaust manifold ports. I have used picks mechanics wire compressed air and deep creep to help dissolve the carbon. They even make different length flexible braided wire cleaners with a carbide tip for cleaning EGR ports. I believe those are made by a company called sur. Also, Honda's have known issues and they make special tool kits for cleaning the Honda air injection ports.
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Thursday, November 3rd, 2022 AT 8:42 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,106 POSTS
Hi,

I noticed we haven't heard from you for a couple of days. Have you been able to make any progress? We're interested in knowing.

Take care,

Joe
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 12:00 AM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
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Hi, sorry for the delay. So far, the code is still on, saying "permanent". I believe it was P2240, or something close to that, saying an issue with one of the check valves. My mechanic went back through and took the valves off, cleaned them and put them back (they are brand new valves they put on). I went and double checked the air pump and that is fine. I just did a universal trip drive (read about it and figured I'd try it) so hopefully I did it right. If not, then I guess cleaning the head and exhaust manifold ports and checking the rest of the exhaust is next.
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 7:58 AM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
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  • 7 POSTS
UTD did not work. Got to say, this is frustrating.
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Can you please get the exact code number from the mechanic?
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 11:48 AM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
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  • 7 POSTS
I'll give him a call tomorrow.
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 1:28 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Sounds good keep us posted.
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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 1:41 PM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Okay, here is everything:
-2013 Chevy Equinox LS, 4 cylinder
-Problem started in spring (did not have the money to fix it, single dad with 4 kids so its been tight)
-Exhaust solenoid changed
-I changed the air pump, and just checked it and its connecting hoses to make sure I did it right
-Both check valves changed
-Runners (not sure what they are exactly) cleaned and a lot of carbon there
-Check valves removed, inspected, cleaned and no issues found
-Current code: P2440, permanent

I've read that code is for a stuck valve at bank 1 or bank 2. Myself, and more importantly my mechanics, are stumped. I only did the air pump myself because it seemed to be the simplest thing that I could do, everything else is over my head.

Thank you for whatever ideas you have! I'm just trying to get this fixed and pass inspection.
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Monday, November 7th, 2022 AT 11:00 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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The code you have now has nothing to do with the blockage you said you replaced the air injection valve. Ethier it's defective or you have loose terminal tightness at the air injection valve connector or a wiring issue. I don't know why the mechanic would have suggested removing the cylinder head for that.
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Monday, November 7th, 2022 AT 1:43 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,582 POSTS
P2440 - Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve Stuck Open, if so, you should be able to remove the valve and blow through it, I would try that first, you could have a defective valve, or something is stuck in it.
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Monday, November 7th, 2022 AT 2:55 PM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
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I went down to talk to them today and scheduled another time to drop my car off. Discussed checking wiring. Both valves open and close normally. The air pump runs both from cold starting the car normally and manually from the computer, and also has good air flow. The fuses are all good. So, I'm still trying to figure it out. Should have more info next week. I've used these guys for 20 years, and trust them, and they are as stumped/frustrated as me.
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Wednesday, November 9th, 2022 AT 9:39 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Keep us posted the code is very specific for the switching valve. Is the code intermittent? Or does the code set right away after clearing it and an air injection cycle on of the air injection on a cold enough start up?
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Thursday, November 10th, 2022 AT 7:27 AM
Tiny
MJDVM2013
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He did reset the codes yesterday, and about 20 seconds after a cold start this morning the light came back on. And that's been the case after any time the codes have been reset.
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Thursday, November 10th, 2022 AT 8:41 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,582 POSTS
P2440 The solenoid (shutoff and check) valve is stuck open or a system leak between the pump and the valve has been detected.

Let's remove the valve and see if you can blow through it? It should not allow flow. Also recheck the hose connections to make sure there are no leaks.

System Fault Detection
The ECM monitors the secondary air injection system for faults during cold start operation. When the system's pressure or relay circuits operations vary too far from the expected values, a DTC will set. Diagnostics detect the following conditions:

A partially or fully blocked or leaking secondary air injection system
A malfunctioning secondary air injection pump
A malfunctioning secondary air injection solenoid (shutoff and check) valve assembly
A malfunctioning secondary air injection pressure sensor
A restricted exhaust system
A malfunctioning secondary air injection pump and secondary air injection valve relay

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Saturday, November 12th, 2022 AT 9:05 AM

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