Secondary Air Injection

[Teach]

Hi, I've been browsing here for a couple of weeks and thought I would join in. I recently bought a plain Jane black 98 Boxster 5 spd. Unfortunately the check engine light was on and I foolishly believed the guy who sold it to me when he said it was always on but still passed smog etc. Of course being OBDII it won't even test with the cursed light on. It kept coming back with the secondary air injection (I believe 410) code. I took it to a foreign car shop and they referred me to a porsche only mechanic. Needless to say he is an old time porsche mechanic and seems totally lost as to what the problem is. Several hundred dollars later he was able to clear the monitors long enough for it to smog but told me he couldn't fix it permenantly for under 4 grand. He thinks there is a problem with the injection system being carboned up where it enters the exhaust valves and he has to take out the motor and completely tear it down in order to fix the problem. Frankley I'm not all that confident in his diagnosis. The car runs fantastic doesn't smoke or use any oil. Does anyone here have any thoughts on what the problem might be. My mechanic and myself have checked all the hoses for leaks and I'm stymied.

Teach in Las Vegas

[porscheneer]

Pull the codes and list them all definitively. there is no point in speculating and going after the problem without a full list. Is the secondary injection for both banks or just one?P0410 Secondary Air Injection System - Signal Implausible (Cylinders 1 - 3)

If you list all teh codes you would hava better idea. Did you buy from a dealer?

Hopefully Some of the GURU's will help you with what the causes may be for your symptoms

Edited February 15, 2005 by porscheneer

[LVDell]

Where did you take your car? In Vegas? As for the $4K quote. That is ludicrous since the mechanic didn't even know what it was. He just put a random number on it! Anyway, back to the point. Let me know a bit more and where you took it. Then we can go form there.

[Teach]

Where did you take your car?  In Vegas?  As for the $4K quote.  That is ludicrous since the mechanic didn't even know what it was.  He just put a random number on it!  Anyway, back to the point.  Let me know a bit more and where you took it.  Then we can go form there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I bought it from a private party for 17k, thought it was a deal ha ha ha! Originally I took it to Meyers on Boulder hwy. I've had good luck with them in the past, but they didn't want to touch it. They recommended that I take it to Tony and Son's on Boulder Hwy and Lamb. The only code I have is the 0410 that I got from the smog booth. I think I'll be investing in a code reader, any suggestions?

[LVDell]

If you want to stay away from the dealer take it to Carl's Place on Meade Ave (876-7982). They are a local PCA sponsor and do a lot of tech sessions as well. Great shop that does ONLY porsche for over 30 years. If I had to take my car anywhere but the dealer (since I am still in warranty) I would take it to Carl.

[Teach]

If you want to stay away from the dealer take it to Carl's Place on Meade Ave (876-7982).  They are a local PCA sponsor and do a lot of tech sessions as well.  Great shop that does ONLY porsche for over 30 years.  If I had to take my car anywhere but the dealer (since I am still in warranty) I would take it to Carl.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's not that I have anything against the dealer, but at $110 an hour I'd like results. From some of the posts I've read it seems the dealer can chase a problem just like an independent. If they had the golden bullet I'd take it to Gaudin in an instant. I just may give your guy a try. That's the Lake Mead on the North side correct? I'm in Henderson on the South side.

[LVDell]

3043 Meade Ave. It's off of DI and Valley View

[Teach]

3043 Meade Ave.  It's off of DI and Valley View

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gotcha, thanks for the info. What are you driving? How are the clubs here in Vegas?

[LVDell]

Driving a 996CAB. I am pretty active here in the local PCA chapter. You should consider joining PCA since the local chapter has no dues and is included in your PCA membership. Not to mention, Pano is a great magazine. There is a new member breakfast in a couple weeks. Let me know if you are interested and I will get you the details.

Cheers,

Dell

[Teach]

Driving a 996CAB.  I am pretty active here in the local PCA chapter.  You should consider joining PCA since the local chapter has no dues and is included in your PCA membership.  Not to mention, Pano is a great magazine.  There is a new member breakfast in a couple weeks.  Let me know if you are interested and I will get you the details.

Cheers,

Dell

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd definitely be interested. I went to the PCA home page and was looking at all the info and registration forms.

Does anyone know who does good body and paint in Vegas?

Thanks

[LVDell]

Exoticar (on S. Highland) is the ONLY place I would deal with in Vegas. They specialize in P-Cars, Ferrari's, Aston's, MB, etc. I have used them several times. The dealer will tell you the same thing.

When you register for PCA on the national page you specify the local chapter (based on where you live...Las Vegas) and then you are automatically enrolled in local chapter.

The new member breakfast is March 5th. Here is a link for the LVPCA chapter and a link for the latest pdf file of the local newsletter.

http://vista.pca.org/lvs/

For the newsletter, click on "Sandscipt" on the navigation menu down the left.

[patelk]

I too have had the same problem. My check engine light is on and the two codes that come up are P0410 and P1411. The description is secondary air injection system signal implausible cylinders 1-3 and 4-6. I'm just a college student and I have no clue what this means. I don't want to take it to the dealer if I can fix it myself. Any suggestions?

[LVDell]

Fix it yourself? Are you kidding? You just said you have no clue what this means yet you want to fix it. Not a good idea. Guessing what is wrong then trying to fix that guess could end up with more problems that you care for.

Take it to a reputable shop that SPECIALIZES in your car (namely Porsche) so the experts can tell you what is wrong and give you an estimate. You are not obligated to do the work if it sounds to pricey. Then get a second opinion. These are finely tuned machines that are not intended for guess repairs to be performed.

If cost is an issue for maintaing the car, then you might want to re-think you financial priorities being in college.