Component Identification Advise

[DustyBags]

Hi

I have a 2001 996 3.4L C2, I've only owned the car for a couple of weeks. Today the engine check light came on with no obvious symptoms. I have a very basic code reader and the fault codes were P1128 and P1130.

After a search of Google (and a moment of scaring myself silly with air oil separator story's causing catastrophic engine failure) I started to look for the cause maybe a possible vacuum leak.

There is a component on the o/s of the engine compartment suspended just above the engine. It has one hose going to it and a second hose tail that looks like it may of once had a hose on? I have attached the photo. Maybe somebody could advise me what this is and if there should be a hose attached?

I have cleared the fault codes and taken a half an hour drive, the fault had not returned although I have done nothing to rectify it.

Many thanks in advance for you help

[Loren]

That looks like it may be part of the sport exhaust system.

If so, then one side should go tot he intake (for vacuum) and the other side should go to a "Y" connector that splits into two lines - one to each vacuum controlled valve on each muffler (one on each side).

[DustyBags]

Many thanks for your guidance, I will investigate further

tomorrow, I know that the exhaust system is not the original. Will the vacuum valves be standard on all exhaust systems? I know the previous owner recently had the exhaust replaced.

[Loren]

No, only Porsche Sport Exhaust (PSE) on and off by the electrical solenoid switching the vacuum valves on each muffler.

[DustyBags]

Okay, i don't have a PSE exhaust. Do I not need to worry about the missing pipe? Should it be blanked off?

[RFM]

I would shut this section off to be sure.

[Ronnie38]

I'm no expert on the water cooled engines, But if you do block it off, what for error codes. A lot of newer cars post "65" the emissions control systems will port to outside air to get a reading, If you have a service manual check it for that sensor. Some times emissions codes will pop up with bad gas or a major change in the atmosphere pressure This winter has been a *****!   

[Orient Express]

Yes, that is the PSE muffler baffle solenoid.  Behind it should also be a vacuum tank.  

 

[Loren]

It looks like someone removed the PSE and did not properly shutoff the vacuum line(s). As RFM said those should be properly plugged to prevent vacuum leaks (and fault codes).

[DustyBags]

Thanks everbody for your advise, I'm very grateful.

I have blanked off the unused vacuum hose tail with a diesel injector rubber blanking plug and cleaned the MAF sensor for good measure. Done a few miles and no sign of the check light.

Ill keep the post updated if any changes occur to help anybody with a similar problem in the future. Fingers crossed though that's it fixed.

Thanks again

[san rensho]

To check if the unplugged module was causing the vacuum leak, remove the plug and look at the MAF reading and fuel trims (FRA/RKAT)then plug the hole, If the Maf reading goes up and the RKAT/FRA readings go down then that was your vacuum leak.