Question about Secondary Air Pump

[Tominizer]

Bringing this thread back from the dead................

I have actually rebuilt my secondary air pump with one from an 330ci that was working and changed the valve to a new one from the stealership .........AND still gettting the codes. I have an '02 3.0i. I've checked the vacuum line and couldn't find cracking.......... mind you, I also could get to the end of it as it goes around the back of the head........... anyone been able to do that yet on a 3.0i ????? If so, how did you do it ?

Also, need to change the filter on the pump intake side. Not sure if that has EVER been done actually. Anyone done this ??? I would think a blocked intake could throw codes as no air is getting in........... maybe also even burn out an air pump ?!?!??!? Thoughts.............


Also noticed there's a lot of Canadians in this thread............... hmmmmm. I'm from the Toronto area.

[Brit6]

I would try to aquire a used Secondary Air Pump from either a junk yard or ebay. Make sure it is the same part number as yours. If the valve is changed already (with a new one) then this should fix your problem.

I can't comment on rebuilding the pump as i have never attemped to do this before. Good luck, this is what fixed my problem, my CEL has not come on since changing it.

[mark scheurer]

I just had these codes, replaced the valve even though it tested OK. Figured it had some carbon build-up and was sticking intermittently. The pump was working fine. Don't replace the pump if it works!

Codes came back on after the new valve was put in and all the rubber hoses still looked good. It turns out that the narrow metal tubes that carry the pumped air into the exhaust had a bunch of carbon build-up in them and this was causing the low-flow situation triggering the codes. Ran a bunch of water through them and a bunch of sludge came out, then plenty of air. Codes are off and haven't come back on for several days so I think this was the problem.

Those of you with these troublesome codes may want to check this out as part of your troubleshooting. FYI, my X5 is a 2001 3.0 with 122k.

[rrman]

"

..." mind you, I also could get to the end of it as it goes around the back of the head........... anyone been able to do that yet on a 3.0i ????? If so, how did you do it ?"

HAS anyone been able to get behind the head to fix these hoses, and is the electric valve back there as well?

Thanks

[nebilex]

My Secondary air valve is bad and the air pump is over working (as someone described it, it sounds like a bad shopvac), I have ordered a new valve but in the mean time I want to disconnect the air pump so that i'm not killing it... does anyone know what effect that will have on the engine in general? Is it going to run rough, rich etc.. The valve will be here next week so in the mean time I want to shut the pump off assuming it won't affect the way the car runs.... is there a relay that I can remove or do I just unplug the pump?

Thanks