The secondary air injection pump or SAI pump reduces the carbon emissions that come out of a vehicle’s exhaust. The air injection pump in the car also helps in increasing the efficiency of the catalytic converter. If your vehicle has a bad secondary air pump, then hydrocarbon fumes will come out in an excessive amount from the exhaust.
It is easy to recognise secondary air injection pump failure if you know the symptoms to look out for. Before learning the symptoms, let’s get to know the location of the secondary air injection pump.
Secondary Air Injection Pump Location
The main purpose of the SAI pump is to prevent hydrocarbons from reaching the environment and reduce carbon footprints. Often secondary air injection pumping is called pollution pumping for this reason. The secondary air injection pump is usually placed near the engine. However, it may sometimes be hidden in the engine bay.
Five Common Symptoms of a Bad Secondary Air Pump
If you see any of the following symptoms, there is a chance of having a bad secondary injection pump in your vehicle.
Emissions Test Failed
The secondary air injection pump decreases the amount of hydrocarbons in your emissions system; hence, if it goes bad then the emission system will release more hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. Besides, the emission test will also appear failed due to the bad secondary air pump.
Low Acceleration
Another common bad secondary air pump symptom is low acceleration. This happens due to an unequal air to fuel ratio in your combustion engine. In case your vehicle doesn’t have fuel, the engine will struggle to generate acceleration each time you press the pedal.
It is important to note here that there could be several reasons for poor acceleration; however, there is definitely a possibility of secondary air injection pump failure. A bad air injection pump can cause a stumble on acceleration and reduction in power output.
Check Engine Light
Your engine warning light will be the first thing that will tell you about the bad secondary air injection. The engine control module or ECM can automatically detect the problem with the secondary air injection pump.
You may get an error code P0410 if the SIA pump of a vehicle malfunctions. However, this code can also come for other reasons such as bad oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.
Engine Stall
You may also come across inconsistent engine power deviations due to a bad secondary air pump. This condition may lead to engine stalling. The failed secondary air injection pump can cause fluctuation in power. For instance, in one minute your vehicle is performing well and in the other minute, you may face a drop in revs. Thus, you need to replace the pump to avoid continuous engine stalls and ensure a smooth drive.
Low Idle
The normal speed of an idle engine is around 600 rpm to 1000 rpm. Thus, you need to check the tachometer and notice the current rpm when your car’s engine is idling. If you notice a drop in rpm, then there is a chance of having a secondary air injection system malfunction.
How to Fix a Secondary Air Injection
One thing you can do to fix the bad secondary air injection pump is to check and replace the fuses if needed. Besides, you can also fix the control valve or clean it for better performance. Also for a temporary fix, you can replace damaged hoses or patch small leaks.
However, it is best to take your vehicle to the nearby car repair centre and get the secondary air injection pump fixed by a professional mechanic. The cost of a new secondary injection air pump starts from AED 500; however, the labour cost may vary.
With this, we conclude our list of bad secondary air pump symptoms. If your vehicle needs other expensive repairs then consider replacing it with a well maintained used car for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s popular car blog for more car repair tips.
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