Thanks, Sending request for coverage/reimbursment.

 

When does this pump turn off? What triggers it?

 

you need to understand the basic operation before asking random question:

let's keep it simple: the most "smelly" or "bad" emission from your tail pipe is during a cold start, when the cat is not in the operational temperture. this is where the air pumps comes in, it triggers on during cold start to heat up the cat as fast as possible to reduce the cold start emission.

i guess it's wired into the car's motor temp sensor or some sort and controlled by ECU.

you should able to pinpoint the exact answer if you have a service manual(and know how to read basic diagram)

 

I've gone through several pumps this way (they all melt the case when the impeller gets off center, like in Bill's pic), this last time the code was P0410. I replaced the latest pump last weekend but the CEL didn't go out and I don't hear the pump running... I think this time I blew the fuse, so I need to dig around for that one.

 

Did you get any help from Honda?

 

I didn't realize the emissions warranty lasted through 80k miles, so I could have gotten at least one, if not two, pumps for free.

 

I would expect that you can use the paperwork trail to get a refund from Honda. I still don't understand how a dealership can overlook the emissions issue - I'd be looking hard at a different shop...

 

nearest option is 40 miles away. Will go to AMS and eliminate need for this worthless yet expensive pump.

 

hello. nick.

secondary air injection system error is quite common and I've seen it around many times. newer models don't have it no more. only the older models like yours and mine.

I had the issue with it for many years before I had to get my RED inspected. the system is activated when the car is just started and coolent temperature is cold. it does make high pitch sound and it goes away within 1 minute or 2 depend on ambient temperature. it is a system to help your car burn the un-burned fuel by injecting more oxygen.

most of time, sensors are not faulty ones - I replaced every sensors to check and all were working fine (big waste of money). it is the impeller that's behind bumper cover on driver's side (US model), assuming all the hoses were connected correctly, for most of time. for mine, I think it sucked the water into it time to time and it got rusted. some have reported that it melted.

1st thing you should do is, check for fuses under the hood. make sure they are OK. check for vaccum hoses. many people swap their hoses while they install CAI. then check for circuitry - helm's manual describes it in detail.

the pump, impeller, is about $500. sometimes you could pick used one for much cheaper price. replacing it is much easier than clearing headlights. I hope it helps.

 

For whatever reason, the impeller goes off-center or the casing is momentarily twisted out of round, enough so that the impeller rubs against the casing. The case is a low-temp plastic and the friction causes the casing to melt (the impeller typically looks fine, probably a different material than the casing). Once melted, it whips into an airy froth that gets distributed around the impeller, where it cools and siezes the impeller. The next turn on causes a high current draw (which sometimes causes the fuse to pop), leading to a CEL.