Anyone have this problem? In 20,000 miles (about 3 years) I have replaced the passenger side check valve 3 times because it keeps getting plugged and popping the SES light. Whenever I take it off it is almost impossible to blow through.

Anybody who suggests I just block the system off - I am in NJ and need to pass inspection so that's not an option.

 

How bad is the carbon/ soot buildup?

 

It's bad enough that it restricts most of the airflow when I try to blow through. A couple of times I soaked and cleaned it with Deep Creep and got some crud out - it helped enough to reset the SES - but it comes back quickly.

I just did plugs - and the ds and ps banks look the same. I have no other SES codes.

The passenger side is the problem.

 

Do you have a scan master? How are the 02 sensors? Sounds like that soot build up is the result of running rich.

Injector problems? Any modifications?

 

I don't have a scan master - no modifications beyond exhaust. But as I pointed out in my last post the plugs in both banks looked the same when I changed them. If its running rich wouldn't the plugs show it? Actually - if anything the plugs read on the lean side.

The only other thing that I have is a stumble when cold if I push beyond about 1/3 throttle - it clears up after a few minutes of running. I don't know if thats related or not.

 

if you were rich, the spark plugs and o2s would have a dry black soot on them.

and by, "beyond exhaust" do you mean you do or do not have exhaust modifications... if so what kind?

 

Only mod is a Magnaflow cat back - everything else is stock. I have changed the plugs twice in the 20k+ miles that I have owned the car. Both times - definitely no soot on the plugs.