I'm replacing my Opti right now, and since you have to remove the air pump to get to everything on this damn car it seems. I've decided it's just in the way. So, I don't have emissions here in Kansas, so, can I just remove the air pump and all it's piping, and just block off the holes on the exhaust manifolds? Will it just trigger a code becuase I can live w/ the SES light on, it's been on the whole time i've had the car anyways for a rear O2 sensor anyways. I just want to know what it might cause before I leave it out. That'll save a little space. Not that I care about that, it's just less to put back on the car too.

Thanks,
Nick

 

Its just an SES light. The pump is only operating basically at startup so it wont hurt performace any. Ive had mine off for months now...no problems, just a light.

 

Will it hurt gas mileage at all?

 

No, will not hurt gas mileage. It only runs for a couple minutes at startup to help the cats heat up faster. Leaving it in operation has no negative effect on performance. Removing it has no positive or negative effect, except for a 7# weight reduction.

You can have the code programmed out of the PCM, to turn the SES light off. Generally a good idea to keep the SES light off, so that if you have a serious problem that might reduce performance or risk damage to the engine, you will be aware of it.

 

If I'm not mistaken when the SES light is on the PCM operates in open loop only?

 

Maybe I am just lucky, but I removed mine last winter when I installed my headers and I dont even throw a code for it I made sure to remove all of the things that it connected to (solenoids and such) and I dont have my SES light for that. (it is still on for no rear O2s and no EGR, but it doesn't say a thing about the AIR). As far as the last post about operating in open loop when the SES light is on, I do not believe so, but am not sure. If anyone knows differently, please post! Thanks and good luck.

 

No codes, no problems or ill performance since I have had mine off, it's been a couple years or so now...

But I have an OBD-I computer, so not sure if that helped with not throwing the code...

 

To my knowledge, the PCM does not default to open loop when the SES light is on. The light can be on for several things that have nothing to do with engine operation.

In the 93-95 OBD-I cars, you will not get a code or SES light for disconnecting the AIR pump, as long as you have a good fuse in the circuit. In OBD-II, you will normally get a code, because the PCM diagnostic routine turns the AIR pump on and looks for a change in O2 content in the exhaust to verify air flow. 1quickTA seems to have got lucky.

 

So removing won't hurt gas mileage, thats good. I want to get rid of it, it is weird when i put the key in the "on" position and then turn it back off and hear the thing like have a loud, whining type of noise. Is that normal? It has been like that on both LT1's I have had.

 

The pumps rust and the bearings get rough, and eventually sieze up..... so a loud noise isn't unusual.

 

I got an SES light as well, no biggie. I just pulled the AIR fuse and all has been fine.