Check engine light on after ITG install

[2sporty]

Hi guys, my P0171 check engine light came on with the recent install of the ITG induction kit. I installed all 3 vacuum caps and made sure the MAF was clean. I reset the check engine light a few times after it came on. It lights up right after I reset it and restart the car. I turn the car on, wait 20 seconds, and it lights up again. I've driven about 200 miles to see if it would turn off automatically, but it hasn't yet. Any suggestions or comments about similar experiences?

[qball]

No issues with my install. I am trying to remember the installation.

Check your connections. I know with the ForcedFed, it's possible to install the tube with the MAF backwards. Don't think that this is possible with the ITG kit.

There were a "few" ITG kits that came with the MAF bung welded slightly incorrectly, causing improper airflow across the MAF. This "could' be the case with your kit. I would check with Shinoo at Sector111

I assume you reconnected the Vacuum sensor to the wiring harness and capped off the ports?

And I assume you capped off the port on the back of the intake manifold? the one that is hard to see and reach?

You could try disconnecting your battery for about 10 minutes to reset the computer codes.

Also.. you need to let the engine idle for about 5-10 minutes with the new intake for the ECU to learn the new settings.

[qball]

Also... when you said the MAF was clean.... did you attempt to clean it? Hope not!

Finally.. and i don't think this makes a difference... did you position the MAF on the top or side of the intake. And did you check the o-ring for the MAF?

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by qball

Also... when you said the MAF was clean.... did you attempt to clean it? Hope not!

Finally.. and i don't think this makes a difference... did you position the MAF on the top or side of the intake. And did you check the o-ring for the MAF?

Thanks for the input. I just used a Q-tip with alcohol to clean it. It looked clean already. Why does it matter if i clean it agian?

I made sure the MAF was on the right side, and vacuum tubes were sealed off.

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by 2sporty

Thanks for the input. I just used a Q-tip with alcohol to clean it. It looked clean already. Why does it matter if i clean it agian?

I made sure the MAF was on the right side, and vacuum tubes were sealed off.

I also checked that there was an O ring in good condition, and i screwed in the MAF tightly.

[qball]

I don't believe that you are supposed to even touch the MAF. It is extremely sensitive (as per a few posts I read on Elise talk). You may have f-ed up the MAF sensor with the Q-tip.

Just going by what I have read here. I will try and see if I can find a few reference posts regarding the MAF.

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by qball

I don't believe that you are supposed to even touch the MAF. It is extremely sensitive (as per a few posts I read on Elise talk). You may have f-ed up the MAF sensor with the Q-tip.

Just going by what I have read here. I will try and see if I can find a few reference posts regarding the MAF.

I just noticed that the OBDII reader only reads the P0171 after I clear it and when I rev the engine above idle.

[qball]

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=maf

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=maf

The above posts show that your fault code can occur if the MAF is off!
It also shows if the MAF bung is slightly off, it can induce this error.

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=maf

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...&highlight=maf

[qball]

I think cleaning involves spray only (carb cleaner).... no touchy! The wires up inside are "very" sensitive!

[qball]

One more thought. I tossed and turned last night and thought about this.

Make sure that the silcone connector sleeve is connected properly on both the the ITG intake and the engine manifold. When I first seated mine, it appeared as if it were on correct, but on the back side, there it wasn't seated nearly at all. Had I left it like that, there would have been huge crack for air to seep in and f-up the fuel metering.

So, I think your three places to look are...

1. You f-ed up the MAF with the q-tip
2. The ITG intake has a crooked MAF bung and the air isn't being metered properly
3. Vacuum leak somewhere (i.e., improperly capped vacuum ports, or incorrectly installed silicone connector sleave.).

One solution is to find someone else with a Lotus in your area and temporarily swap MAF sensors and see if that clears up the situation.

I am not sure how much they cost. You could always spring for one at your local Toyota dealership. I think it is around $30 or so!

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by qball

One more thought. I tossed and turned last night and thought about this.

Make sure that the silcone connector sleeve is connected properly on both the the ITG intake and the engine manifold. When I first seated mine, it appeared as if it were on correct, but on the back side, there it wasn't seated nearly at all. Had I left it like that, there would have been huge crack for air to seep in and f-up the fuel metering.

So, I think your three places to look are...

1. You f-ed up the MAF with the q-tip
2. The ITG intake has a crooked MAF bung and the air isn't being metered properly
3. Vacuum leak somewhere (i.e., improperly capped vacuum ports, or incorrectly installed silicone connector sleave.).

One solution is to find someone else with a Lotus in your area and temporarily swap MAF sensors and see if that clears up the situation.

I am not sure how much they cost. You could always spring for one at your local Toyota dealership. I think it is around $30 or so!

Thanks for your help. I must have started and stopped the car 50 times yesterday trying to fix it I checked #3, the hoses are on correctly all the way around and the 3 vacuum caps are fully on. I switched the rubber gasket on the MAF to the one that ITG provided, which seemed to provide a tighter fit, but the light still came back on after I reset it with the OBD II device. I will try to find someone with a MAF when I can.

At this point, I don't think that the light will automatically shut off later anymore. I have already put over 300 miles on the car and when I drive it with the OBD II plugged it, it reads the P0171 code coming in about every 20 seconds. The P0171 code is not seen when the car idles though. I have also read almost every post on this board and newcelica.org on P0171 and the MAF. Like you said, some of the celica guys say that the MAF bung may be welded crooked or that there may be a leak somewhere in that area.

I will keep everyone updated.

[qball]

Other than that, I am out of ideas.

Last advice... Call Shinoo at Sector111.

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by qball

Other than that, I am out of ideas.

Last advice... Call Shinoo at Sector111.

I took the car to my friend who has an elise and put my MAF sensor on his car. It worked fine. I was constantly using the OBD to download any engine codes, and none came.

The only thing that i can think of now is that something on the ITG tube is not right..

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by 2sporty

I took the car to my friend who has an elise and put my MAF sensor on his car. It worked fine. I was constantly using the OBD to download any engine codes, and none came.

The only thing that i can think of now is that something on the ITG tube is not right..

the check engine light actually came on 2 drives after I installed the ITG. I went to fill up on a tank of gas at shell (91 octane) right before the light came on. So I will fill up again since I am almost empty, and see if the new tank of gas fixes it.

[qball]

I hope it wasn't your gas cap being loose?

[2sporty]

Originally Posted by qball

I hope it wasn't your gas cap being loose?

Nope, tightened that a few times.

[2sporty]

So I just filled up on a new tank of gas and that didn't fix it. I plan to talk to the people at sector111 and seeing if they have any suggestions on how to fix it. If it can't be fixed, i'll probably go back to stock. The rough idle is getting to me.

[MotorCade]

Try filling up with premium at a Union 76 gas station. Their premium is listed at 91 octane, but it's really 92 or 93. Run a tank through, maybe that will help?

Here's a quick trick to check if it's installed securely with no leaks... Get some carb cleaner and spray it around anywhere you think you might have a intake leak (where the engine could be sucking in more air) while the engine is running. If the engine revs, you have a leak at that point.

Cade

[Jack]

Originally Posted by qball

I hope it wasn't your gas cap being loose?

No, it's not his gas cap -- that would be a different code. Code P0171 signifies a "too lean" condition.

This isn't the first reported case of this code/CEL following installation of the ITG. Some cars have had this problem and others not, even though everything was installed properly. If you run the OBD scanner in real time, you'll notice that the fuel trim at certain RPM's needs to be adjusted more than 17%. If this occurs over two driving cycles, this will trigger the CEL.

Try resetting the CEL with the scanner and driving the car for a 100-200 miles at moderate, varying (but not constant cruising) speeds, off the cams and see what happens. I've been told this may allow the car's ECU to learn. I have my doubts this will work, but who knows. My problem is I can't keep off the cams.

[eliseowner2b]

Might I ask what scanning tool you are using? Off subject a bit but I'm interested in having one.