Need Help Pls !

[dee0007]

My car failed emissions.

I m getting check engine light and codes fuel trim lean bank 1 and 2.
So far did crankcase vent valve kit - thinking it was a vacuum leak and changed spark plugs from what the last owner installed bkr6xi to original bkr6equp. After driving for 50km the engine light is back on!

This may be important? When I purchased the car I got the engine light right away and i had a leaky fuel injector issue (after driving the car, when getting back to it had hard time starting and I had to push in gas all the way and keep cranking untill it started). A shop replaced the injectors with used injectors apparently from a 330 and it solved my starting problem. The mechanic that changes my sparkplugs yesterday told me that this may be the issue since there may be different injectors for this engine. Is this a possibility? perhaps a zhp motor had different injectors? I checked realoem and I do not see other options. Either way I m not sure if thats whats causing the fuel trim lean 1 and 2 issue.

any advice suggestions?

[Karl Lazlo]

As I understand it, lean mixture with the codes you are getting are indicative of vacuum leaks. Start with your intake boot, check for tears and leaks.

[GoGators]

#1 suspect should be intake boots, esp the lower one.

its less likely, but possible, that it could be the MAF. mine would intermittently throw the lean codes and the LT (and ST) fuel trims were off. I just got a reman'd MAF from local parts store - solved my problem.

[slater]

good advice from lazlo above.

also, where are you located? you mention KMs. canada? perhaps there is someone nearby that can lend a hand.

[BADCLOWN]

o2 sensors as well

[dee0007]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Checked the intake boots before and replaced the top one, had a tear. Also my mechanic thought it might of been maf, he bought a new one put it on and same codes, returned the new maf since it wasnt the issue.

Might the fuel injectors be the culprit ?

I am from Canada , Toronto area.

[slater]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Checked the intake boots before and replaced the top one, had a tear. Also my mechanic thought it might of been maf, he bought a new one put it on and same codes, returned the new maf since it wasnt the issue.

Might the fuel injectors be the culprit ?

I am from Canada , Toronto area.

the lower boot tears are more common, mine failed there.

injectors could be an issue if the ones that were installed were not correct. i am assuming you have a ZHP? you did not state as such. the part # from the injectors would help us determine where they are from.

i'm 2.5hrs east of toronto.

[GoGators]

did mechanic verify fuel pressure? doubtful that its the problem, but worth checking. Schrader valve on fuel rail, should be 50psi. low pressure bc of pump or regulator would cause lean condition...

[feytr]

I did have same issue as your and I tried everything lower intake, etc then I cleaned MAF sensor with "MAF CLEANER"(Please Do not use Brake Cleaner or something) No check engine light its all good now. Try to clean MAF first.

[dee0007]

I did have same issue as your and I tried everything lower intake, etc then I cleaned MAF sensor with "MAF CLEANER"(Please Do not use Brake Cleaner or something) No check engine light its all good now. Try to clean MAF first.

Thanks, but unfortunately thats not my issue, I have the maf cleaner as well. And like i mentioned above my mechanic purchased a new maf and the codes came up while driving with the new maf. The last thing that im thinking of its a o2 sensor.

[feytr]

Thanks, but unfortunately thats not my issue, I have the maf cleaner as well. And like i mentioned above my mechanic purchased a new maf and the codes came up while driving with the new maf. The last thing that im thinking of its a o2 sensor.

hmm thats weird, is it OEM maf or aftermarket?

[slater]

Thanks, but unfortunately thats not my issue, I have the maf cleaner as well. And like i mentioned above my mechanic purchased a new maf and the codes came up while driving with the new maf. The last thing that im thinking of its a o2 sensor.

i keep going back to the lean codes. gotta be a vacuum leak somewhere.

[Jconlin16]

Have you checked your disa valve yet? I had lean bank 1 & 2 codes that turned out to be the disa valve o-ring and a flappy valve. I rebuilt it with a g.a.s. unit and haven't had an issue since!

[Sockethead]

I think you need to pull the lower boot and check it, since that is such a common issue, it needs to be eliminated as a cause before moving on.

[dee0007]

the lower boot was checked and I had the engine smoked to confirm vacuum leak

[daveuls10]

Have you checked the vacuum line that connects from your f connector in your intake boot to your fuel filter? I had lean codes for the longest time until I changed my fuel filter a few weeks back and noticed that my vacuum line was torn. Once I replaced that vacuum line and reset the codes, the car was no longer throwing lean codes anymore.

[slater]

the lower boot was checked and I had the engine smoked to confirm vacuum leak

cool. the smoke test would obviously confirm any vacuum leaks.

the pre-cat O2 sensors might be the next best spot; they are a good maintenance item to do, regardless.

[Scott ZHP]

If you have confirmed no air leaks, and ruled out the MAF, I'd be looking at fuel delivery as the next most likely culprit.

Wonky pre-cat O2 sensors can report faulty lean codes, but on both banks would suggest they're both failing at the same time, which would be rare. As mentioned, it's a good maintenance item to replace precat O2 sensors and they are simple enough to change. Test your fuel pressure at the rail and let us know the reading; should be 48-52psi, key on engine off. When was the last time the fuel filter was changed? Lean codes imply either too much air for the correct amount of fuel, or too little fuel for the correct amount of air.

I had a lean code on my E53 w/M54 engine that drove me nuts. No air leaks, recently rebuilt GAS DISA, newish MAF, new fuel filter, good fuel delivery. Turned out to be a rubber o-ring that seals the plastic intake muffler to the upper intake boot. It got pushed back and sucked into the lower boot and lodged in the throttle body preventing the throttle plate from fully closing... huge air leak. Found it with my $60 el-cheapo Walmart borescope. That one drove me nuts.

[dee0007]

As mentioned from the beginning , I had a leaky fuel injector issue , had the injectors replaced from a used engine, my mechanic noticed that they are not from the right engine, the original e46 injectors are purple, the ones that were replaced are not! they are black which means possibly from a 328 or something. Hard to trust ppl these days when they say they are using parts from the same engine.

Most likely this might be the culprit. When I replace them w the purple ones, Ill update.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

[slater]

As mentioned from the beginning , I had a leaky fuel injector issue , had the injectors replaced from a used engine, my mechanic noticed that they are not from the right engine, the original e46 injectors are purple, the ones that were replaced are not! they are black which means possibly from a 328 or something. Hard to trust ppl these days when they say they are using parts from the same engine.

Most likely this might be the culprit. When I replace them w the purple ones, Ill update.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

good stuff - hope that fixes it. makes sense if they are not the right flow rate.

[feytr]

When did you replace your vcg?

[feytr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3GYfPwjZXs

watch this it might be vcg.

[dee0007]

Hey guys , car passed emissions. Wrong fuel injectors were installed causing this issue, too bad I didnt realize it sooner before spending $1000 to find the issue. Most likely different CC.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[feytr]

Hey guys , car passed emissions. Wrong fuel injectors were installed causing this issue, too bad I didnt realize it sooner before spending $1000 to find the issue. Most likely different CC.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

glad to hear you found it. :fistpump

[slater]

great news. and you got some maintenance done in the process. :)