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Old 01-21-2021, 06:54 AM   #2
blue62
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Woodland Wa
Posts: 1,300
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve 986 View Post
1998 Boxster, 81,xxx miles. Have been fighting a persistent CEL with various codes, most common of which is P0150 and P0130. (P1319, 1318, 1316, 1317 were present at the start of all this and have since gone away during troubleshooting) Short term fuel trim runs 25% positive on both sides at idle but at any rpm above idle (currently 800 rpm) fuel trims go to zero then fluctuate within 5%. Long term fuel trims around 3%. Suspect vacuum leak at idle that is so small it goes away with any throttle because of course idle is the maximum suck in the intake. Have checked for unmetered air leaks with smoke multiple times. Found a few minor leaks around clamps on intake manifold crossover and found a crack in the idle air control valve and replaced it. Replaced fuel cap when an evap code popped up in the mix. Have a new AOS and rechecked all the connections. Replaced front O2 sensors with new Bosch and appear to be functioning properly on the real time O2 sensor graph. New MAF sensor, Intake manifold has new seals. Fuel pressure checks out ok. Running out of places to look. Having said all this, the engine is strong and idles perfectly, no hint of a problem other than the CEL. So are the short term fuel trends the clue to this problem, which to me indicates a vacuum leak at idle, or is that just a red herring throwing me off the scent? Thanks in advance for any ideas!
Interesting that your long term fuel trims stay around 3% when your short term fuel trims are maxed out at 25%. It is more common see long term fuel trims follow short term trims. Then as long term trims go positive that brings the short term trims back down.
perhaps that is not happening in your case due to short idle times.

Another thing I see in your post is:
You say it idles perfectly:
But a vacuum leak has the most effect at idle and commonly causes lumpy or high idle.

I do agree that your short term fuel trims do look like a vacuum leak issue.
But your P0150 and P0130 codes are O2 sensor malfunction codes not lean limit codes. At least that is how they read in the Bentley book.
But you replaced the sensors so that is confusing.
What are your O2 sensors doing when come come down from say 2500 RPM to an Idle?

Have you checked for exhaust leaks ahead of the Pre-Cat O2 sensors or leaks at the O2 sensor bung?
An exhaust leak ahead of or at the O2 sensor has the same effect as a vacuum leak on fuel trims.

Last edited by blue62; 01-21-2021 at 07:13 AM.
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