P0412 Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve A Circuit Malfunction
OBD-II Trouble Code Technical Description
Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve A Circuit Malfunction
What does that mean?
This diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is a generic powertrain code, which means that it applies to OBD-II equipped vehicles. Although generic, the specific repair steps may vary depending on make/model.
The Secondary Air Injection System (AIR) Switching Valve is the computer controlled valve that controls the air injection into the exhaust system of the engine (this valve may be integral to the AIR pump). This code deals with a problem on the circuit of the SOLENOID, not the operation of the AIR pump itself.
The AIR injection system reduces hydrocarbon emissions (HC) Carbon Monoxide (CO) and oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) by injecting fresh air into the exhaust ports of a cold engine or catalytic converter of a warm engine. This helps convert hydrocarbons into water vapor (H20) and Carbon Monoxide to Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
Generally the electric air pump is the most common type, although there may be belt driven air pumps with an electric clutch. The electric air pump is controlled by the PCM (Powertrain control module) which grounds the AIR pump relay control circuit and provides voltage to the AIR pump and solenoid valve (which may control a vacuum operated shut off valve or directly control air flow). There is a check-valve in the fresh air supply tube which prevents exhaust gasses from backing up into the AIR pump.
The PCM monitors the driver that activates the AIR pump for faults. When the PCM commands the AIR pump relay on, the voltage of the control circuit would naturally be pulled close to zero. When the relay is commanded off, the control circuit would have battery voltage present. If the PCM sees a voltage that isn't what is expected, P0412 will set.
Other secondary air injection system trouble codes include P0410, P0411, P0413, P0414, P0415, P0416, P0417, P0418, P0419, P041F, P044F, P0491, and P0492.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a P0412 DTC may include:
MIL (Malfunction indicator lamp) illumination Increase in tailpipe emissions Engine running richCauses
Potential causes of a P0412 code include:
Short to ground on control circuit Short to voltage on control circuit Control circuit open due to damage, etc. Open or short on battery feed circuit to solenoid Open or short on battery feed to relay control circuitPossible Solutions
If you have access to a scan tool, with KOEO (Key on engine off) command the AIR pump solenoid on and off. If the solenoid doesn't operate then unplug the solenoid and using a voltmeter, check for voltage being supplied to the solenoid when commanded on and also for good ground. If there is voltage being supplied and a good ground check for a good connection at the solenoid wiring harness connector. If the connection is good then replace the solenoid. If there is no voltage supplied to the connector when commanding the solenoid on, then find the AIR pump relay and verify that there is fused battery voltage present at the switched side of the circuit that is feeding voltage to the AIR pump.If not, check for blown fuse or open in the wiring. Repair and retest.
If battery voltage is present at the voltage feed side of the relay, then a fast way to check for proper solenoid and AIR pump operation is to use a fused jumper and manually activate it. Do this by jumpering battery voltage to switched AIR pump voltage feed. Usually this is terminals 30 and 87 of the relay schematic (not always). If the solenoid (and possibly the AIR pump) operates, then you know your wiring and solenoid are okay. If it doesn't activate, open the wiring harness and find the open or short in the voltage feed to the AIR pump solenoid and fix it. If jumpering the solenoid to battery voltage act
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