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Old 05-10-08, 11:30 PM
wildrage wildrage is offline
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Cadillac(s): 2001 Catera Sport, 1993 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe (N*)
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Re: 2000 Catera Check engine code "P0411"

It is the secondary air injection system. There are only a few things it could be:

The secondary air injection pump
The air check valve
The air control valve
Any of the vacuum connection leading to the air control valve.
O2 sensors (although unlikely, they usually throw a code on their own)


The pump is located on the bottom of the driver's side front fenderwall. It has a hose leading up to the air control valve. This valve is mounted to the fan on the radiator. The valve has 2 or 3 vacuum ports on it. Make sure each port is plugged in, and that the port that it leads to (I beleive they all go to the air intake setup near the throttle body) is connected as well.

The secondary air injection system is purely an emissions device. It injects air into the exhaust manifold when the car first starts and when it's been idling for more than a minute. The newly introduced air causes the 02 sensors to run lean. If the computer does not see a lean condition it causes the P0411 code. This is why it could (but probably isn't) bad 02's. I think it usually throws the code after 4 or 5 missed readings..usually a day or 2 after the code is reset (with normal driving).

If it were me I would do the following in this order:

1. Check the connections to the Air control valve, which is bolted onto the radiator fan between the radiator and the throttel body (slighty off center towards the driver's side).

2. Check the hose going from the AIR pump to the Air control valve to be sure it's connected.

3. Verify that the AIR pump is operational (either by hooking current up to it or waiting for it to come on). They sometimes may suck in water, as they are located towards the bottom of the car - this kills them.

4. Replace either the air control valve or the air pump, depending on how your tests go. They are relatively expensive, but won't totally break the bank.

Hope this helps.
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