I keep getting a CEL for the vapor recovery system but when tested it seems to hold vacuum just fine for 1+ hours. Has anyone else run into this problem and figured out the cause?

 

please post the code, model and MY...as well as any mods you have done.

 

Yeah, it's definitely the right thing to check the code. Mine was doing the same thing when I would start it in the morning and then when i would restart after stopping for coffee it would usually go away. One day when I didn't I stopped by my mechanic's and he pulled a code for the MAF sensor and reset it. I then just cleaned the connectors with contact cleaner and it hasn't done it since.

 

It seems like he did pull the code to tell us "vapor recovery system." This can come from not tightening the gas cap, or a slight leak there. Try cleaning the seal and putting a little vaseline on it before replacing it.

This might not solve the problem, but it can't hurt and it takes < 5 minutes.

Jon

 

Well the vapor thing was what the dealer told me over the phone, but I have cleared and let it regenerate the codes twice now, and read them myself. I get:

P0491
Porsche fault code 80 - Secondary-air system bank 1
P0492
Porsche fault code 208 - Secondary-air system bank 2

 

I am leaning towards the DV's as the source of the leaks - obviously it would be nice to do a repair where I'm improving something rather than just replacing something that is worn out. My car is sub-19k miles but it's a 2002 so stuff is getting old if not terribly abused.

Anyone have any suggestions for narrowing this down? It does seem to be a fair number of possible parts. I found one post that talked about using one of the factory diagnostic tools to run checks on the valves and whatnot, I'm wondering if I can replicate that with some of the functionality in the durametric interface....

I wish it weren't so damn cold right now, now I need to get a heater for my garage,.

 

From the codes you posted, it seems unlikely that the DV's are causing the problem.

You probably have a vacuum leak, or possibly a problem with a fuse or relay, based on my reading of the manual. I've attached the diagnostic manual section for code 0491, and the schematic of the vacuum system.

Hope this helps.

Jon