Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Clean secondary valves?

I've done a ton of work over the last year getting my car clear of CEL's and running well again. I replaced the IMRC, MAF, and finally a new computer. The car has been running well for a few months now, but a few weeks ago I got the infamous P1518, secondaries stuck open, again. I tweaked on the cable a bit, and had AZ clear the code for me. It was good for a few weeks, but it did it again the other day. Once again I tweaked the cable a bit and had the code cleared. That lasted 4-days. I'm getting REALLY tired of this BS.

I thought I remembered reading that I could possibly clean the secondary valves. Is this what I should be looking at? Other suggestions? She's running great besides this. I may be selling her in the next few months (I've got an opportunity for a killer deal on a Maxima SE), and I would like to get this cleared up so the next owner doesn't have to pull their hair out dealing with this stupid code. Thanks!

this may be of some help

click here

Thanks! I guess I didn't realize IM was related. My mechanic has a cleaning they will do that covers all that stuff for $100. I'm going to give that a try.

I concur with this.

Berryman's B12 and a length of vac. hose that fits snug into the 'holes' (there's two of them) on the top of the UIM.

The car will NOT start (and will cut out whilst running) IF you take either of these vac. lines out from the UIM. Hence the need to 'fully then slightly pinch' the line with a vise grips -- to keep the engine running AND yet allow it to 'sip' the cleaner from out of the can too.

Note, B12 _doesn't_ make a lot of smoke ...but if you use "SEAFOAM" --- whoah baby! --- you have been warned!

Make absolutely sure that you re-insert both vac. lines SNUGLY into the UIM -- OTHERWISE the car will not start and/or may run very rough.

If everything works out well ...you WILL notice a difference in the 'stability' of the idle and in the ease of revving etc. etc.

Gerry

Thanks for the help. I had my mechanic do a thorough IM cleaning. Everything seems to be running well now, and the code is gone. Hopefully it stays gone. Thanks!