i know theres already a ton of threads asking about the air emissions system, but i dont think thie question i have is on here.
so basically, i tried taking off those air injection pipes from my headers, because i wanted to free up some space, and ive also heard people say you can do that cause it frees some hp and gas milage, but i found out that was bs. i started getting codes, and the car runs like crap. so im putting those air injection pipes back on. but my question is i only have the pipes on the driver side headers right now, (which is where the 02 sensor is located) but not the passenger side ones. i though just having that one side with pipes would fix it, but its throwing a code saying its running too lean (which is code 44), and im getting a code for either an alternator fault, or an egr fault, (code 53).
now i know theres 2 ports on the air pump diverter valve, and i know that the right port is supposed to go to BOTH injection pipes, but i just have that one port running to that one on the driver side. is there too much air going through those pipes that makes the 02 sensor tell me its running too lean?

sorry if my descriptions are too confusing, i tried my best.

 

Removal of the A.I.R. shouldn't throw any codes. You have some other problem...

 

Not related.

Sounds like maybe you disturbed an electrical connector or a vacuum line somewhere along the way.

Go back and check your work CAREFULLY. Leave behind your personal pride about what a good job you did.

 

are you sure? i have a haynes repair manual, and im looking at the symptom for rough or erratic idling, (which i have) and it says defective or damaged emission compnents could cause it. i have a hard time beleiving the system will be fine without the amissions system, specifically because the o2 sensor tell you if your air/fuel ratio is lean or rich, and im thinking the extra air blowing into the headers would be coded in with it. you know what i mean?

 

I removed AIR. Car runs better, no codes, CAT stopped rattling !! Definitely runs much better. and the space is nice in the engine compartment.

 

When everything is operating correctly, the AIR system only injects air into the exhaust manifolds during warmup. During warmup, the ECM is in open loop mode (meaning it is not reading the O2 sensor) and the air is being injected into the manifolds to induce a secondary burn of excess hydrocarbons (unburnt fuel in the exhaust from cold start enrichment program), which warms up the O2 sensor and catalytic converter. Once the motor is close to operating temp, the ECM switches to closed loop mode and starts reading the O2 sensor. When in closed loop, the AIR diverter valve changes position to inject air into the catalytic converter and no longer into the exhaust manifolds. There is no feedback to the ECM whether the AIR system is present or not, so removing it will not make the motor run any different and will not result in a check engine light.

If your AIR system was injecting into the exhaust manifolds all of the time, then you would definitely have an issue with the O2 sensor reading correctly when the ECM goes to closed loop.

 

Having it partially hooked up could be a problem. You should either have the entire system hooked up, or the entire system removed with holes plugged. As long as the side with the o2 sensor is plugged nice and tight, removal won't throw any codes and it doesn't affect how it runs.

 

Removing a properly functioning emission control system on a stock L69/TPI 3rd gen that is new enough not to have the pancake style catalytic convertor with the pellets in it doesn't make the car run better or have a significant amount more power. I don't even think any of these cars equipped with these engines had that old style catalytic convertor.

Removal Equals

A.I.R. system = About 1.3 HP at 5,500 RPM.
EGR = No power gain and reduced fuel economy.
Charcoal Canister & Evaporative Emissions System = No power gain and stinky garage.
Catalytic Convertor = About 5 to 8 HP L69, LB9 H.O. Cam, L98 with a H.O. single cat exhaust system and a stinky car.

 

Removing AIR greatly improves maintainability of the engine.All are correct it will not cause a code.

 

Yeah A.I.R. gone cleans up the engine bay and makes sparkplug changes so much easier.

 

Yep, I can change my sparkplugs in less than 30 minutes, and access all 8 from the top...

 

I don't drive my car much anymore,... but it runs so much better without AIR.