Ok I got my car back and all seems fine except by damn CEL is on. The code that appears is something along the lines of "idle air control" or something like that. Now my mechanic thinks its the manifold so I was wondering what the gurus think on this one. What could cause this stupid CEL problem?

 

seeing how you have headers do u have the anti fouler, cel fix?

CEL ELIMINATOR

 

I have a cel fix, just not installed, but I don't think the "idle air control" CEL comes from the header, I think thats the "catalytic warm up error" or whatever it is.

 

I've heard of the ralliart guys getting a cel with the IM but not the Lancer guys.

Let me see if I can find the thread.

WADAD

Here's what Rock said
It has to be a vacuum leak. The manifold itself would never do that and we have never had the problem. What does do it is install error where there is a leak. Check all hoses and mating surface at cylinderhead and T.B. Use brakeclean to find the leak. Start car and spray in around intake area and injector area. Pretty much everywhere you touched. It should rev up when it sparys over the spot of the leak. Once you do that you will know where to repair the install.

Boe said something after....
Sounds like a definate manifold leak somewhere. So air is going in unmetered. This will cause an excessive lean condition.

Use the brakekleen like ROCK stated and see where the idle change happens. Spray that area and ensure the idle change happens when you spray every time to prove the leaks location.

More than likely it's a hose or possibly on the head/manifold flange itself.



And yes I'm bored since I've been hurt for a week and can't go to work. I'm just itching to get out of the house for something meaninful. Hope this helps a bit.

 

Just to make sure we are on the same page this is what the Ralliart guy was complaining about.

WADAD

 

It's not running lean, its just an "idle air" CEL.

 

unplug your AIC and see if any of the pins are bent.

 

cool
That's the only car I have seen with manifold problems.

WADAD

 

AIC? I'd assume my mechanic checked all this while my car was in the shop for 2 months.

 

Yeah it seems like I'm the only guy whos really botched the manifold install.

 

I hope he knows what he is doing. If you have an IAC problem, does your car chug when idling or idle too high? Sounds like you MAY have a vacuum leak and that a hose is unplugged or clogged. Like I said, MAY...but since I am not there I don't know. Depending on who you got your header from, RRM says that theirs can cause CEL.

 

Its an intake manifold

WADAD

 

It idles fine, jut a little high, about 1100 RPM. I have the header related CEL as well, but thats not the one I'm concerned about.

 

if it specifically says it's your idle air control, then i'd assume it'd be a connector problem. a vacuum leak will usually show up as a lean code.

is there a clicking noise when you turn the car on/engine off?

 

Not that I can tell, it runs perfectly fine, no jumps or shudders, it just idles a little high and throws a code.