Hello,
I recently purched an 06 Cobalt SS 2.0L supercharged. It came with a modified, K&N intake and filter. While driving it, code P0172 System Too Rich kept faulting the engine light. It said its under warrenty so I took it back to them. THey said everything checks out, and that the problem is that the K&N Air filter is letting too much air to the engine.
This information does not make much sence. How is that any diffrent then opening the throttle valve slightly more then before. Also, wouldnt too much air Trip fault P0171 System Too Lean instead?

Well anyway, they said the intake voids the warrenty on it. But, since it was baught that way, FROM them, they said theyd switch it back to factory for me, thus re-instatnig the warrenty. To me the warrenty is more important then the custom intake.

The dealer also said that GM released some notice about how K&N Air filters cause problems/ faults in some cars.

I was wondering what if any of this is accurate? or not?
Thanks,
-Jonathan

 

K&N states that their intakes do not void warranties, so the dealership is full of it... Also, the codes thrown were most likely not caused by the intake, being as this is VERY rare (from what I understand) in a K&N intake...

 

If the K&N was over-oiled the MAF could need to be cleaned.

 

most aftermarket intakes throw a code, mine did when stock. get stg2 or a tune you'll be alset

 

Mine's stock, never threw a code. Of course, I'm a lil 2.2L....

 

well first you could try MAF cleaner, clean the maf and reset the ecu. Also make sure the filter isnt over oiled. Hell try a stock filter after a maf clean instead.

 

It's simple to much air = Lean code...get it tuned

 

Did you even bother reading the post?

Its a rich code.

 

well if its a rich code that would make little to no sense to be caused from an intake. seeing that if anything an intake would cause a too lean code, i can't imagine you just sat there while they were spoonfeeding you that load of ****.

my best guess would be to check the maf and the TB blade. just clean whatever you can with the appropriate cleaners and whatnot.

 

maybe you are getting the rich code because the intake is not letting enough air into the mani... you might want to check to see how dirty the filter is on your intake... just a though

 

Has it been raining alot where you are? Water logged filter can set that.

#PIP3710C: SES Light With DTCs P0101 P0103 P0172 And/Or P0420 - Inspect ir Filter For Water - keywords black catalytic cleaner cold controls converter engine intrusion MIL repeat replacement rough running smoke - (Jan 15, 2007)

Subject: SES Light with DTCs P0101, P0103, P0172, and/or P0420 - Inspect Air Filter for Water

Models: 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS
2004-2007 Saturn Ion Redline
With 2.0L Engine (VIN P - RPO LSJ)

This PI was superseded to include 2007 models. Please discard PIP3710B.

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:

On rare occasions, a black exhaust smoke and rough running concern may be encountered during engine warm up with a SES light and DTCs P0101, P0103, P0172, P0300, and/or P0420.
Recommendation/Instructions:

If the SI diagnostics do not isolate a cause for this concern and the latest PCM calibrations are present, the following information may help:

1. Inspect the air filter for water saturation. If water is present, inspect the drain holes in the bottom of the air cleaner box for restrictions due to debris or casting flash and remove the debris or casting flash, dry the air cleaner assembly, and replace the air filter as necessary.
2. Inspect the spark plugs to see if they are fouled and replace the spark plugs as necessary. If fouled spark plugs are found, please review bulletin 06-06-04-015 to potentially prevent spark plug fouling in the future.
3. Inspect the catalytic converter for noticeable blue coloring, which is a sign of overheating. If the catalytic converter shows signs of overheating (blue color), replace the catalytic converter.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.


WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

 

Ok,
So I checked out K&N's website. They claim, pretty boldly that their product does NOT void any warranty.
I sent them an email explaining what has happened. I also went into the GM/Chevy website, service area, and Sent a question to them, asking what would happen if I installed a K&N Intake and Filter onto my car. I figured best they don't know it's already on there just in case. So we'll see what happens.
Also:
If my intake manifold is leaking air AFTER the Supercharger...
Then air that has already been measured has entered, and is
leaving without going into the cylinder. I could see this causing
the engine to run Rich. IE: Its getting less air then it thinks, so
therefor it's getting too much fuel. How would I test this hypothisies?
-Jonathan

 

If you had a leak after the SC your manifold pressure should be erratic. Look at the boost gauge and see if it holds steady or it bounces around. It may move a little bit at idle, but should be pretty steady and should be steady when at a steady cruising speed.

 

It should show a vacuum leak on the gauge aswell I would think. A stock SS/SC should show vacuum in the range of 17-20 at idle .

 

Did you clean the filter and reset the ecu yet? I mean thats the first thing that should be done period. Hell even finding a stock air box and filter would be a good idea.

 

i had the same code and went to the dealer today and they said that it was due to a clogged fuel injector and did a 182$ worth of bullshit that i didnt approve and said it was fixed. drove home with the car skipping and bucking saying to myself that that was not the problem it was worse then when i brought it there. as soon as i hit 100 miles check engine light came back on car ran smooth again and same code go figure **** this i am getting a stage 2 with good tune

 

usualy a p0171 is caused by a dirty maf (a dirty maf will not read all the air coming into the engine) or a vacuum leak. a p0172 could be caused by a bad maf, stuck injector, high fuel pressure (possibly a stuck fuel regulator). keep in mind that both codes are only monitered between 15-100kpa, so only when the car is out of boost.

i myself would tell the dealer that since they sold you the vehicle with the aftermarket parts on it and gave you a warrenty on it, they have to fix it. imho an intake isnt going to set that code, not unless the k&n intake is smaller diameter than stock and somehow causing the maf to read more air than is actualy entering the engine.

 

I bet the filter was over oiled and is throwing the maf off. its the first thing to check in this situation. Its a super cheap and easy troubleshooting method.

 

an overoiled filter will contaminate the maf causing it to read less air flowing into the engine, this would give it a lean code. this code is more than likely not related to the intake in any way.

 

I agree, but like I said its a cheap and easy way to troubleshoot. clean the maf and see what happens. would you not agree that should be one of the first things done? I mean doing $xxx dollars in parts labor to find out a dirty maf is causing something would suck.

 

My 2 cents
Don't do anything to the car, because it is under their warranty, let them replace it back to factory air box, let u keep the k&n, so you can swap back l8r...after they change that and u are still throwing the code have them fix whatever is really doing it.

So don't do anything to the car yourself, u are under warranty, play there little game and let them replace tons of **** to fix the problem so you will get some new parts out of it for free

After that find a new dealership cause they are stupid and the k&n normally throws a lean code from what all I have heard / read mostly because of the oil on it, or if the filter isn't setting right and you are getting unmetered air into the system.

Your warranty isn't void because of a cai, if you had put it on after you got it and you were throwing a p0171 sure it could void out a fix for that...but not your whole warranty and surely not for too rich code.

 

I've done some thinking and abit of research.
What the GM Goodrich guys are telling me,
I'm 99% sure is pure bull$H/7. I remembered something.
When I check my codes, with the light off, it shows P0172 PENDING.

Before I baught the car, I test drove it. Then took it to Advanced Auto Parts to have the codes read. It came up clear. No codes failed or pending.
Something changed AFTER I baught the car. The care CAME with the K&N Filter and intake tube. So that CAN'T be the problem. The only thing I did was fill up with Shell Gasoline.
So the tank ran almost out, I put some injector cleaner in, and filled up with Cheveron.
I plan on cleaning the Filter, and Disconecting my battery for a night, to force the computer
to Re-Learn. I Appricate all of your input, thank you. Question though.

Some of you have suggested getting it "Tuned"
What does that mean? How and where do I do it?
Thanks,
-Jonathan

 

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