Check Engine light

The check engine light on my 01 Boxster (45,000 mi) came on. The dealer told me it was code P0410 secondary air bank 1. They said it passed "short test" 4 times and and light went out. But that 2nd'ary air ports in bank 1 cylinder head are most likely starting to clogg. After 600 mile the light came on again. What does it mean? Anything I can do to "clean the air ports"? Will it hurt if I drive with light on? This Boxster gives me the most fun of any car I've ever owned. Too bad I waited 66 years to buy one. Thanks

P0410 Secondary Air Injection System, Bank 1 – Below Limit

Fault conditions:
Secondary air injection pump is not triggered.

Potenial causes:
− Wiring harness or fuse
− Relay
− DME control module
− Air supply lines
− Secondary air injection pump
− Electric change-over valve
− Air change-over valve

Yes, you can drive with the CEL on but not flashing. If the light is flashing you should not run the car (it will damage the catalytic converters).

You do not have plugged ports. Chances are you have a defective valve. Arguably this should fall under "Emissions warranty" but rarely does.
The system is relatively simple.

1 – Secondary air injection pump
2 – Air change-over valve
3 – Electric change-over valve
4 – Non-return valve
5 – To the cylinder heads
6 – Vacuum reservoir
7 – To the intake air system

Thanks for the reply Loren. Don't know much about these things but Iam going to learn. I enjoy reading all the items on Babblers. This is the second time I've been helped.
Thanks again, Jack

would this be simmilar to carbon build up? Is what is blocking the air port banks? What is the potential cause? Just curious...

boxs2000 said:

would this be simmilar to carbon build up? Is what is blocking the air port banks? What is the potential cause? Just curious...

Click to expand...

That was a problem on the older air cooled cars but I have never seen it on a 986 or 996. As I said above - chances are there is a bad valve in the secondary air injection system. Any shop with a PST2 (or PIWIS) tester should be able to diagnosis this and correct the problem.

when my check engine light came on 55,000 miles i had the MAF changed. Light went off about 1 week than came back on. Took it back - they adjusted something and light was off again for a week or so. Took to another mechanic - said he just needed to reprogram - light off for a couple of days. Drove with check engine light on - car now has 104k miles check engine light went off at 100k miles and has not come back on!