What is the Air Diverter Valve all about?

Most vehicles today use some sort of secondary air injection system to help control emissions. All use some form of air pump, whether electric or belt driven, and all inject air into the exhaust stream to enhance re-burning for emissions control.

Some use an air pump check valve to keep exhaust in the system but allow air to be pumped in, but others use an air diverter valve. This serves the same purpose and works in essentially the same way. The air diverter valve is operated by the air bypass solenoid, and opens to allow air into the exhaust system, but closes to prevent exhaust from escaping.

Keep in mind:

• The air diverter valve is not inspected during any maintenance or service unless there’s a problem.
• Over time and through normal use, the valve can wear and eventually fail.
• Many pump assemblies include the air diverter valve and must be replaced together.

How it's done:

• The air diverter valve is verified to see if it needs to be replaced
• The defective air diverter valve is removed
• The new air diverter valve is installed
• The air diverter valve is tested for operation
• The vehicle is tested to ensure proper operation of the air diverter valve

Our recommendation:

Without a functioning secondary injection system, your car will not pass emissions, and you’ll probably notice less power and performance than normal. If you experience these symptoms, have one of our experienced mechanics who can diagnose your emissions system problem.

What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Air Diverter Valve?

• Check Engine light is on
• Sluggish engine performance
• Not passing emissions tests

How important is this service?

The air diverter valve is just one small part of your car’s emissions system, but it’s very important. If the valve sticks open or closed, the Check Engine light will come on, you will not pass emissions testing, and chances are that your engine’s performance will suffer. We recommend having the problem diagnosed accurately and the air diverter valve replaced as soon as possible if it is faulty.