m a x i m u s

hey guys. I got a cel after 50 miles of driving with the new catch can. I didn't get a chance yet to pull the code bc I am still at the office. is the pcv system a sealed system, or does that round pcv housing thing have holes in it to draw air in? just wondering bc due to the tight space and stiff hoses, my pcv unit is pressed firmly into the firewall insulation. if there are holes in it, I am wondering if this is bad. thx.

Ingenieur

Most pvc circuits are sealed
The valve is basically spring loaded ball check
Only allows flow in 1 direction
Could it be tubed backwards?

m a x i m u s

dunno, but I don't think so. I believe it doesn't matter which way the can is hooked up. I gathered that from the fact that there were no explicit instructions to the contrary. one tube goes from the pcv to the can, another tube goes from the can back to the intake.

m a x i m u s

like I said though, I didn't pull the codes yet as I'm still at the office. this could be something else, but seems too coincidental to me for the cel to come on 50 miles after i installed the catch can.

Ingenieur

I was talking about the pvc valve

So the pvc valve was never removed
Still oriented in the same direction
Check all the connections and let us know the code
You're right the can direction probably doesn't matter

jcfay

Yes, that is questionable. It's a sealed system. This is why I was worried when I couldn't get the billet adapter to mate flush with the manifold. And it doesn't matter to which side of the catch can is attached to which end, since it originally was a closed circuit anyway. If you can pull the codes that is great. But I'd also double check that all of the fittings are tight and still in place, of course.

m a x i m u s

codes: P0171 P2187
which are lean bank1. I'm thinking it's bc the fitting going into the intake is askew. just got home so the engine is piping hot, so will have to wait til tomorrow to take it apart. any thoughts?

whoover

"Piping hot" refers to food that is emitting steam that can be heard, likened to the sound of bagpipes. Chaucer's Miller Tale from the Canterbury Tales was the first recorded use:

He sent her sweetened wine and well-spiced ale
And waffles piping hot out of the fire

This is a famously bawdy work and he's soon doing some piping of his own.

Thought you might be curious.

m a x i m u s

well, I do find the m156 to be quite delicious. I'm gonna work on the car tomorrow. I'll post results here.

jcfay

Max, you know I'm new to this. But since I had issues with both fittings I wrote Weistec and they replied asking me to send pics of the adapters to see if they were improperly milled. I'm thinking they aren't and I just had the same fitment issues that everyone else described in the other thread. I'm going to give it another shot this weekend and try and take pics. I'm not sure if you were able to get both billet adapters to mount flush, but I think a leak anywhere in the system would lead to the same codes, if the codes are PCV related (again, know nothing about those). There other issue I had was there was so little room next to the firewall it would have been tough to get everything (new adapters, new lines) to mount as flush to the rear of the engine. And considering how these cars move around, I'm asssuming that any rubbing could lead the somewhat loose fittings becoming gradually loosened over time.

Curious to see your results. Please do post follow-up. thx

Merc63

Leak after maf sensor, check fittings.

Critter

When installed my can, I loose fitted for direction of the fittings on the back of the engine, then removed and tightened the black 1 inch fitting to the adapter using an adjustable wrench and the 1 inch wrench to make certain all was tight, then installed the adapter assembly with the hose already attached plus (not required) secured with an electrical zip tie for added security. Same for the pcv side assembly, get the angle for the hose figured out the tighten fitting outside of car then install. Catch can same way. Good luck.
Maximus did the air horn drop back down on the drivers side, it is tight and took a small amount of grease on the seal and some muscle to get the horn secured on the clips, also rubber couplings can be a pain on the bottom as the top section of the airbox tends to flip in inwards, any one replacing air filters will understand.
Did the bottom of the can get tightened also to contact the rubber O ring?

m a x i m u s

thanks, guys.

critter: I'm pretty sure all the airbox and horn seals seated properly, but I am going to take it all apart again later today to address the adapter piece going into the intake anyway, so I will check it out. I also did notice a very tiny tiny amount of moisture around one of the fittings at the can. I have an injured hand, so maybe I wasn't able to apply full torque on the wrenches the first time around. I'll be sure to go slow and double check everything.

jcfay

That moisture might be a good hint, as I wouldn't think you should get condensation there at all normally. But if one of the hoses isn't snug, you might be getting vacuum bringing air in and condensation if there's a temp difference at the can. Did you mount yours by the headlight, I assume? Curious to hear what the result is. Kind of looking forward to the reinstall this weekend...

abcut973

Ok this happened to me as well when I installed my can. Install was ok (checked everything was tightly secure and such) but the lean condition would persist. I then removed the can and put to the car back to stock. Which didn't fix the issue. After double checking the airboxes, cleaning the MAFs etc.. I decided to drop the car to the dealer (I have extended warranty). Turns out the PCV valve was the fault. They changed it and voila no more CEL. Reinstalled the catch can without any issues.
So could be when first installing the can playing with the PCV valve broke it somehow or could be just coincidence and the result of normal wear .
Bottom line i would suggest you to check if the problem comes from the catch can or another part failing. GL

jcfay

How many miles did you have on the car/PCV valve? That timing seems highly suspect...

abcut973

I think I was close to 70k miles when it happened last year. I'm the second owner so I don't know if this part was replaced prior.

jcfay

I'd check this too. The fit on this part was ridiculous. If I had to guess I'd swear they installed the full air intake system on the engine before installing the engine in the factory. The PCV sits totally up against the plastic y-intake, hence why it's so damn tough to remove, in place in the engine bay. With reinstallation I pushed down on this piece with significant force to just try and make sure that it was in place correctly.

BerBer63

I think this is the same code/issue I have. Came on after ECU update, but no symptoms. Too lazy to fix right now ...

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...ge-system.html

m a x i m u s

ok guys, I took everything apart and had a look. the intake adapter looked ok, but the fittings weren't as tight as they could be, so I took a wrench to all the fittings. like someone else had mentioned, the one I'm not 100% about is the one that connects to the pcv housing, due to the lack of leverage. I'm not sure how tight is tight, but I torqued those things down the best I could. put everything back carefully, and cleared the codes. I'll have to wait a few miles/days before seeing if the problem is gone. I'm also gonna call weistec tomorrow with some questions.

Critter

Maximus, this is why I loose fitted the adaptors to get the angle correct, then removed and tightened with the wrenches outside of the car.
Installed the hoses and then inserted all as a unit.

glennhl

Excellent advice. I will do exactly what you suggested. Thanks.

jcfay

That is good advice. I may give that a try myself.

jcfay

Hey there just wondering if you were able confirm what the issue was? I'm going to do another attempt at install today but wanted to see if you'd fixed the problem. If so was the issue the 1" fittings not being tight enough?

Follow-up, as a newb how do you clear the codes? What is the process for clearing the CEL as well? If you restore the system to normal do they clear themselves (I imagine not...)? Thx again

Mort

If the condition that caused the CEL no longer exits the CEL will disappear from the display and the code will be stored in the ECU memory. It may take a sequence of a certain number of starts or whatever the ECU requires before the CEL will be extinguished. To actually clear the code from memory will take a hardware/software solution (code reader, Star DAS Xentry, etc.) with the capability of removing stored codes. Active codes cannot be removed until the condition that is causing them has been corrected ( I think this is how it works).