I know that many of you may already know about this fix, because I found it here, but I just want to relay my success in using it. For those who don't know, P1416 means that you have a stuck passenger side AIR check valve. This check valve allows the AIR pump to push air into the exhaust pipe on cold starts to help the Catalytic converter to come up to operating temperature. What happens over time is that the check valve becomes coated with carbon deposits and will not open, which sets the P1416 code because the computer doesn't see the input from the passenger side O2 sensor that it expects to see. The big deal about the passenger side check valve is that it's located between the motor and the firewall. The driver side check valve is out in the open and is easy to replace. The other one isn't quite so easy.

The AIR system rubber tubing comes up from the AIR pump, located in the drivers side front fender near the turn signal. The tubing exits right underneath the brake booster and connects to metal tubing, which then sends the air to the passenger side check valve and the drivers side check valve. What I did was remove the rubber tubing coming from the AIR pump, and I also removed the rubber tubing going to the driver side check valve. What I was left with was steel tubing that had 2 openings, with the 3rd opening going off to the (still connected) rubber hose going to the passenger side check valve. I put my finger on the opening that normally connects to the AIR pump opening, sprayed Valvoline Carb, Choke, and Throttle Body cleaner into the pipe until it was nearly full, then used 90 psi air to force the passenger side check valve open. The first time it did NOT want to open, but after a second or so it did. I then did this 2 more times. So far no P1416 code.

The only reason I used the Valvoline product was that it specifically said that it was safe for O2 sensors. I'm sure that any carb/throttle body cleaner safe for O2 sensors would work too. Some people have also reported that they used WD-40, but at this point I'm just going to stick with O2 sensor safe carb cleaner.

 

Please let us know how long this solution lasts; inevitably, all of us have this issue to deal with.

 

Well, not so good... it's baaaack. I'm going to replace the check valve, but it seems weird that GM didn't put a check valve on the passenger side. There seems to be enough room.

 

I was getting the code in November. I pulled the hoses and said to self, "self, how am I going to get carb cleaner up that down turned pipe?".

Answer: gently lubed a piece of vacuum hose and stuffed it up the pipe as far as I could, maybe 10" or so, it makes it around the elbow no prob and Definately was closer to the AIR valve. Stuck the nozzle of my B12 carb cleaner into the hose and blasted a bunch of cleaner directly into the valve. Let it sit for about 30 mins, then went and gave a quick blast with about 40psi - thinking too much psi could damage teh valve... 90 psi seems way excessive. Anyway. I did not start the car, I left it over night and drove it the next day. Never a code since... well not *that* code...

bob