P0410 and leaking battery
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 2
From: Schaumburg IL
P0410 and leaking battery
Thought I'd post this to hopefully save somebody from jumping through a lot of hoops like I did.
About a year and a half ago my 2001 Z started throwing P0410 codes. I went through the whole process of trying to free up the check valves with WD40 / carb cleaner, etc. Nothing seemed to help. Kinda told myself I was gonna have to bite the bullet and replace the valves. Wasn't looking forward to dealing with the one on the passengers side so I pretty much ignored it through last winter. Couldn't keep putting it off because I'm due for emissions in a few months so I started to look into my options.
While I was doing this, I noticed I had no vacuum control over the HVAC. Figured it was too weird to be a coincidence. Talked to a friend who is a Vette mechanic who said to check for a leaking battery. I hadn't really thought to do it because I had just replaced my aging Optima with a new battery (not a gel battery - stupid stupid me...) last fall.
Pulled the battery which was literally wet on the firewall side. Had standing acid in the tray. Tore everything apart, stripped the harnesses and hosed everything down. Neutralized the whole mess with CRC and started to look at the damage. Luckily it was leaking out the firewall side of the battery so it never touched the brain. Wiring was still good but 2 of my vacuum lines were gone. Like they never existed. Took awhile but I ran new lines (and check valves) to replace the 2 that were gone (back of block to reservoir / reservoir thru firewall to HVAC block).
Cleaned everything again, put a new battery in (Optima RedTop - never again will I stray...). Everything is good. Not only does the HVAC work but my AIR codes are gone. Never thought the vac system was the cause - especially since when I pulled the driver's side hose I was getting air flow from the blower. Funny part is, when I was trying to figure things out I remember looking at this thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...0410-code.html but thinking that couldn't be the problem. Not sure why I thought that...
Just glad it's done with and I'm not replacing AIR valves. Hoping this helps somebody else avoid a potentially needless PITA project....
About a year and a half ago my 2001 Z started throwing P0410 codes. I went through the whole process of trying to free up the check valves with WD40 / carb cleaner, etc. Nothing seemed to help. Kinda told myself I was gonna have to bite the bullet and replace the valves. Wasn't looking forward to dealing with the one on the passengers side so I pretty much ignored it through last winter. Couldn't keep putting it off because I'm due for emissions in a few months so I started to look into my options.
While I was doing this, I noticed I had no vacuum control over the HVAC. Figured it was too weird to be a coincidence. Talked to a friend who is a Vette mechanic who said to check for a leaking battery. I hadn't really thought to do it because I had just replaced my aging Optima with a new battery (not a gel battery - stupid stupid me...) last fall.
Pulled the battery which was literally wet on the firewall side. Had standing acid in the tray. Tore everything apart, stripped the harnesses and hosed everything down. Neutralized the whole mess with CRC and started to look at the damage. Luckily it was leaking out the firewall side of the battery so it never touched the brain. Wiring was still good but 2 of my vacuum lines were gone. Like they never existed. Took awhile but I ran new lines (and check valves) to replace the 2 that were gone (back of block to reservoir / reservoir thru firewall to HVAC block).
Cleaned everything again, put a new battery in (Optima RedTop - never again will I stray...). Everything is good. Not only does the HVAC work but my AIR codes are gone. Never thought the vac system was the cause - especially since when I pulled the driver's side hose I was getting air flow from the blower. Funny part is, when I was trying to figure things out I remember looking at this thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...0410-code.html but thinking that couldn't be the problem. Not sure why I thought that...
Just glad it's done with and I'm not replacing AIR valves. Hoping this helps somebody else avoid a potentially needless PITA project....
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,189
From: Buffalo Texas
One of the first things I checked the first winter I had my vette. Checked all my grounds and so forth all because of the info on this great forum. I thankfully have got a really nice car !!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15
Likes: 2
From: Schaumburg IL
It was a Bosch. Pep Boys was beyond helpful when it happened. They replaced the battery without question and then, a few days later after I realized there's no way I'm putting the same thing back into the car, gave me an Optima Redtop for no extra charge. They definitely went above and beyond. 
