[TheGreatGazoo]

hi all,
lately I noticed when I start my 2013 smart, I do not hear that whurling or blower motor noise on startup. when I used to start my car id hear a blower or something from the engine. it would start off blowing at a lower speed then after a few seconds it would go into a high speed noise then stop. i don't recall hearing it for a couple months now that i think of it and twice in the pass 3 months i got a p0429 code could it be related? also what is that whurling blower noise i don't hear anymore?

 

[jzchen]

Secondary air injection pump. (Emissions). Not sure about the code. Hopefully someone else knows...

 

[TheGreatGazoo]

ok thanks. since i noticed the pump not running its been below freezing would it not turn on below that temperature?

 

[OliverB]

They run less often or not at all as temp drops.

 

[jetfuel]

...yep..P 0429 is catalytic control circuit...the secondary pump that helps heat up the converter is outside temp related...what that temp is I can't remember....

Jetfuel...anybody else????

 

[jzchen]

They run less often or not at all as temp drops.

I believe I saw that somewhere on this forum in fact! Sorry I did not make the connection.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

In my experience, they don’t run in temperatures under 33 degrees. I suppose the engine sees no point in trying if temps are under freezing.

 

[TheGreatGazoo]

Great thanks for the help with the pump question. this weekend the temp is supposed to go up to 50 here in NYC so I will check if the pump kicks in on Saturday.
but does anyone know what can kick out a P0429 ? any typical problem that will cause it intermittently

 

[mvaldes]

I get that occasionally after a fill up. Removing and replacing the gas cap has always cured it (since 2008!)

 

[TheGreatGazoo]

so today it hit 53* here. I did hear the pump go on. not for long maybe about 5 seconds or so.

 

[penzy]

My 2013 has the noise every morning, and if it sits for a few hours. I just wait it out, about 30 seconds.

 

[jwight]

My 2013 has the noise every morning, and if it sits for a few hours. I just wait it out, about 30 seconds.

That's the way it's supposed to work.

 

[DreamCarOwner]

The pump is one of those magic things that helps the Fortwo achieve such a low emissions output. It seems trivial to me to run a forced air pump to blow into the catalytic converter, but I guess at startup with a cold engine, is supposedly the time it belches out the most emissions. A cold engine needs a richer air/gas mixture initially and then when it warms up some the mixture can be leaned out. A cold catalytic converter does not efficiently reduce emissions in our rich startup mixture so air is injected into the exhaust during warm up to allow the richer mixture to burn more completely before it exits the tailpipe. That's sort of an oversimplification of why they run an annoying pump for 30 seconds at startup, but to understand catalytic converters would take a chemist to understand. But if the blower fails the computer will throw a check engine light and give you an error code. The pump is located above the frame rail at the rear passenger side of the car and you have to remove the plastic inner fender over the rear passenger tire to get at it to replace it. It sounds like an old General Electric cannister sweeper that we used to have to sweep the shag carpet when I was a kid. It's a shame we couldn't reroute it and make a turbo out of it. Just think flip a switch and get a few more horsepower for that big hill. DCO

 

[jzchen]

In my experience, they don’t run in temperatures under 33 degrees. I suppose the engine sees no point in trying if temps are under freezing.

Yes, first time I noticed in rare cold weather here I came and reported it not running, without thinking.

If the air is freezing cold it will not help burn excess fuel, and hence will not help the cat get warm, but quite the opposite....

 

[bobarb]

Last week my wife mentioned the our '08 made a strange sound at startup. We had been parking it outside lately, so the next day, I went out and started it. And sure enough it had the whirling sound. I thought it was just like a fast idle because of the cold. But now I know the real answer.
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