Socal: SAI reed cleaning shop?

Essentially the title! It's an awfully specific job so I figured I'd ask here as yelp requests came back empty. My 2012 has the SAI stuck closed, and have had the unit itself tested just fine from the dealership so chances are, it's the exhaust manifold needs that got stuck shut from carbon.

I have also heard of people spraying cleaners through it, but found the instructions too vague for me to willy nilly try it and break something as it wasn't the same generation. I'd be open to it if somebody has a picture walkthrough for a 2.5gen!

Thanks!

 

I'm confused. What is this?

Mine is '08. No pump. I think the exhaust is simply that. An exhaust.

I've heard of 12-15 pumps going bad, or issues with the foam inside that people do unifilter mod.

Only vehicle I've heard of SAI carbon cleanings (and performed) is certain Audi's like the 3.0T, where secondary air is somewhat built into the motor via ports/channels running through the cylinder heads that eventually clog with carbon; the repair entailing special tools/adapters to blow it out with high pressure water.

 

From my understanding(I'm not a mechanic by any means), it's an EPA related part that just forces in cold air through the manifold on cold starts to reduce/dilute emissions.

Actually just stupidly found a great post on the matter. But damn that's pricey for a part that essentially does nothing. Going to try and find a post from some time ago stating a cleaner can be sprayed....if that doesn't work, then I'll swap out the system https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-air-injection-system-p2440-and-p2442.480436/ I was referencing a cleaning of the reeds rather than full replacement, but that might be the only way to go

 

It dumps in extra air to warm up the O2 Sensors etc faster for better emissions control. If my memory serves me it only operates when ambient temps are below 42 degrees and then again when you shut down the engine to get rid of excessive moisture.

 

That's what I thought, but my pump activates(the high pitched whine) just about every morning in Socal, and in the afternoon after work. Then gets mad at me and throws a CEL stating the valves are stuck closed. Now that i'm actually thinking back to the dealership experience, what happened was that they said they actually tested the valves and said it was fine, then asked me to pay 1200 dollars in diagnostics to just remove the exhaust manifold and examine, which is when i declined since that narrowed it down to the reeds connected to the manifold i'd assume, if not the valves or pump.

Also side-note, the Wondries Toyota here in alhambra is full of crooks and criminals. They "forgot" to diagnose the truck the first time i brought it in until i checked in a week later, which they offered me a free diagnostics of the same SAI part and code next time i went in(thank god i made sure he texted me it). Then the 2nd time after not having a result for 2 weeks, they tried to stick me with a 1800 dollar bill for just diagnostics, which took another 3 days of back and forth after sending them proof that my account manager gave me the free diagnostics of the part. They kept trying to deflect saying it was a part similar to the code, but not the exact part the code was for, like the filter connected to the unit and such until I guess I wasted half my vacation and more man hours than necessary arguing over the phone and they fucked off.

They also told me randomly my LCAs were gone and were going to let go at any time the time before bringing it in. I looked, they looked fine. I took it to 2 off-road specialty mechanics nearby and they also said they looked fine. It's been 40,000 miles since then and still feel fine with no clunking or visual damage. I feel bad for all the elderly getting scammed out there.

 

Pump wont activate if its BELOW a certain temp, 32deg I believe. It will operate every time on startup unless engine coolant temp is above a hot temp.


Unfortunately OP has a 2012 which for SOME REASON toyota coded that particular ecu without the shutdown condensation purge which leads to stuck valves.

 

I haven't heard of any issues with the ports getting carboned up on Tacoma's but the valves are very common to fail especially on 2012 models because they don't do a purge at shutdown. Also the filter in the pump is known to come apart and kill the pump and/or get stuck in the valves.
If your not in an area with emissions inspections you may consider doing the SAIS bypass module by @hewitt-tech

For those curious description & operation of the SAIS system for 2012 attached below.