SO took her 2008 Caliber 2.0L to AutoZone today to have codes read.
She came home and told me that the Intake Manifold Sensor was dirty or faulty.
Can somebody give me a little more direction than that?

 

Do you have the actual code that it has?

 

Unfortunately, I do not. I will try to get her to stop at Autozone next time she gets to town.

 

The short runner valve is reacting to the plates binding inside the intake plenum. It likely won't strand her. If you have powertrain warranty still, it cover replacement of the intake.


Try to find a cheap generic code reader of your own so you don't have to deal with Auto Zone screwing with your car and selling you parts that you don't need.

 

I spent the last forty+ years working on heavy equipment, and do not recall any plates in the intake manifolds, only inter-coolers.
Sounds like the intake manifold needs to come off. Is that correct?

 

 

Not quite sure what I'm supposed to be seeing in the manifold illustration.

 

If I am correct, the manifold has dual runners. Long ones for low end torque and short ones for power above around 3500rpm. The flaps open and close to direct the air thru the runners that the PCM want depending on power needed.

 

OK I think I got it. Understand and have built tuned exhaust in the past, makes sense the engineers would do the same on the front end.
I'm guessing if it is not a bad sensor, the moveable plates in the manifold might be binding. If they are binding, I'm guessing a manifold replacement would be required to solve the problem.
Many Thanks

 

In theory, you could maybe take the intake off an clean the crap out of it and it may work again.


We haven't been down that road in the shop environment as it would cost a customer too much in labor and it would be cheaper to replace the intake. As I recall they do have some little bolts holding the plate assembly in. Of course you have to take the actuator off first.