Many people find it challenging to place a smog pump on their F150 truck. It is present on the engine surface or hidden in the space where the engine is present.
How to Remove Smog Pump on 5.0 F150? You can remove the smog pump on 5.0 F150 by locating the exact position of the pump that is usually present in the engine bay or on the engine. Then, remove the serpentine belt and disconnect the hose. Next, cut off its electrical connections and the attached vacuum lines. After that, loosen the bolts and slide off the pump from its position. Finally, put a new smog pump in its place, reconnect all the connections, and secure the belt with the bolts.
You can remove it yourself if you have read the manual carefully. However, it is better to get professional help to do the task quickly and accurately.
What is a smog pump?
It is also known as a secondary air injector which provides air in the exhaust stream to ignite the unburned fuels.
A spinning device in the pump helps capture air and push them into a diverter valve. It helps improve the fuel economy of the Ford F150 truck by utilizing the fuel completely that remains unused.
In addition, it reduces the pollutant load on the environment by limiting the production of harmful gases.
It plays a crucial role in overcoming global warming by reducing emissions of toxic gases like nitrogen oxide.
Furthermore, running it for 1 or 2 minutes is essential before starting an engine.
How do you remove the smog pump on 5.0 F150?
It is a little bit challenging to remove the smog pump for a non-professional person, so you can hire a mechanic or get a manual and read the relevant information.
Collect material and tools
You have to collect the required things before starting the removal process to avoid wasting time and hassle during the removal process.
You need a repair manual that provides information about the appropriate steps for quick and correct removal.
In addition, get safety glasses and gloves to protect yourself and a ratchet from removing the belt or the hose present on it.
Locate the smog pump
You have to find its exact location to remove it quickly. It is present on the engine surface or in the engine bay usually.
Remove the serpentine belt
You have to loosen the bolts that keep the belt in place. It is challenging to put the belt back in its place, so you must carefully look at it for re-installation.
You can click a picture with your smartphone or make a short clip where you can see the belt position.
The V8 engines in the Ford F150 have a serpentine belt that moves over multiple pulleys, but V-belt passes over a single accessory and is fixed with mounting bolts.
Use a ratchet, fix it into the tensioner slot, and push it away with a good force to remove the belt.
Disconnect the hose and vacuum lines
Disconnect the hose connections before removing them by unscrewing all the clamps. Look for the electrical connection and the vacuum line going to it.
You have to cut off all such connections to ensure safety and easier removal.
Detach the smog pump
You have to unscrew all the mounting bolts that keep the device in its place. You can use a ratchet for easier removal of bolts.
Unbolt the two screws on the front side or close to the tensioner assembly, while the second one is under the bracket or bottom side of the V8 engine.
After that, remove it from the engine and dispose of it when it is faulty or damaged.
Install a new smog pump
The installation process for a new smog pump in the Ford F150 is the opposite of the removal process.
Place it on the engine body and fix it by mounting bolts.
Then, connect the hose, vacuum lines, and electrical connections back to the secondary air injector.
Finally, secure the belt around it by screwing it up. Look at the clicked pictures if you find it hard to add the belt back.
How to tell if a 5.0 F150 smog pump is bad?
The symptoms can tell you about the bad condition of a secondary air injector when it is not functioning correctly.
Failure of the catalytic converter and failed actuators can draw attention to this device.
Moreover, the Ford F150 cannot accelerate properly, and the engine begins to give low idle.
A check engine light on the screen and a faulty pressure relief valve indicates something wrong with the secondary air injection system.
You can quickly diagnose the problem with it by checking the combination valve. In addition, a careful assessment of the control relay can also help determine the exact reason.
Many people prefer acoustic tests to know its working efficiency and functionality. This test produces a typical sound that matches an operative coffee grinder.
It will produce a sound when not working correctly; otherwise, you will not hear the sound.
Why would you remove the smog pump on 5.0 F150?
A bad smog pump on a Ford F150 can cause severe engine functioning problems and be responsible for low idle and decrease in acceleration.
Improve engine performance
Removing a bad secondary air injection system is essential as it can affect the engine performance and make it run rough.
Polluted air gets into the exhaust when it is not working as it sends clean air inside the exhaust. It can begin to stall on pressing the pedal.
Improve the functioning of the catalytic converter
The catalytic converter can lose its proper functioning when there are issues with a pump that directly affects the engine.
Moreover, it cannot transform the toxic compounds into non-toxic gases and release them into the air.
As a result, it can harm the environment and the people sharing a common road while driving.
So, it is essential to replace a non-functional device to overcome the release of harmful emissions.
Reduce the risk of misfire
Misfire is a common problem with the F150 faulty pumps because there is not enough air to mix with fuel, and the fuel quantity increases in the engine.
Moreover, faults in the MAF (mass air flow) sensor can also cause misfires because the engine becomes rich in fuel and cannot burn all the fuel due to insufficient air.
Fix valve leakage
Check valve in the engine prevents back flowing of fluid and keeps it moving in a single direction.
When a check valve leaks or begins to lose internal components, it allows fluid to flow in a reverse direction.
The movement of fluid in a reverse direction can damage the components and start to produce loud noises when they are breaking down.
The exhaust gases try to enter inside it, and the water produced after condensing the gases begins to accumulate within it.
It can also freeze when the temperature lowers and can cause corrosion.
So, fixing the leakage issues by changing it to restore a directional fluid flow is essential.
Overcome increased emission
This secondary air injection system help to reduce a load of hydrocarbons in the emissions and keep the environment safe.
However, it cannot function properly and produce increased emissions that are not suitable for the environment.
The only way to control the emission rate is to replace it with a new one that can filter the gases and efficiently controls the emission.
What is the replacement cost of a smog pump on 5.0 F150?
The overall cost of replacement depends on the product’s quality and various other factors.
This device can cost around $110 to $279, while the mechanic can charge you nearly $75 to $120.
So, the estimated cost of the overall replacement, including the removal and installation, is around $185 to $399.
You can reduce the cost by doing the removal process, but it takes almost 60 to 90 minutes. However, the professionals can do the task in only 35 to 50 minutes.
Furthermore, the replacement cost depends on the model of the truck as it can increase when you have luxury trucks like the Ford.
What happens if you remove the smog pump?
The smog pump has no prominent effect on the mileage as it blows air in the exhaust system. It only plays a role in moving the air downstream to the exhaust system.
However, it makes the engine rough or decreases speed and creates some drivability issues. You can drive your Ford F150 without it, but it is not recommended.
The stuttering can start in the engine when there is no such controlling device on it or the increased amount of pollutants in the air puts a burden on it.
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