Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance ATTN: CTA Intake

I just found out something rather trivial but interesting about the CTA intake.

There are two different setups on the zetecs when using the CTA. One uses the valve cover breather filter and one uses the tube to recycle the air into the new intake tubing. (Duh, everyone already knew that).

Here is what I found. After trying an experiment with the breather/ tube.

For those with the crankcase breather tube going into the factory airbox:

If you vent the crankcase gases back into the CTA intake piping (AKA- use the tubing instead of the breather), you will get a CEL (P0455- emissions recirculation leak - gross leak).

I tried this to see if it would cut down on the gas smell I get as the system pressurizes/ equalizes and vents extraneous gas vapor out of the crankcase. It worked for a couple of weeks and then I got a CEL yesterday. Reversed it, and the CEL disappeared.

Again, no big deal, just an FYI...

I have been use the tubing instead of the breather since I got the intake and never had a CEL from it... but I don't have VCT either so that could make some difference.

On your car (1st gen), you need to use the tube. On the later cars (2nd gen), you use the breather filter.

I use the tube, but I also use the stock filter too.
Nice to know the filter is staying clean, good sign my engine is healthy.