P1537 & P1538 codes: relax: start simple

[Santasredsuit]

If you're reading this, you have these codes and may be wondering if you're about to get deep into cleaning or even replacing Intake Manifold Runners/controls. You probably also have a PO171 lean code. Don't assume the worst, like I did. Relax and learn from my $175 mistake.

Get the plastic battery cover off and get to the vacuum lines behind the battery. If you're like me, you don't clean up around there unless you're replacing the battery. The acid and crud from the battery tends to eat the vacuum lines. See if this is your problem and replace/repair them.

Then mix up some water and baking soda and brush it around to neutralize all the acid in the area. Put Vaseline on the posts after it all drys and promise to tidy up the engine compartment more often.

My truck is a 98 with about 114000, so I imagine some of you with newer models will be coming across this soon.

From what I can tell on various posts and sites, the butterfly valves and actuators for the runner system get carboned and gunked up after a while. It sounds like a lot of people try running Seafoam through the intake system to get everything cleaned up. If you've got pointers on that, this might be a good place to put them.