P2445 and P2441 on a 2013-2015 Toyota 4Runner: Check the Secondary Air Pump First
JC Landry, ASE Master TechnicianPublished Oct 26, 2026 · Updated Oct 27, 2026
P2445 and P2441 on a 2013-2015 Toyota 4Runner with the 4.0L 1GR-FE mean the ECM commanded the secondary air pump on and the bank 1 air switching valve open, but its pressure sensor saw no air pressure and no exhaust pulses. The likely cause is a pump that is not moving air; a scan tool system check with the pump on and off confirms it fastest. With P2445 stored, the ECM limits throttle opening, so expect reduced power until repaired.
Safety first
- Hot exhaust blows out of an open valve port during the pulse check; bring your hand in slowly.
- Repeated secondary air checks can overheat the system; space runs several minutes apart, then switch off.
- When bench testing a valve set, keep air at 30 kPa (4.4 psi) or less and do not touch terminals 2, 3 or 4.
- Fit new air tube gaskets without damaging the sealing surfaces.
What does P2445 and P2441 mean on a 2013-2015 4Runner?
P2445 (Secondary Air Injection System Pump Stuck Off Bank1) and P2441 (Secondary Air Injection System Switching Valve Stuck Close Bank1) come from the secondary air system. An electric pump feeds fresh air into the exhaust ports from a cold start until the catalyst warms, cutting HC and CO. Each bank's emission control valve set is an air switching valve with a pressure sensor reading the passage from the pump. The pump heater runs through the AIR PUMP HTR relay, and an air injection control driver works pump and valves for the ECM.
After a cold start, the ECM runs the system on, then off. Average pressure shows the pump pushing air; pulsation shows exhaust pulses reaching the passage through an open valve.
P2445 sets when pressure stays below 1 kPa (8 mmHg) with the pump commanded on, rises less than 5 kPa as air switches on, or pump delivery falls below the ECM's threshold.
P2441 sets when no exhaust pulsation appears with the bank 1 valve commanded open, including the step where only that valve is open. In the on phase: pulsation below 1.25 kPa with pressure at 1 kPa or higher, pulsation below 1.25 kPa with pressure under 1 kPa, or a pressure change with no off-phase pulsation. Off-phase thresholds are 10 kPa for pulsation and 2.5 kPa for pressure.
Both checks need all of these:
- battery at 11 V or higher
- atmospheric pressure at 45 kPa (338 mmHg) or higher
- engine running, 5 seconds or more since start
- for the on phase, pump on and valve open for 5 seconds or more, 680 to 3750 rpm, and intake air under 100 g/s/L
With no pump air there is neither pressure nor pulses, so the ECM stores P2441 (and/or P2443) with P2445. Both codes use 2 trip detection logic, so the ECM requests the light after the second driving cycle. The 7 second check runs once per cycle. P2445 also puts the ECM in fail-safe, limiting throttle opening until a pass; P2441 does not.
On the same sensor, P2440 and P2442 (valve stuck open) set on 1 trip at cumulative pulsation of 60 kPa or more with the system off, otherwise on 2 trips. P2443 is bank 2 stuck closed, and P2444 (pump stuck on) sets above 3 kPa (23 mmHg) with the pump off, on 2 trips. P2431 to P2433 and P2436 to P2438 cover the pressure sensor; P0412, P0416 and P0417 cover the valve circuits, with P0412 setting after 3 seconds at idle, 1 trip, light on immediately.
What symptoms does P2445 and P2441 cause on the 4Runner?
- Check engine light, often with the TRAC OFF and VSC lights on as well.
- Reduced power or a limp-home feel.
- Multi-terrain select disabled or a flashing 4LO light, with no real 4WD fault.
- The fault appears after cold starts or in cold weather.
- Clearing the code turns the lights off, but they come back.
What causes P2445 and P2441 on the 4Runner, most likely first?
Both codes usually trace back to no air from the pump, so I start there.
| Rank | Cause | Quick confirm | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air pump not moving air (seized motor, filter debris, moisture) | No clear pressure difference, pump on versus off | Replace the air pump assembly |
| 2 | Pump heater circuit (heater, AIR PUMP HTR relay, wiring) | A freeze status reads ON; heater test fails | Repair wiring, or replace the relay or pump |
| 3 | Bank 1 valve set stuck closed (carbon or debris) | No exhaust pulse at the bank 1 port when commanded open | Replace the No. 1 valve set, new gaskets |
| 4 | Air hose or tube loose, blocked or damaged | Visual check of every hose and tube | Reconnect or replace; align paint marks; new gaskets |
| 5 | Air injection control driver, its power or ground, or AI-VSV relay circuit | Power, ground, relay and command signal checks | Repair harness, or replace the relay or driver |
| 6 | Valve set pressure sensor reading wrong | Reading out of range, ignition on, engine off | Replace that bank's valve set |
| 7 | ECM | Every check above passes and the code returns | Replace the ECM |
How do you diagnose P2445 and P2441 on a 2013-2015 4Runner?
You will need a scan tool that offers Toyota's secondary air injection check, a multimeter, basic hand tools and a torque wrench.
- 1
Read all codes and the freeze frame, and fix any other stored code first; if P0412 is stored with P2441, diagnose that circuit first.
With both P2441 and P2445 stored, the opening checks are shared. The fix-first codes:
- Intake VVT: P0010, P0020, P0011, P0021, P0012, P0022, P0016, P0018
- Exhaust VVT: P0013, P0023, P0014, P0024, P0015, P0025, P0017, P0019
- Cam position: P0340, P0342, P0343, P0345, P0347, P0348, P0365, P0367, P0368, P0390, P0392, P0393
- Crank position: P0335
- A/F sensor heater: P0031, P0032, P0051, P0052, P101D, P103D
- A/F sensor: P014C, P014D, P014E, P014F, P015A, P015B, P015C, P015D, P2195, P2196, P2197, P2198, P2237, P2238, P2239, P2240, P2241, P2242, P2252, P2253, P2255, P2256
- MAF: P0102, P0103
- Intake air temperature: P0112, P0113
- Coolant temperature: P0115, P0117, P0118, P0125
- Throttle position: P0120, P0121, P0122, P0123, P0220, P0222, P0223, P2135
- Fuel trim: P0171, P0172, P0174, P0175
- Misfire: P0301 to P0306
- Ignition: P0351 to P0356
- Knock sensor: P0327, P0328, P0332, P0333
- EVAP: P0451, P0452, P0453
- Vehicle speed: P0500, P0722
- Secondary air sensor and driver: P2431, P2432, P2433, P2436, P2437, P2438, P106B, P1613
- Bank 2 valve circuits (own diagnosis): P0416, P0417
- 2
Read the air pump, air switching valve and valve 2 freeze status in the freeze frame.
If any reads ON, command the heater on and check power at the pump, then the heater, AIR PUMP HTR relay, relay power, and wiring between relay, pump and ground; fix what fails. All OFF means go straight to the pump.
- 3
Prove whether the pump moves air, engine warm and idling.
For P2445, run the system check and compare passage pressure, pump on versus off; the readings must differ clearly. If they do and the code does not return on a recheck, treat it as intermittent. For P2441, inspect the pump, disconnect the air hoses, command the pump on with valves open, and feel each valve port for pulses that start as the valve opens and stop as it closes. If pulses are right, read the valve sets' pressure sensors: an out-of-range bank gets a new valve set; a good reading ends the diagnosis.
- 4
If air or pulses are missing, or P2445 comes back, work through the passage in order.
- For P2441, check the air tubes at the manifold and valve for looseness, blockage and damage, inspect both valve sets (replace the No. 1 set for bank 1), then the AI-VSV relay, its power, wiring to the ECM and No. 2 valve set, driver power and ground, and the ECM-to-driver wire.
- For P2445, check the valve set's pressure sensor reading (out of range means replacing that bank's valve set), then every pipe and hose from pump to valve, driver power and ground, the ECM-to-driver wire, and the pump. Replace a failed pump; if the code returns afterward, go to the driver signals.
- 5
Check the driver's command signals with the scan tool, system on and off.
Wrong signals, replace the ECM; correct ones, replace the air injection control driver.
- 6
Recheck with the automatic secondary air check below.
If the code returns after the driver is replaced, the ECM is the last step.
On reassembly, use new air tube gaskets, align hose paint marks with the pipe projections, set the clamps correctly, and clip the pump cover fully, inlet facing correctly.
Get the P2445 and P2441 tests for your 4Runner
The pump check, valve pulse test, driver signal checks and automatic confirmation above follow Toyota's own test order. Ask emanuals.ai about your 4Runner and get the exact test steps, specs and procedures from the factory manual.
Specs you need for the 4Runner P2445 and P2441 repair
| Air pump with bracket, 3 bolts | 20 N·m (15 ft·lbf) |
|---|---|
| No. 1 valve set (bank 1), 3 nuts | 21 N·m (15 ft·lbf) |
| No. 2 valve set (bank 2), 3 nuts | 21 N·m (15 ft·lbf) |
| Air tubes, 2 bolts and 2 nuts each, new gaskets | 10 N·m (7 ft·lbf) |
| Air injection driver to bracket, 2 screws | 2.0 N·m (18 in·lbf) |
| Air injection driver bracket, 1 bolt | 13 N·m (9 ft·lbf) |
What if the obvious fix does not work?
If codes return after a new pump, I look at the valves. The pump's foam filter can break down and reach the valves, and moisture can get in, so a new pump on a damaged valve may change nothing. If the pump runs and one valve is stuck, that valve alone may be the fix; cleaning a debris-stuck valve sometimes works.
Before I buy a pump, I check the fuse, pump power and the small valve hoses. Clearing codes is not a repair, and bypass kits can still set codes on these trucks; skip them.
Your stop point is the driver signal check. If the command signals are wrong, or the code returns after the driver is replaced, the ECM is next.
How do you confirm the repair?
After any repair or battery disconnection, wait 7 minutes with the ignition ON or engine running before the check. Confirmation uses the scan tool's automatic check, not a set drive pattern.
- Warm the engine and switch off.
- Connect the scan tool and clear codes, even if none are stored.
- Switch off for at least 30 seconds, then ignition ON.
- Select the automatic secondary air injection check; start the engine once the tool initializes.
- Run the check; no pending codes means it passed.
- In the readiness results, enter P2441 or P2445: NORMAL means repaired, ABNORMAL means still faulty.
- If it shows INCOMPLETE or N/A with no pending code, drive a universal trip; no permanent code means the system is normal.
- Switch off.
Each run lasts 5 seconds at most, up to 4 runs per trip, at least 30 seconds apart. On ERROR, stop the engine 10 minutes and retry.
Questions mechanics ask about P2445 and P2441 on the 4Runner
Can I drive a 4Runner with P2445 and P2441 stored?+–
It will drive, but with P2445 stored the ECM goes into fail-safe and limits throttle opening, so expect reduced power until the system passes its check. P2441 on its own does not trigger that fail-safe. You may also see the TRAC OFF and VSC lights and lose off-road features while the code is stored.
Why do P2445 and P2441 show up together on the 1GR-FE?+–
The ECM reads one pressure sensor for both checks. When the pump moves no air, that sensor sees neither pressure nor exhaust pulses, and the ECM stores the valve stuck closed code along with pump stuck off. One dead pump can set both codes on the 4Runner without anything wrong at the bank 1 valve.
What else sets with these codes on the 4Runner?+–
P2443, the bank 2 valve stuck closed, often joins P2441 when both valves see no flow. P2444, P2440 and P2442 are related combinations from the same check. The valve circuit codes P0412, P0416 and P0417 have their own diagnosis, and P0412 stored with P2441 gets diagnosed first.
Do I need a special scan tool for P2445 and P2441?+–
Yes. The pump and valve tests and the final confirmation all run through Toyota's secondary air injection check, which commands the pump and valves on and off. You need a scan tool that offers that function.
Should I replace the pump or the bank 1 valve first?+–
On the P2445 side, the diagnosis reaches the pump before the valve. The bank 1 valve becomes the suspect when air is present but no exhaust pulses reach the sensor. Replacing only the pump while a debris-damaged valve stays in tends to bring the fault right back.
Why does the 4Runner only throw these codes after a cold start?+–
The secondary air system only runs from a cold start until the catalyst warms up, and the ECM runs its check soon after a cold start. That short window is the only time these faults can be detected, which is why they tend to appear on cold mornings.
Will P2445 and P2441 clear themselves?+–
Clearing the codes turns the light off only until the system runs its check again on a cold start, and the codes come back if the fault is still there. After a repair, clear the codes, run the automatic secondary air check, and if the result is incomplete, drive a universal trip and check for permanent codes.
Sources
- Toyota 4Runner Service & Repair Manual, sections 1GR-FE Engine Control (SFI System) and 1GR-FE Emission Control (1GR-FE).OEM Manual
- emanuals.ai, Query data, "P2445 P2441 Toyota 4Runner".First-Party Data
ASE Master Technician
JC spent 15+ years as a certified Master Mechanic before trading the shop for the keyboard. He's worked across dealerships, owned and operated his own independent garage, and consulted on automotive trade school curricula, reviewing technical textbooks used in vocational programs.
He now serves as Editor-in-Chief at emanuals.ai, where he oversees the platform's technical content. He's one of the few voices in automotive publishing who turned wrenches professionally for decades before he had a byline.
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