My car came up with codes P0171 and P0174. is there a easy fix? I need it to pass emissions so I can get it regestered, it expires at the end of the mo?
2006-09-27 08:40:30 · 6 answers · asked by Icara4ewu 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Some details about my car is it is a 98 ford taurus. it has been ideling really rough latley and yesterday when I was waiting for my daughter it was ideling at 500 rpm and then died. Every once in a while i get a surge of power like it lurches forward.
I will be happy to give any more info that may help. all firestone wants to do is change the O2 sensors but i'm hoping it has a cheaper fix.
2006-09-27 10:17:14 · update #1
The codes P0171 & P0174 relate to the content of the exhaust (specifically the oxygen content). Both codes indicate that the system is too lean (not enough fuel, too much oxygen in the exhaust)
There are several causes for this condition and proper diagnostics are important.
Many will merely install two new oxygen sensors and call the repair complete, and indeed many times this was the cause. However there are several other considerations here.
Is the MAF sensor failing?
Has the fuel filter become restricted?
Is the fuel pump on the verge of failure?
Is the EGR valve sealing correctly?
All of these considerations must be addressed for correct repair, or the problem of the "Check Engine" light may well return and the job gets to be done all over again, at MORE expense and inconvenience.
As a side note, if you have been in the practice of driving around most of the TIME (not mileage) with less than 1/4 tank of fuel, there is a good chance that the fuel pump is failing.
I don't know what kind of car you have, but if the fuel pump is located in the fuel tank, the fuel pump will develop heat during normal operation.
The engineers designed the pump to be cooled by the fuel MASS in the tank, and when there is very little mass to absorb the heat, the pump will ultimately fail as a result of excess heat. This can cause a lean condition, as well as cause the car to simply stop running until the pump is replaced (not an inexpensive repair).
Good Luck. Hope this helps a bit.
2006-09-27 08:54:55 · answer #1 · answered by Ironhand 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just like Ironhand said, those codes are lean codes. It would help a lot to know what kind of car it is and engine. Generally for a lean code i would start looking for a vacuum leak.
Autozone cant help you. You already have the codes. Of course they will tell you all the things that can cause the codes and sell you all the parts, but they may not fix anything.
First thing to check is the pcv valve hose and other vacuum hose's
Second, you can try cleaning the mass air flow
I have seen both problems on those cars.
Good luck
2006-09-27 09:53:35 · answer #2 · answered by TonynNC 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are lean condittion codes for bank one and bank 2...if it is idling high..it might mean that there is a vacuum leak..or an egr problem..also if it is a3.8l..it might be an engine intake gasket...I am just not sure if both O2 sensors would go at once or if the computer is picking up another problem..Its not a spark problem ..it would see a random misfire condition..I am leading towards EGR or DPFE or vacuum leak...
Also check the air filter is plugged..
2006-09-27 12:32:07 · answer #3 · answered by iusedtohavehair 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are near an Auto Zone store, they will check your vehicle for free to find out what caused the code to go off.
2006-09-27 08:48:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be just a vacuum leak, I would also check the EGR system.
2006-09-27 15:46:12 · answer #5 · answered by B H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably an oxygen sensor or catalytic convertor
2006-09-27 08:41:48 · answer #6 · answered by ManFromMumbai 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋