I am trying to sell my car, but first I need to get the Check Engine light to go off. The codes that I got are 171 and 1441. I know that it is a problem with a sensor- I just don't know which one. I have a 1997 Grand Prix, so everything is very electrical. I imagine it could be any one of them?
I'm trying to avoid paying through the nose by replacing several unnecessary things.
Any ideas? Thanks!
2006-12-19 02:32:32 · 6 answers · asked by Karen W 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I should also add that I had a coolant flush within the last couple of years and that caused the Check Coolant light to start flashing on randomly. Perhaps the too are related...
2006-12-19 02:44:11 · update #1
need to know what the codes mean
171 is your o2 sensor reporting a lean condition. try cleaning the MAF with MAF cleaner. it's the thing in your air cleaner measures the air pressure. if it's off, it will give a bad reading and the computer won't be able to get the fuel/air mixture right.
the o2 sensor notices this by measuring the oxygen content of your exhaust.
you don't need to change the MAF, it's not broken, just dirty. if it was broken then the computer would know it was broken, and deliver extra fuel to compensate, and your oxygen sensor would be reporting a rich condition
1441 is a problem in your evaporative emissions control. you might just have forgotten to tighten your gas cap. go see how loose it is. if it's not on their tight, it will lose vacuum and prevent the computer from testing the EVAP. tighten it. next time you go for a drive, computer will try the test again and if it passes this time, the code will go away.
if not you might have damaged a vacuum hose or something.
i haven't seen that engine, but on mine, the MAF and the EVAP are very close to one another. is it possible somone worked on the car or changed a battery or something might have upset some vacuum lines. make sure all thsoe little vacuum hoses are well connected and have no leaks in them.
2006-12-19 02:43:38 · answer #1 · answered by assmouth p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
171 is a lean fuel code, 1441 is an oxygen sensor code. When you flush the coolant in these cars, sometimes you can get an air pocket in the system that can be hard to get out. This could be the cause of your light flash. There is a little bleeder valve on the thermostat housing that can help get the air out of the system. This can cause one or more cylinders to get hot, you may not notice a rise in coolant temperature. This can cause them to burn lean and give you these codes. Replacing the oxygen sensor won't solve your problem. You'll need to find out what's causing the lean fuel condition.
2006-12-19 03:10:48 · answer #2 · answered by alk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What your looking for with these symtoms is a vacuum leak.
The MAF sensor is reading a lean condition, which means the readings between the MAF sensor and oxygen sensor isn't where they should be.
The Evap problem is ussually caused by a vacuum leak more times than not. So I would check all my vacuum hoses vacuum solenoids, and intake gasket. Buy a can a carb cleaner, spray around all the vacuum areas while engine is running, if you notice the engine RPM increase in a certain area, then your close to the leak. Hope this helps!
2006-12-19 03:02:06 · answer #3 · answered by michael081278 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you that the 1441 is evaporative. Could be a gas cap (not likely though), could be a bad PCV valve, could be a bad hose somewhere. I have a Grand Prix (1999 3.1L) that had that code and it turned out an animal chewed a hose on top of the gas tank and the tank needed to be dropped. Also, check your charcoal canister (its not under the hood on this car, its in the left rear corner of the car, tucked up behind the bumper)
2006-12-19 03:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by Urban Informer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know about the codes but the cooliant low light maybe.
If your temp runs low when driving or never seems to warm up in cooler weather or runs warm in the summer everytime you come to a stop.
There is a elbow in the manifold that has lost its o ring and should be replaced after some time it will start leaking and cause the cooliant light to come on. Cheap part to buy but as far as labor it costs the same as changing a water pump
good luck
2006-12-19 05:22:15 · answer #5 · answered by Tim D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take it by auto zone,,ans they can tell you which ones it is and exactly what you need to fix it with,,this way you don't spend no un-necessary money on it,,good luck selling it,have a good x-mas.
2006-12-19 02:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋