OK, I have a 97 Explorer XLT and it is showing P1151 fault code. Ford here say it is definitely the HEGO sensor. When I took it in I said, could be faulty O2 sensor, they said No, HEGO sensor, and by the way it is $290NZD+GST(15%) and has to come from Australia. Theivinb b@st@rds, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask when he robbed you!!!
Anyhow, it has been running like a bucket for awhile now and we finally managed to come to the conclusion (no mechanics involved or analysing involved as none of that had discovered the problem) that the manifold gaskets needed replacing.
Sure enough the bottom o-rings were as hard as nuts. $201NZD+GST each, we got them for $145 the pair including GST from a mechanic who works for Ford. Robbers and thieves!!
Anyhow, they were changed but until we got the part, of late my car has been hunting like anything, running rich, running lean, grinding it's @ss out in the rpms and then surging back up, which was almost like a secondary issue - could this have occured as a result of the vacuum leak? We figured it must be O2 sensor or similar. BUT I see on here that it could be as simple as the fuel pump relay.
Are South Auckland Ford ripping me or is this the issue? Even they can't say it will 'fix' it - mind you they're the same ones that said 'pinking' (we run largely on 91 here as 95/98 is far too expensive) was my timing chains and that would be about $5k to repair. I said, uh, no, not chains, and run it on a mix of 91/95 and voila, no pinking. They're also the ones who said your main beam headlight has a crack that will be $250 for the 2nd hand part for the WOF. I found it was a teeny hole in the DRIVING LIGHT under the grill ... a bit of clear tape later and we were good.
So, what has everyone else experienced? And should this part cost this much?
Thanks
