Check Engine Light Problems

[Keach]

Hello folks, I've got some questions for you. My dealer keeps saying that dirty fuel injectors and spark plug wires are causing my check engine light. I've got magnacor wires so I don't forsee a problem. I need some expert advise.

Any opinions or advice is appreciated!

 

[mgv366]

from what everyone has told me. the CEL is related to emissions not to the plugs/wires etc.
Try checking the O2 sensors. I had the same problem and replaced mine and haven't seen the light since

 

[Robert]

Unless you say what the error code is, no one here is in a position to tell you what the cause is. We can only guess which of the 500 reasons have set it off. If you have a bad plug wire that is causing a mis, it will set off your CEL. If you have a bad O2 it will set off your CEL. If your gas cap is loose it will set off your CEL. There are about 497 more which one do you want? If your dealer won't tell you the codes that they pulled try going to Autozone and see if they will pull them for you. Many people have gone there to get their codes read at no charge. It is possible that your dealer is right. It is also possible that they are wrong.

 

[Keach]

Sorry, Trouble code is as follows:

P0171 System Adaptive fuel too lean (Bank 1)

The dealership said this code was pulled due to the fact that I removed the hose connecting the air intake with the oil vent on top of the left valve cover. I placed a filter on top and plugged the hole in the intake hose. Would this cause this problem?

Again, all help is appreciated!

 

[Robert]

I do not know if what you did would cause the problem or not, but I do know that when mine had a P0171, it was because my lower intake manifold o-rings were leaking unmetered air into the cylinders. The warranty on them has been extended to 6 years/72K miles so if you are under on the miles, Ford will replace them at no charge. Tell your Ford dealer to look at TSB # 99-10-4 which will tell him that a P0171 can be a symptom of leaking o-rings. Then tell him to look at Owner Notification Program 00M12 which will tell him to that he is supposed to replace them at no charge.

 

[Keach]

Thanks for the info Robert, just had that done last week. So i hope thats not the problem. Thanks for all the info, glad to know we have a sohc guru on the board.

Muchos Gracias Amigo!

 

[Robert]

Had what done last week? If you just had your o-rings replaced last week then I would say they installed them incorrectly. The TSB states that the o-rings may have been installed incorrectly by the manufacturer (IE Ford) or during a previous service visit that involved removing the lower intake manifold. I checked my '97 SOHC when I got home by disconnecting the hose you were talking about. I started it up afterward and let it run for a while. I also revved it up several times while monitoring my short term fuel trims on all four O2 sensors. Not once did my CEL come on. It did look like my O2 voltage had a wider swing when the hose was disconnected, but I'm not certain though. I have almost 86K miles on my O2 sensors so mine should be about as week as they come. If my CEL didn't come on with the hose disconnected, I can't see why yours would.

 

[Keach]

Yep, had the O'rings done last week. Is there a way to check for correct install. myself, I don't have very much confidence in this dealership. I just turned 83k on mine.