TheJackal
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- August 11, 2007
- Messages
- 1,047
- Reaction score
- 6
- City, State
- Mandeville, LA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 Explorer XL 2WD
Some time ago I remember there was a slight panic among the boards regarding Autozone no longer reading OBD II codes. At my store, they still do, though apparently not always very well.
I'll give a little background first. Last week I was driving the Interstate and suddenly have a bad shake, the Check Engine light comes on and starts flashing. I go to Autozone to see what's up and a man comes out with a reader and pulls the code. P0304--misfire in cylinder #4. Checked the wire myself and it was OK but couldn't get the plug out myself and took it to the dealer. It was the plug and they talked me into changing all 6 plugs and wires, and the belt too while it was there. Expensive, but I didn't feel like having to go back anytime soon and it's too hot out to do too much work (over 100° lately.)
Anyway, fast forward to today. I'm driving to work this morning and notice the Check Engine light is on again. Engine is running fine so I'm beginning to think it's perhaps an emission problem; possibly the catalytic converter damaged from the misfire. I go to the same Autozone to get this code pulled so I can, once again, get an idea of what I'm up against.
This experience was not as pleasant as the first. I had a different person this time and he used a different reader (one of those pocket-sized ones). I couldn't see the display over his shoulder like I could the other one. All I could see was he kept hitting buttons, and it looked like he was scrolling through the menu over and over, but I couldn't really tell. After a while of this he says "O2 sensor." I ask "which one?" and he says "first one, closest to the exhaust." Isn't there one on both sides, tho? He starts to wander off so I figured I'd just look up the code at home. I ask before he goes too far off what it is and he says it's 1405. That should clear up the details, right?
Nope.
That code has to do with the DPFE sensor, not the O2 sensors. Now that this is officially clear as mud, I'm going to have to try a different place to see exactly what the problem is. I'd buy my own damn reader, except that money's a little tight this month because everything's breaking at once. (likely the heat, it's terrible here)
I'll take a look at the hose to see if it is in fact a DPFE issue, but probably not right away. I'll be inside, sitting next to the fan.
I'll give a little background first. Last week I was driving the Interstate and suddenly have a bad shake, the Check Engine light comes on and starts flashing. I go to Autozone to see what's up and a man comes out with a reader and pulls the code. P0304--misfire in cylinder #4. Checked the wire myself and it was OK but couldn't get the plug out myself and took it to the dealer. It was the plug and they talked me into changing all 6 plugs and wires, and the belt too while it was there. Expensive, but I didn't feel like having to go back anytime soon and it's too hot out to do too much work (over 100° lately.)
Anyway, fast forward to today. I'm driving to work this morning and notice the Check Engine light is on again. Engine is running fine so I'm beginning to think it's perhaps an emission problem; possibly the catalytic converter damaged from the misfire. I go to the same Autozone to get this code pulled so I can, once again, get an idea of what I'm up against.
This experience was not as pleasant as the first. I had a different person this time and he used a different reader (one of those pocket-sized ones). I couldn't see the display over his shoulder like I could the other one. All I could see was he kept hitting buttons, and it looked like he was scrolling through the menu over and over, but I couldn't really tell. After a while of this he says "O2 sensor." I ask "which one?" and he says "first one, closest to the exhaust." Isn't there one on both sides, tho? He starts to wander off so I figured I'd just look up the code at home. I ask before he goes too far off what it is and he says it's 1405. That should clear up the details, right?
Nope.
That code has to do with the DPFE sensor, not the O2 sensors. Now that this is officially clear as mud, I'm going to have to try a different place to see exactly what the problem is. I'd buy my own damn reader, except that money's a little tight this month because everything's breaking at once. (likely the heat, it's terrible here)I'll take a look at the hose to see if it is in fact a DPFE issue, but probably not right away. I'll be inside, sitting next to the fan.
