DTC's being thrown after my K&N install on 2002 XLT...Help Please

[jho]

Hello,

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum for this post....but I took a guess.

Today I installed my K&N FIPK air intake in my 2002 Explorer XLT. I took it for a test drive and after a couple minutes or so, my truck started driving funny. Would hesitate on acceleration, then the RPM's would shoot up super high without actually moving my vehicle....so I'd let off the gas. After driving around for a bit, my OD light started blinking....so I checked with my AutoTap scan tool and retrieved the following errors.

P0733 Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
P0745 Pressure Control Solenoid A
P1000 OBD Systems Readiness Test Not Complete
P0745 Pressure Control Solenoid A

I recently took my vehice into the dealer for another problem with my OD light blinking. Turns out then it was another solenoid issue but they replaced that and it was working fine. Before I went though, I took out my K&N and replaced it with the stock intake.

....for some background....I installed my K&N once before and I had no problems!...it worked great! I'm having problems now after I put it back in my truck...and I know that all the DTC's above are from me messing with my air intake just now...I think I test drove it too harshly at first.

Can anyone please help me with some advice? I know that the P1000 DTC will clear itself after a little bit of driving...but it's the other three that I'm concerned with. Does anyone know if I leave the battery disconected for a while, to reset the PCM computer, that I will clear all the errors and my truck will relearn everything that it's having trouble with? or did I screw myself and do I need to bring this into the dealer to get these things cleared up now. I'm very worried....any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Has anyone else experienced this??

Thanks so much in advance!!!!

 

[Robb]

Yea, disconnect the battery for awhile, then drive it "nice and soft" for awhile. Let the truck relearn with its new intake.

 

[X24]

When you installed the K&N did you disconnect the negative battery terminal? You need to reset the computer after you change something like that so the PCM can learn the new info.

 

[jho]

thanks for the suggestion...I'll let you know

Thank you for the quick response Robb. I'll try that and post a followup if things work. My battery has been disconected for about 30 minutes now...and I think I might wait a little more to be safe

 

[jho]

yup...I disconected the battery during the install....had it off for about 30 minutes too. funny thing is....the first time I tried this I had no problems. It's only after this second time I put the K&N back in. I think I did the Test Drive too aggressively!!! Will let everyone know my progress a little later. Thanks!

 

[jho]

So after about 40 minutes I reconnected my battery and went for a test drive...this time very gingerly for a while. The PCM was reset and I didn't have any errors. I drove for about 25 minutes....highway speeds and local roads. Towards the end of my run though I started getting some of the same DTC codes again!

P0733 Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
P0745 Pressure Control Solenoid A

I would clear the codes and found that I could drive around for a bit....then there they were again...and my explorer definitely drove funny. High / sputtery RPM's....no go when accelerating. I would hit the gas...the RPM's would skyrocket, so I would back off the gass and then wait for the RPM's to drop and then press the gas again. I can feel the truck being in the wrong gear.

Parts of my test drive seemed fine....and other times the RPM's were all over the place! I just don't know what I did differently from the first time I installed my k&N to the second.

My question is....did I let the PCM Learn enough? Is a 25-30 minute test drive enough? If I continue to clear the codes and drive around, will my PCM continue to learn until the codes stop coming back? Or are the codes

P0733 Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
P0745 Pressure Control Solenoid A

impossible for me to correct on my own...did I do some permanent damage? Do I disconnect the battery for a longer time?....test drive for longer?....replace my stock intake?...or take it to the dealer? Any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

sorry for going on...I don't have much experience with these kinds of issues.

Thanks so much again in advance!!

 

[X24]

That sounds like tranny problems. Regardless of the amount of time you let the PCM relearn the settings, you should not experience these kinds of issues. Doesn't sound like it has anything to do with your K&N either. I think it was just coincidence and you have some tranny problems. I would disconnect the battery, replace the stock intake and go to the dealer. Do you still have any kind of warranty?

 

[jho]

Thanks for the input X24,

I'm baffeled! It would be the oddest coincidence if I started having tranny problems immediately after I started messing with my intake today....it would be just my luck too and i wouldn't even know....

To give a little more background...
exactly 1 week ago I brought my vehicle in to the dealer because I had a flashing overdrive light and it was kicking in and out of OD as I was driving.

The Dealer pulled a code:

P0796 and fixed the problem:

as stated on Invoice:

"Replaced Solenoid Body, R and I Trans Pan, R and I Solenoid Body and main control. Replaced filter, refilled trans, cleared codes. PCM calibration and Trans shift stradegies were updated per TSB. "

In addition, I did a 30,000 mile scheduled maintenance which included a whole slew of things and everything checked out fine. And my truck has been driving perfect for the past week and only crapped out when I messed with it....figures...my luck, if it was me or just a coincidence with more tranny problems.

Thanks again, I'll will update the post as I have news...hopefully the good kind, and as always any other thoughs or comments would be awesome....

on a separate note, I just got and started using my AutoTap Diagnostic tool...and I have to say it is a very cool and useful, and fun investment...I'm very happy with it

 

[jho]

and the culprit is!!!

X24 was right....the Tranny!
I brought it into the dealership today because my problems got worse.....my check engine light was on now, it was shifting hard in between gears....and the during the high RPM's, I would hear a high pitch squeal/whine before it kicked into gear...and shifting from Park to Drive produced a large jolt and rocked the car.

The verdict from the dealer:
A bad Torque Convertor! ...they also found metal in the tranny....and they didn't want to risk a rebuild later on so they are gonig to put in a whole new transmission! My truck has less than 30,000 miles on it too!

well...it's still under warranty at least....but of course Ford is out of stock on the transmissions for a couple days.

Will update the post when I have my truck back. Thanks everyone for the input!

 

[Fhantazm]

Man, you have luck like me!!! It seems that anytime I do anything to better my vehicles, something else breaks!! At least its still under warranty.

 

[mhn3773]

hey look on the brite side though u have a new tranny that u didnt have to pay for =) so that means ur all set now lol..just dont abuse the tranny =) i know thats easier said then done though hehe

 

[jho]

The Conclusion to my problem....

Well, to close out this thread and give an update to all those who helped and offered advice.

About 2 weeks at the dealer's for my explorer...it came home with a brand new transmission. The work order write-up / notes included:

a leak found in the transmission....further investigated using dye. Metal found all throughout the transmission. Bad Torque converter....replaced.

the Torque converter was the original culprit!

anyway, had my truck back for about a week now and everything seems ok...will need to drive it around some more though.
I'm a little scared to put my K&N FIPK back in my truck though.....I wonder if anyone eles out there thinks that by me putting in the FIPK somehow caused my problems....maybe causing my engine to rev higher or something which was off just enough to ruin my torque converter. I don't know though since I don't have too much experience with this part of the truck...any opinions?...Did my FIPK cause this?

For now, I'll stick to my stock air intake.
also...FYI: I asked my dealer about having a FIPK in my truck and if it would void my warranty....they said yes...to all the parts directly impacted by the new air intake....which they could probabally tie to tons of things regardless of the real culprit....

Thanks again for everyone's input...this forum rocks!

 

[mhn3773]

i really really wouldnt worry about putting back on the K$N..9times out of 10 it wont cause any problems at all

 

[X24]

Having a K&N filter on there would have absolutly nothing to do with the tranny or torque converter. Put it back on!

 

[drpiv]

OBD 2 data link location on 2002 explorer

Sorry for stupidity, but where is the connector located to attach my OBD scanner. I have a 2002 Limited Explorer. Thanks in advance.

 

[jho]

location of OBD II port

the OBD scanner port is located right below the steering column.....if you draw a straight line from the center of your steering wheel down towards the pedals, and look / feel right behind the trim....you'll find it. The port points downwards, is black in color (at least in my truck), and is attached via 2 mounting bolts. You don't have to remove it, just plug in your scanner directly. Hope that helps....if you still can't find it, I can post a picture....

 

[Doug904]

Sorry for stupidity, but where is the connector located to attach my OBD scanner. I have a 2002 Limited Explorer. Thanks in advance.

Is the Autotap CAN compatiable? Your 2002 Limited is probably a 4-door and therefore the new style PCM is used and unless it is CAN compatiable the Autotap wouldn't work with your setup.

Later Doug.