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Explorer runs badly

xplordakota

Active Member
Joined
March 27, 2003
Messages
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City, State
Sioux Falls, SD
Year, Model & Trim Level
1996 Eddie Bauer
I have a check engine light on, and when i read the codes with one of those harbor freight code readers, it says lean condition in banks 1 and 2. when i'm in park it idles very unsteady. It will surge way up, then till it runs so slow that it chugs. i tried cleaning the MAS several times, i've also cleaned the IAC. I have searched on the forum for the codes but only get the SOHC o ring problem. It idles fine in drive, right at 700 rpm (as close as i can tell with the stock tach) it doesnt seem to pull as hard as it did before either (which would probably back up the lean condition) any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this?
 



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Without any more info I'd guess it's still a bad sensor, bad fuel filter, or bad FPR.
 






? vacuum leak, hose off split etc. Could account for lean condition both banks. May be speeding up engine to try and compensate. Worth a check anyway.
 






With a 121,000 miles on a 96, I lean more towards a sensor like the O2. How's the gas mileage recently? If it's drops significantly, it points to a bad air/gas mixture.
 






what other kind of info do you need??

i have a pretty light foot, and get about 17 mpg according to the explorers computer. i also noticed it went down a bit when i put on the exhaust.

as far as sensors how would i pinpoint which one??

and as far as the vacuum leak how do i pinpoint that?

I am positive that the fuel filter needs replacing, since it seems to be the stock one and is rusted in place.

i will fix that, but if it doesnt help where do i go from there?
 






Originally posted by xplordakota
what other kind of info do you need??

i have a pretty light foot, and get about 17 mpg according to the explorers computer. i also noticed it went down a bit when i put on the exhaust.

as far as sensors how would i pinpoint which one??

and as far as the vacuum leak how do i pinpoint that?

I am positive that the fuel filter needs replacing, since it seems to be the stock one and is rusted in place.

i will fix that, but if it doesnt help where do i go from there?


Well on mine, it was slight decrease like a mile or two. I can't remember what they mileage they recommend for changing a 02 sensor. I just noticed after I changed both front 02 sensors since it was lean on both sides plus changing the fuel filter, alot of the hesitation and other stuff I experienced went away.
 






To check the sensors, the computer needs to be scanned. I am not sure if you have OBD11 or not, I think they changed to that in most cars in 1996 according to this site http://www.obdii.com/connector.html . You can get it scanned for free at some auto parts stores if OBD11. This should give an error code if oxygen sensor or any other sensor is out of specs. For vacuum leaks, a simple vacuum gauge is all you need to know if you have a vacuum leak. Check out this site http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Summer2003/VacuumLeaks.htm .
 






am not sure if you have OBD11 or not, I think they changed to that in most cars in 1996 according to this site http://www.obdii.com/connector.html

Yes i do have ODBII, i have read the codes myself, and they do not say what it is. They simply say banks 1 and 2 are lean.

i'll try the spray bottle to see if i can find a leak.

i also ordered the O2 sensors (all of them),
and am in the process (tomorrow probably) of replacing the fuel filter.

if none of these fix it....any other suggestions??
 






Did the OBD-II scanner give you a code?
 






yeah the codes in the order i get them are..


1) 420 - Catalyst System Effiency Below Threshold (bank 1)

2) 174 - System Too Lean (Bank 2)

3) 171- System Too Lean (Bank 1)
 






OK, I called a friend who makes a living diagnosing vehicle problems[other guys do the actual repairs in the shop,he diagnoses the problems]. He indicated that if both banks are lean, it is unlikely that it is the oxygen sensor. He indicated that it certainly could be a vacuum leak, most likely at [1]. Where a few hoses come together and connect, one may have fallen off or split. [2]. It may unfortunately be an intake manifold leak, especially if it has been overheated. It could be the MAS sensor, but it usually throws out a code. Did you clean it with unchlorinated brake cleaner or electrical cleaner? He indicated that if cleaned with other solutions, the electrical coating may have been broken down. These suggestions would be addressing the codes indicating a "lean" condition. The code re: the "cat" he felt was a separate problem, and may need a new "cat" after the other problem is fixed. He felt that it might be better to locate a shop that is skilled at working with the newer systems, rather then buying things you may not need, and have it "scanned" where they can read the data stream from the sensors in real time, rather than just read a trouble code like your code reader would be doing. They can find vacuum leaks with propane[speeds up the engine if the propane gets sucked in where there is a vacuum leak]or "smoke". They could tell you what the probem is, and then you could decide to fix it yourself at that point, you would just pay them for the hour or so for diagnostics. Good luck, I know this kind of thing is really frustrating. Joehawk
 






Thanks joe
i'll take it after i replace the fuel filter, to get it diagnosed
i'll post my findings in case someone else has similar problems.

Thanks guys for all your help!
 






Okay so fuel filter is replaced. I had it checked out, and they came up with...

1. Bad IAC
2. Bad cats

so now my question is where do i find cats cheap??
 












okay kinda feelin stupid here.... which one will work??
also i only need to get the one right?? not 2 like it has now, since these are the high flow ones.
 






What I would do is take measurements on your current ones (width, length, etc) and see how close of a match you can get... then buy two. Replace them both, it is how your emissions system is designed to work.
 






Im also wondering on a side note, how many years do you figure cats will last? the ones on the truck are almost 10 years old, and 128000km (55000miles).


Also how do you tell if their plugged?
 






from what i know...
the time they last depends on how your truck runs, if it is rich a lot then they wont last as long. But i'd not worry about em for a while yet, since you only have 55K on your truck
 






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