Failed due to not enough drive cycle time

[mweiss]

:roll: 1998 Ford Explorer, 130K + miles:

The vehicle was showing an intermittent CEL for the past 7-8 years.
For the past couple of emission test cycles, I would go over to AutoZone and have them reset the codes on the OBD so I could go through the test.

This year it didn't work. I used a different emissions test facility because the one I normally use is down for equipment repairs and my due date is this week.
(I reset the OBD to shut off a P0174 & "sensor circuit slow response" code the last couple of test cycles, but apparently now the new machines can detect that.. so it's pay >$660 for a repair, or just ignore it, since we only drive that vehicle less than 100 miles a year, usually to go to the dump or Home Depot, or if it's snowing and we have an emergency.

The vehicle has a noisy front wheel bearing and a few other problems that are more expensive to fix (fuel pump bracket is completely gone, replaced with temp wooden support). It's been rear-ended and repaired 4/3 times since 2005. Maybe it's time to sell or trade it in.

I don't have a garage to work on it myself and we're in snow country with temps near the single digits this time of year.

How costly is this repair to correct the lean bank 1 & 2 fuel mixture conditions?

 

[my98nnj]

It could be as simple as cleaning your MAF sensor, a cracked in a vacuum hose or a leak in the intake system. What was the other code (circuit slow response)? O2 I'd guess???

We may be able to help you FIX the problems here rather then just covering them up as you've been doing.

 

[windsors03cobra]

How costly is this repair to correct the lean bank 1 & 2 fuel mixture conditions?

The last one I fixed with these codes cost the guy $25 and cost me ten minutes worth of troubleshooting and $2 worth of heater hose, had a leaky crankcase ventilation T.

Sadly for him autozone scanned his codes and told him it was probably his primary 02 sensors and he bought 2 Motorcraft 02 sensors from RockAuto.Com for about $150.

 

[mweiss]

That would be good news if it's just a dirty or cracked sensor (as long as it doesn't cost a lot to replace). I've been reading that it's often an intake manifold gasket on these engines, which IS a big repair job.
I can do nothing at the moment as it's too cold outside and we're in the sites of a big snowstorm, again.
Do you have any advice on checking the MAF sensor and which vacuum lines may be involved? Any good online reference data, photos, how-to sites for this repair?
I have 60 days to get a retest. Hopefully the weather will warm up enough for me to do some basic checking of parts soon.

 

[janolsson]

Which engine please? 4.0 ohv, 4.0sohc or 5.0?

 

[mweiss]

It's the 4.0 ohv.

 

[mweiss]

I've got just 30 days left out of the original 60 days to get my Explorer retested. But first I need to solve and fix this CEL issue before I can retest.

Can anyone point me to a list of common causes for the lean mixture errors that my X is reporting? I know there was something about a manifold gasket and a few other things to check. If we ever get above 0°F and some of the 5' of snow we got out here melts so I can get to the truck (can't find it right now as it's buried in snow), I'd like to start checking a few things. Bear in mind, my hands have frostbite, and I can't do much when the weather is below 50°F, but if there are some simple tests that can be done in a few minutes, I'd like to do whatever I can to try to resolve this before the emissions grace period expires.

 

[Van]

I had lean left and right bank and it turned out to be the fuel pump in the tank.
A hose split on the inside of the tank and gas was pumping back into the tank.
Pressure was too low.

 

[shadowless127]

could be an o2 sensor.

 

[mweiss]

Thanks.. where's the o2 sensor?
Anything else? I read something about an intake manifold, the MAF, etc. Simple things that I can check under the hood. I don't have a lift, so the fuel tank/pump are out of reach, especially out here in the mud and snow.

 

[TammyM]

I faied emmissions. I put i a new catalac converters and sensorsbut I keep failing because they said the senors aren't ready to be read. They keep mentioning a drive cycle. I even drove on the highway for 100 miles wasting gas and still it is not ready. I have put over 5000 dollars worth of work into the vehicle and i don't know what to do. Please help

 

[windsors03cobra]

Tammy is your check engine light on ? It sounds like you still have a problem in your emissions or engine control system.

 

[cnsheets]

I had a lean bank 1 &2 OBD code previously as well. Thought I was in for some repairs thinking it was either a pump issues, intake gaskets, MAF sensor, etc......



Turned out to be this.....

Cost me a few bucks to repair.....

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1965554&postcount=11

worth taking a look at........ Mine was a 4.0 SOHC so the location of the elbow hose was slightly different, but I had the same exact problem. My hose looked identical with the slit and sucked in area. For the SOHV it is on the passenger side of the engine, just below and behind the throttle body, right below the throttle cables.