HELP!!! WITH A V6 SOHC

[frickea86]

I have a 1997 sohc V6 and she is a lemon. I've gotten all the recalls and what not done. I've had this on going problem ever since we bought it. It seems to not burn all the fuel and u can smell it when its running. Also, the check engine lite goes on whenever it wants to. But it doesn't do it all the time. Doesn't always come on when it acts up either. It has a mine of its own and i'm getting ready to just rip it out. I've been searching the site for a while and i haven't found any other threads that really help me with this kinda of problem. I've had it looked by many dealer ships and many engine specialists...they give me the same reason, the intake seal and thats what the error code is for the check engine lite, low vaccum or whatever. But its been replaced several times and it just keeps coming back. I've looked at the transmition, and the cad just incase. If anyone can help me it would be great...thank u guys....hope ya can help me with my on going problem. Also, it will sometime hesitate to were u have to floor so it will actually take the gas but that hasn't happen in a while. Anywayz, if ya can give me any info i will appreciate it...Thanks...Adam

 

[Nate1]

Well... fuel smell is bad. Is it in the exhaust? Are you making lots of WOT runs? If so, WOT runs will make you run rich and you will smell gas. Another reason would be sensors causing a rich mixture.
A few sensor that could cause rich mixtures are the MAF, Oxygen Sensors, IAT (I think), and (not a sensor but device) Fuel Pressure regulator.
I think the best bet for us to be able to help you is to take your car to an AutoZone the next time you see a Check Engine Light and have your OBD-II error codes scanned (for free). Write them down and bring them back here and post them.
The 'intake seal' is probably the intake manifold gaskets. Those are covered by ONP 00M12. You might want to have a *different* dealership perform 00M12 than the one you have been using for repairs.

Good luck!
-----Nate

 

[SiLenZe]

my check engine light came on today.
i bet its the phantom exaust leak. another trip to the stealer! fun fun

 

[frickea86]

thanks...i'll have to try that and trouble shoot some more. and the un burnt gas smell is coming from the exaust.

 

[Nate1]

I would look into oxygen sensors reading slowly... a dirty MAF... or mabey even spent cats.

 

[TPLYNCH]

It's a little early, but it could be the fuel pressure regulator.

 

[IAmTodd]

I love his truck, it has all the problems! I love trying to track that stuff down And its at no expense to me! We got it to idle right for the most part, dirty IAC. Is changing the intake seal very hard?

 

[frickea86]

oh thanks todd...that makes me feel great...lol...and yea what about the intake seal, is it hard to change?

 

[frickea86]

hey guys, i just wanted to let u know to keep ur heads up. My check engine lite came on today an i'm going an getting it read tomarrow before it goes off, so be lookin for the new post. Thanks

 

[Glacier991]

Sounds to me like it would be worth your while to buy your own code reader.

Happy Exploring

Chris

 

[frickea86]

Originally posted by Glacier991
Sounds to me like it would be worth your while to buy your own code reader.

Happy Exploring

Chris

Yea man it would be nice, because on the way to work my check engine light went off so i don't know what the code was for the check engine light. Sorry guyz If it comes back on i'll get it for ya. Thanks

adam

 

[Premier]

Arent the codes saved in the on board computers memory?? I think that auto zone might still be able to pull the codes. I would at least give them a call.

 

[IAmTodd]

Originally posted by Premier
Arent the codes saved in the on board computers memory?? I think that auto zone might still be able to pull the codes. I would at least give them a call.

Thats what I've always thought. But who knows!

 

[yob_yeknom]

Yes, pending codes are stored in the computer and can be read.

The fuel smell... Are you meaning you can smell raw fuel from the exhaust with the engine running? If so, it sounds like a problem with the computer thinking you have a severely lean condition and compensating by adding more fuel, but in actuality it's adding too much because the lean condition doesn't really exist.

Start off by hooking a vaccuum guage to the intake. Just pull off the rubber line coming from the brake master cylinder and plug the guage in there. With the truck idling you should get a reading somewhere around 18-22. (if you don't have a guage you might can get someone at Autozone to let you use there's in the parking lot since they do have that rent a tool program)

If your reading is okay, try replacing the front two O2 sensors. If not, get back to us.

 

[frickea86]

Thanks guyz for the info and i'll get back to u on the air pressure thing. An i'll get that code pulled sometime...so keep a heads up...laterz

 

[mikeh]

I can't remember the techincal name for it but I think you may need a new charcol canister. Maybe an EGR valve?

mikeh

 

[frickea86]

Originally posted by mikeh
I can't remember the techincal name for it but I think you may need a new charcol canister. Maybe an EGR valve?

mikeh

Y do u say that man....?

 

[frickea86]

do u guyz think it might be a clogged fuel injector....i don't know, it still hesitation on me and i would like to get rid of it.....could it possibly be spark plugs....any suggestions....?

adam