Just bought truck...need some insight!!

[smaidens]

Hello, before I give my problems I just wanted to say that this site is amazing! I have read so much here already. You guys are great!
So here is my problem... I just recently bought a 01 Explorer sport 4WD 4.0 SOHC 160000Kms. The day after I brought it home the check engine light came on! I was going to crappy tire anyways so I had them pull the code for me. They told me it was P0174 - lean on bank 2. right away they said it needs a plenum gasket. I said I would get back to them cause I was not about to pay the $500 they quoted me for! So, I went to the d!ck... I mean dealer I bought it from and they said they could look at it but nothing would be covered under their warranty! So I am finished with them.
I found out from Ford that is had the 00M12 work done in 2004. Is it possible that it is leaking again on driver's side? I don't want to start chasing things that might not be the problem. I can't seem to feel, hear, see any vacuum leaks, I've cleaned the MAF, IAC, TB, change air filter etc, and yes it was extremely dirty! This really sucks because my dad is a mechanic for 35 years until he retired last year and moved out east, so he can't even look at it with me
Now, I don't know if crappy tire did any tests on it or just read in the book that this was one of the problems and thought here is a $500 job!
Other than this, it runs rough when it is -10 in the morning only for a few seconds, then it smooths out and stops rattling, runs fine other than the idle seems a bit low, around 500 - 600 rpm.
You guys are the experts, so what do you think?

 

[MustangP51]

If you can get to the location of the gasket, start the engine and let it idle, as its idling take a can of carburetor cleaner and spray it all around the gasket and listen for changed in engine speed and sound. If the engine is affected by the spray then you do have a vacuum leak.

 

[BIGHVM]

If its had the oom12 kit done in 04, what miles has it had since- also it may be from the rear timing cassete, (another tensioner upgrade not included in the kit already changed)!
The best thing to do cost wise is to replace the upper and lower gaskits- you can do it at home yourself-here is a link to the whole 00m12 job inc pictures- why not give it a go, if you take the time YOU can do it!!!!
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=487634&postcount=33


Believe in the force!


It really does sound like the 00m12 kit problem-if you dont have reiepts to show its been done, do it anyway mate.

 

[smaidens]

Thanks for the advice! I agree that everything leads me to think that it is an intake leak. Just a quick question, can I do the rear tensioner at the same time? Is it accessible at this point?
Thanks very much for the info