P0171 and P0174. Dry Coolant Overflow, Normal Temp | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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P0171 and P0174. Dry Coolant Overflow, Normal Temp

Gator Jeff

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Year, Model & Trim Level
2000 Sport 4x4
Two major repairs, P0171 and P0174 AGAIN!!!!

Alright, I've looked at a number of the threads for these codes and know they're are quite troublesome. Here's what was done just 1,000 miles ago.
  1. Fuel injectors cleaned
  2. Intake manifold gasket replaced
  3. Fuel rail gasket replaced
  4. Injector seals and EGR seals replaced
  5. Spark plugs replaced
  6. Wires replaced
  7. Throttle body cleaned
  8. MAF sensor cleaned
  9. Clean air bypass valve assembly cleened

Lately, I noticed that my coolant overflow reservoir was empty, dry in fact. The temp never showed to be above normal however. I added coolant, and it has definitely dropped below the level it was at when I added it in just the last few days. The CEL came on, shortly after I added the new coolant. The coolant that's in their has some small dark bit floating around in it, but there was dry residue in the reservoir when I filled it, so maybe it's that. :dunno:

I feel like I have a little bit of low speed hesitation, but idle is smooth, travel at speed is smooth, and passing is still smooth and strong. Despite the price of fuel, I tried on pedal-on-the-floor pass from about 50 - 70 mph and my kick down was almost instant and acceleration was good.

I'm stumped. :banghead::frustrate
 



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Hmm missing coolant. I wonder if you have a bad head gasket and it's leaking into the engine? That would have to be a lot of coolant leaking in there to cause a CEL, if it even would. What does your oil look like?
 






I'll have to check my PCV oil separator, but the last time I emptied it (early this week), it just looked like your normal 3,000 mile, needing a change soon, oil. Unfortunately, I can't get any more of a look than that as I left my ramps and oil change stuff with my ex. It kills me to have someone else do it, but I don't have a good place to store stuff like that in my apartment.
 






UPDATE: Just moved it to a shadier spot in the lot and looked at the overflow tank. Hardly anything in it now. Drove normally this morning with no noticible issues.
 






well it doesn't sound good... if you are losing that much, you should see "signs" on the dip stick or filler cap. If you are lucky though, you might have the "famous" heat control valve leak which drips onto the manifold and evaps... hence no / little sign of the problem.
 






Another update: I looked at the heater control valve and dry. No signs or residue of leaking. Oil cap and dipstick have no residue either. Oil on dipstick is the brown I'd expect for oil that is about to be due for a change.

One interesting find. On the driver's side of the radiator, there are two metal pipes coming out. The lower one has a wet residue around it and there is signs of a leak below it. Haven't had a chance to check with engine running though. But if its a radiator issue, why am I throwing engine codes???
 






check your transmission oil.... those are trans cooler pipes.... not good but maybe / hopefully just leaking externally and not internally... been there done that... :-(
 






I'll do that in the morning when I pull my PCV filter just so they don't think that's an issue. Another problem now though and I have no #$%#%#$%$ clue how they could be related. I have my 4WD LO / 4WD HI lights blinking at me. This is just stupid now!
 






Coolant Issues?

Alright, I've looked at a number of the threads for these codes and know they're are quite troublesome. Here's what was done just 1,000 miles ago.
  1. Fuel injectors cleaned
  2. Intake manifold gasket replaced
  3. Fuel rail gasket replaced
  4. Injector seals and EGR seals replaced
  5. Spark plugs replaced
  6. Wires replaced
  7. Throttle body cleaned
  8. MAF sensor cleaned
  9. Clean air bypass valve assembly cleened

Lately, I noticed that my coolant overflow reservoir was empty, dry in fact. The temp never showed to be above normal however. I added coolant, and it has definitely dropped below the level it was at when I added it in just the last few days. The CEL came on, shortly after I added the new coolant. The coolant that's in their has some small dark bit floating around in it, but there was dry residue in the reservoir when I filled it, so maybe it's that. :dunno:

I feel like I have a little bit of low speed hesitation, but idle is smooth, travel at speed is smooth, and passing is still smooth and strong. Despite the price of fuel, I tried on pedal-on-the-floor pass from about 50 - 70 mph and my kick down was almost instant and acceleration was good.

I'm stumped. :banghead::frustrate

I have this exact same problem, has never caused me a CEL, tho. Interestingly enough, this issue showed up after a tune up was done. It's a mystery to me, too, because as you noticed the coolant reservoir drains dry, the Explorer will not overheat, and there's no trace of coolant mixing in with the engine oil. :scratch:

Where does your coolant temp gauge normally rest at, dead center, or slightly towards C?

I'm assuming the problem must be a small leak in the head gasket(s). IDK, I haven't really got in there to see well yet. Even if it is, I can't do that kind of work here right now, so I hope it can wait until I move. :(
 






Yeah, it could be a small leak that fouled the sensors. The transfer case lights are what's really freaking me out now.
 






i've the same probleme

my engine is 100% or 50% bioethenol (e85)
 






Well it's at the stealership now. The piece of crap, dumb mother %@$##@ service advisor pissed me off though. I've dumped a lot of money into that place having them do repairs that my lack of a garage and tools wouldn't allow me to do and he had this f-you attitude towards me from the beginning.

Well, the straw that broke the camels back was his attitude when I asked if they had a loaner or rental that I could drive since it wouldn't be done until Monday at best. He gave me an attitude again, and told me they didn't have anything. So I just walked away and then came back and just asked for my keys and truck back. It was then when this customer service genius tells me that I could call enterprise. Maybe you should have offered to do that yourself you piece dog crap, mush for brains idiot!

Anyway, I went to the Sales manager and told them what happened and wouldn't you know it, they suddenly found a 2007 Fusion for me. It smells a little like an ashtray despite the no smoking sticker up on the windshield and its a little dirty inside, but it's 4 wheels and an engine that will get me to work on monday. I have to say that its a fun car to drive.

I still haven't heard what the problem is or what the damage is going to be. Part of me says pay whatever it takes as it's paid off. The other part says just give up and buy a new car with a warranty. I really want to keep my truck though. It's been good to me.
 






I still haven't heard what the problem is or what the damage is going to be. Part of me says pay whatever it takes as it's paid off. The other part says just give up and buy a new car with a warranty. I really want to keep my truck though. It's been good to me.

Keep it! They are good vehicles and there are non that truly replace it these days. Still cheaper to fix it.
 






Keep it! They are good vehicles and there are non that truly replace it these days. Still cheaper to fix it.

Agreed, and I figure with the $300-400 I'd be paying a month with a car payment and increased insurance, I could drop $3000/year in repairs and still be better off.
 






Just talked to the dealership. $2000 poorer now. MAF was fubared giving me the codes. Timing cover leaked, causing the leaking coolant. So new timing chain and new water pump. Hurts, but good preventative maintenance. The error code to the transfer case was my fault. My fogs were tied into my headlight switch. Apparently it shorted and sent a signal to the GEM that saw it as a transfer case error. I can't believe it, but our headlight switches go to the GEM and thats what signals our lights. Unbelievable.

But, I figure I have most of the big ticket items that can happen over 100k miles. Fingers crossed.
 






Alright, I've looked at a number of the threads for these codes and know they're are quite troublesome. Here's what was done just 1,000 miles ago.
  1. Fuel injectors cleaned
  2. Intake manifold gasket replaced
  3. Fuel rail gasket replaced
  4. Injector seals and EGR seals replaced
  5. Spark plugs replaced
  6. Wires replaced
  7. Throttle body cleaned
  8. MAF sensor cleaned
  9. Clean air bypass valve assembly cleened



I'm stumped. :banghead::frustrate

Well add to this list a new MAF sensor.

I've had it for less than a week and the CEL came on again. This is driving me nuts. :fire::frustrate What else could it be? Could the stealership do something as a temporary fix that will turn bad just so I have to bring it in again.
 






I forgot to add that my exhaust has a bit of foul odor to it. Somewhere between eggs and body odor.
 






It sounds to me like a water jacket in a head gasket could be leaking into one of the combustion chambers. If you see abnormal amounts of white smoke coming from the exhaust then the coolant is leaking internally, either a head gasket or the actual cylinder head, creating steam instead of pure exhaust. But hopefully it's something simple that they missed......it happens
 






It sounds to me like a water jacket in a head gasket could be leaking into one of the combustion chambers. If you see abnormal amounts of white smoke coming from the exhaust then the coolant is leaking internally, either a head gasket or the actual cylinder head, creating steam instead of pure exhaust. But hopefully it's something simple that they missed......it happens

That's my fear. The coolant is no longer disappearing though as they replaced the timing chain cover which was leaking the coolant last time. At least I now have a new water pump and timing chain. They better not freakin charge me to diagnose it this time. Not when I get the same dad-gum codes less than a week after I pick it up.
 



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