'99 XLS Po171 & P0174 codes

My son's '99 XLS 4.0 (cheaper engine, I think) with 97K miles has been showing P0171 and P0174 codes for the last several months. (just came home from college today) He has been getting them reset (cleared) and after several days they come back on.

Car history: Bought new in '98 and treated well. NO work of any kind has been required under the hood.

He says it has not affected the performace of his Explorer and it doesn't have any problems or run rough starting in cold weather. He also left my Haynes repair manual at school. I think this is the OHV version? Most if not all of the post refer to the SOHC model.

What should I start to do since he will be home for only a few days? Any help would be appreciated.

/Richard

Reply to
Richard
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Here's a place that describes your trouble codes:

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Reply to
Ulysses

Thank you,

I will start looking for vacume leaks and clean the MAF first. Thanks again.

/Richard

Reply to
Richard

Thank you,

I will start looking for vacume leaks and clean the MAF first. Thanks again.

/Richard

Let's just hope it's as easy to fix as it sounds like :-)

Reply to
Ulysses

O2 sensor codes are often bad sensors, at least in my experience.

Reply to
PeterD

I have a PO136 and a PO141 on my '97 (4.0L OHV) and my brother-in-law-mechanic told me to check the voltage at the sensor. If the voltage is good then the sensor is bad.

OTOH I've had a CEL come on (same vehicle) and it went off after I cleaned the MAF, replaced the air filter, and cleaned the IAC (for good measure). It didn't come back on but in that case I didn't have a code reader available. Just dumb luck I guess.

Someday I would like to see a list of all the things that make the CEL come on so guys like me can at least try a few things before spending a bunch of money. Most of my Fords aren't worth paying someone to fix. It's kinda scary cause there isn't much input in this NG any more so I can only hope my luck continues.

Reply to
Ulysses

Some how the concept that the voltage being right at the sensor dictates the sensor is bad is puzzling...

Could have been dumb luck, but what you did was sensible, and reasonable.

A scan tool is your friend. Personally I own my own scan tool (OK, I have *five* of them...) but many parts stores will scan for 'free'.

Frequently I can clear the DTCs for a vehicle and they won't come back on. This is always the best first start, certainly the cheapest one. Sometimes it is a transient problem, and it never reoccures.

Reply to
PeterD

It seems clear to me ;-) What I meant was if you have a code indicating a bad sensor and the wiring check out OK, and the proper voltage it getting TO the sensor, then the sensor must be bad.

My local parts stores used to scan for free but now they say the government won't let them do it any more. I guess the Auto Mechanics Union or somebody paid off the govment.

I've had results getting the CEL to go off by disconnecting the battery for a while but that was always when I did something like disconnect the throttle position sensor which should make the CEL come on. Sooner or later I'll have to get a code reader or start buying older cars ;-). Right now I have a '99 Ranger with auto trans problems and unfortunately I think I've eliminated all of the possible electronic and sensor problems so that leaves me with needing a rebuild/replacement. If I had a bad speed sensor would it show up as a trouble code? I have no codes and have had them read twice.

Reply to
Ulysses

Perhaps misundertanding, but an O2 sensor generates voltage, and doesn't 'get' voltage. So if the voltage at the O2 sensor is right, then the sensor had to be good.

You must be in one of those states where you have no freedom at all. Like CA for example where you can't wipe your butt whtout running afoul of the law! They (scan tools) are not expensive, a good investment IMHO, especially if you live there!

Really old cars! Like from the 60's. But wait, taht won't work because some states are now forcing people to scrap these older, classic cars.

I guess more information about what's happening would be best. Is it a

4x4? IIRC, the sensor for speed is in the tcase, same connector as the tcase shift motor.
Reply to
PeterD

Reply to
Ulysses

OK then. I didn't know that. Now I understand what you meant.

You guessed it. I call it The Totalitarianism State. It's full of a bunch of brain-washed zombies that come from some place called "Back East" that believe whatever hogwash the government throws at them. AND they can vote. But seriously, if the government covered them with shit and told them it was good for them, they would LIKE it and say "thank you."

I had a dream that they took away my '91 Explorer. I guess we're all supposed to buy a new car every two years. Maybe I should sell my '78 Ford pickup before they ban those. I've been told at the smog test place that they keep reducing the acceptable emissions but so far I've passed the smog tests no problem. Last year was supposed to be it's last smog test but they suspended the "30 year rollover" as they call it. I guess I won't be surprised if they do ban old cars/trucks. Hell, any state that can ban smoking OUTDOORS can do just about anything.

Well, it's a '99 Ranger Reg Cab, 2WD, 3.0L V6 engine, 4R44E auto trans, regular open differential, no transfer case, one-piece driveshaft. I don't even have a repair manual for it yet. Just got it a few weeks ago :-(

Reply to
Ulysses

I cleaned the MAF (it didn't look like it needed it) and checked all of the hose connections I could find. It's been a week now and the CEL light has stayed off. I wonder if it was the extreme cold/wet this winter that tripped the light twice? Anyway so far so good!!!!

Reply to
Richard

Good glad to hear its fixed. By the way, your engine is the 4.0 OHV. Its not "cheaper", it might be less powerful than the SOHC or the V8, but it is a reliable bullet- proof engine.

Reply to
Mike rock

Yes! I have three of those engines.

Reply to
Ulysses

That's good to hear! I hope the light stays off but we will see in a couple of weeks when he comes back from school. Thanks again for all of the help.

Reply to
Richard

It's been over a month and the light has not came back on!!!!!!!

Reply to
Richard

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