PLease help I am at wit's end.

[Crzyrzr]

Really need help with this I have it posted in the 4.0 section also but I have to get this thing through OBD inspection before friday!

Vehicle: 1998 Ford Ranger V6 4.0L Vin X 2WD Automatic

Extras : Replaced Air Filter with a Cone style air filter, comparable to K&N Filter
Flowmaster exhaust system

Problem: CEL throwing codes Lean Bank 1, Lean Bank 2 (0171 and 0174)

Items replaced: PCV Valve and Hose
Fuel Filter
DFPE Hoses, they were collapseing
Upper Intake Gaskets, round rings on bottom of plastic intake
Gasket between Fuel Rail and Lower Intake
Oring around EGR tube into Intake

Additives used to clean fuel system: STP Gas Treatment, and High Test Gas. When I did this light stayed off 65 miles. After that tank ran Seafoam with High test light stayed off another 30 or so miles.

Results: Does drive better, better gas mileage, and resulting in better power. However this light continues to come on and results in a failing inspection.

Sidenote: It alternates to which code kicks on first, outta 5 times the bank 1 code kicks on first 2 times, the other 3 times it has been bank 2

Has anyone changed the EGR control Solenoid and that fixed lean codes? I could really use some help like I have been getting on here, I would hate to tear into this motor again to get to the lower intake when it may not be necessary.

 

[richlands55]

If your air filter uses an oil coating it might have destroyed your mass air flow sensor.
I would also check for exhaust leaks, they will mess with your o2 sensors.
You really need a scanner that displays live data, so you can see what your 02 sensors are doing. Have the 02 sensors ever been replaced?

 

[Crzyrzr]

Not that I am aware of. I am the second owner of this truck and so far every part has either been original or done by ford themselves. I got the truck in 2008 and it only had 98000 on it so I have a feeling I am catching all the things that should have been done. Way to pass the buck on to the next owner huh?

 

[TomJenks]

High Idle? I've seen dpfe hoses collapse and break and melt a hole in the intake if its plastic.

 

[Crzyrzr]

No high idle, truck seems to idle smooth round 800 900, just like it has and others I have looked at before. Bout to blow my own gasket

 

[TomJenks]

spray the top end/vaccuum lines w/ carb cleaner to see if there is an uptake in the rpm. If they pick up then check for a vaccuum leak in that area. How many miles have u put on it since you added the seafoam and the fuel additive?

 

[Crzyrzr]

First, I have checked every vacum line I can get into and some that are not so easy got the scars to prove them. I replaced a few lines that looked rough though to be on the safe side.

Second the seafoam I have put bout 50 miles or more with it in. Light came on had it reset this morning drove 20 miles trying to squeak by inspection, pulled it in the bay and BAM, dang light came on. So it seems to range as when the light comes back on. So far I have had it came back on after hard resets in the following ranges 6miles, 50 miles, 10miles, 80 miles, and 22 miles. In that order. Actullay got so mad I was thinking of trading for a dang colorado haha.

 

[TomJenks]

The cel light was on before you started working on it? Or did this pop up after? sorry for the 20 questions, just trying to get an idea on chain-of-events.

 

[Crzyrzr]

On before, the inspection thing is what prompted all this work. I was able to squeak by last year, didn't do it last year. Lost my job and got a divorce so the truck was the last thing on my mind.

 

[TomJenks]

without seeing live data on it, one could say o2 sensors are getting lazy on it. Like the other poster has said, exhaust leaks will mess with the o2 sensor readinds. If the truck has high miles, I would just replace the upstream o2 sensors since they are considered a "wear" item.

 

[adsm08]

Put the stock intake system back on. I've seen those conical systems be the issue with lean codes before.

 

[Crzyrzr]

Ok so after much trial and error I am smart enough to say that I can't figure out what is going on. I dropped the truck off this morning to have mechanic take a look at it and see what he can find out on it. As soon as I get it back I will post what the culprit was. Thanks for all the help and advice. This is why I prefer non computerized vehicles. Whoot Whoot give me four barrels, hedman headers, and alot of torque.

 

[--weezl--]

i'm with the others, if it's a k&n or any other oil type filter $10 says that's your problem...

o2 is another good option also...

 

[envious8420]

still sounds like a vac leak. get the 136 code yet? check the plumbing for the evap system, the hose rots from the fuel vapors and creates a hard to find leak.

 

[adsm08]

This is why I prefer non computerized vehicles.

Computerized vehicles are only harder to diagnose if you don't know how. I can solve in an hour and one try a problem that might take me days and hundreds of dollars in parts to figure out with a carbed system.