flex fuel sensor malfunction?

[Bob Ayers]

If your never going to run E-85, the cheapist, and most reliable solution is to unplug the E-85 sensor, and swap the Flex-Fuel PCM for a non-Flex Fuel 3.0L PCM.

 

[00stranger]

i didn't know i had a flex fuel truck until i had my friend scan the code. Fixizin, i wouldn't call it i time bomb, where you live there's probably a lot of flex 3.0L so it would be easy to find a sensor at a wrecker. i found a thread on the net where someone else was complaining about how much he payed for the sensor, then someone else said they picked one up fo 10$ at the wrecker. it doesn't seem to be that common of a problem for these sensors to go, but even if you change to 1 or 2 in the life of truck, it shouldn't cost too much with wrecker parts.

when i change the sensor, i'll post what was involved. if it's fairly easy to change, i would suggest that everyone find a spare sensor(just in case). my truck died when i was towing my atv, so i drove my atv to get to a phone. i'd hate to see someone get stranded in the middle of nowhere.

unpluging the sensor doesn't work. that was the first thing i tried when the truck died the first time on the side of the road. engine would turn over but not start, pluged the sensor back in and it would start but run like a deisel.

changing the pcm should work but even the wreckers around here want around 200$. i'm just going to always carry a spare sensor. hopefully it's going to be easy to change

 

[Jason]

Does your truck have the little green leaf on the the back or side? If it does, it's a flex-fuel vehicle. Ford labels them all with that little leaf.

 

[00stranger]

my truck has no leaf, or even a xl or xlt badge. i have a feeling the PO took it off so i wouldn't notice it was flex. there's no reason to own a flex out here since gas stations don't carry e85. the only place i noticed it says flex fuel is inside the fuel filler door but i never noticed it before.

does anyone know what's involved to change the sensor? if i figure out how to post pics, i'll show or at least describe what's involved for the next person who has this problem. i noticed there is a NHTSA service bulletin for this problem. the id # is 613656. ford doesn't seem to have any tsb's or recalls for it though. what does NHTSA stand for?

 

[Big Jim M]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes...

Google is our friend..

Big Jim

 

[shadetree]

NHTSA. National Hiway Traffic Safety Administration. Check their website. Service bulletins are not always listed for all models. Example: Early Explorers have a fire problem. The mirror switch shorts and catches the truck on fire. They are suspected of having burned down a couple of buildings.

There is a service bulletin on this problem, but it only pertains to 4 doors. When my 2 door burned, no service bulletins could be found for the 2 door even tho it is the same switch/circuit. shady

 

[Jason]

All recalls and TSB's MUST be reported to the NHTSA if it applies to vehicles in the US market. However the full text of the TSB does not have to be reported as it is proprietary information.

 

[Earl43P]

National Highway Traffic Safety Admin.

You can search their site (NHTSA.gov) for recalls, etc.

 

[fixizin]

Bumpety-BUMP!... so stranger... how much hassle involved in the swap-out?

Definitely on the shopping list for next salvage yard junket.

 

[Prime_Ranger]

ttt

Are there any updates on this problem from anyone?

I have a guy here who has the same problem.

 

[rurouni20xx]

sounds like i need to hit the salvage yard and cut a bunch of sensors and make me some money... thank god i have a 93...

 

[99roush]

sorry to jumpin

this sounds like my 99 3.0 ranger. it will start and run fine 1 day then it will just crank and crank the next... it will run for about a week or so with no probs then it will just start missing then die like it is running out of fuel. so did the flex fuel sensor solve the problem

 

[betomonroy]

I am amazed.
After all this I can not seem to be able to come to my senses.
I am going berzerk!
He mentioned black smoke coming out of the tail pipe.
How come nobody has suggested him to check for the fuel pressure just in case his fuel filter / pressure regulator unit is bad?
So much for a bunch of f***ing gear heads.
By the way... How much is this thing cost in Canada?
Here is like $32.00 Us Dollars.

 

[wayfast73]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Flex-Fuel-Sensor-Replicator-Ford-/270717521711

My 2000 has one of these, to fix the same issue.

 

[ODIEODIE96]

Flex Fuel Probles/ Solution

Hey guys been readin yer posts and having the same issue myself figured i'd send yall a little web site that helped me out BIG time. The product is called a flex fuel replicator and it basically does away with the E85 and you will no longer be able to run it WITHOUT having to pay out the ass for the flex fuel sensor. The replicator for the ford is priced at 150 bucks brand new straight from there web site. below is the website yall can visit and read what it does and maby order your own..



http://www.tandselectronics.com/