p0174 & p0171 CEL HELP!

[atvkid4eva]

hey guys on my 97' 4.0l ranger the other day the CEL came on randomly..i didnt think much of it but now when i go to slow down my RPM's fluctuate like crazy from about 900-200 RPM back and forth like the truck is going to stall..also when this happens my Volt meter for my battery jumps up and down.it seems to drive fine tho otherwise. It only happens when i am slowing down to stop or even stopped at a stop light idleing. It wll occasionally just stall when it starts to act up. the CEL codes are for the truck running lean on bank 1 & 2. i checked for vaccuum leaks and thought i found one on the DPFE hose replaced the hose and it didnt help..also replaced the IAC since it was under warranty still nothing. any help would be great thanks! i have a video of the RPMs on my phone if anyone thinks it would help them solve the problem.

 

[atvkid4eva]

alright guys i really need some help the truck has gotten worse and stalls almost everytime i come to a stop it starts right back up tho??

 

[97RangerXLT]

ok I think i got I think i got this one for you. the short version is that your gasket between the fuel rail and the lower intake is shot. there is a TSB on this for 97 Rangers and Aerostars.

I came accross this issue when I changed the valve cover gaskets on mine. I have a pdf that I found on the net that explains everything, including what you need to do to fix it.

for your repair, you only have to remove the upper intake and the fuel rail. not too bad. at least you don't have to mess with the valve covers and lower intake.

This is not too bad of a repair. PM me your email addy and I will send you a copy of that PDF, it was a godsend for me when doing the valve covers, and it has a nice blow up of the 4.0 upper engine w/ part numbers etc. it also has the above mentioned TSB attached. I guess that it is only specific to the 97 model year.

AJ

 

[atvkid4eva]

Pm sent

 

[kevinsranger]

Pm sent

definitely the intake gaskets, they are rubber o'ring style and they shrink and get brittle, i have to do the same on my 98 explorer

 

[97RangerXLT]

definitely the intake gaskets, they are rubber o'ring style and they shrink and get brittle, i have to do the same on my 98 explorer

on the 97, the o ring gaskets are on the top side of the fuel rail... upper intake to fuel rail. these are not the problem area although since they are like 3 bucks for the set and you have to remove this anyways, replace them. the one that is causing his issues is a paper gasket on the bottom of the fuel rail.. fuel rail to lower intake. what happens is the gasket distorts and pulls into one of the ports causing a vacuum leak and the lean codes.

I believe on earlier Rangers there were two of these paper gaskets, one ontop and one on the bottom of the fuel rail. maybe in later they went to the o ring type on top and bottom (much better setup in my opinion)...

AJ

 

[modelageek]

definitely the intake gaskets, they are rubber o'ring style and they shrink and get brittle, i have to do the same on my 98 explorer

I think the 97 4.0 is a pushrod engine were as the 4.0 in a 98 explorer is the 4.0 sohc. I think they started putting the 4.0 sohc in the Rangers in 2001?

 

[atvkid4eva]

Ok, so do i just replace the three plentum rubber o rings? or do i replace the fuel rail gasket as well? i cant find the kit that comes with both gaskets in one and advance or autozone..could someone please post a link? thanks!

 

[97RangerXLT]

interesting enouh, I could not find the gasket you need on rockauto (at least singularly) it does come in the big kit that has the valve cover gaskets.

I got mine in my valve cover gasket kit, then bought the oring gaskets separate. you will get 6 oring gaskets but will only use 3 of them.

your best bet will be to go to Ford for the single gasket if you do not do the valve covers. probably won't be too bad pricewise, I got the lower intake gasket from ford for the same price as the fel pro one at autozone.

AJ

 

[wahlstrom1]

I bought mine directly from ford, it was $14. Mine had the EXACT same issues, and there was a 1/2" long chunk split and sucked into the intake (but not detached from the rest of the gasket, just hanging). The stock gasket was all paper, but the one I got to repair it was an upgraded version from ford, and had a rubber embossed seal. Just over 100,xxxkm's since and no related issues!

 

[atvkid4eva]

in this How-To http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=171819 the guys has a 2000 ranger that is a 4.0 and lists the part number for the gasket kit with the plentum and fuel rail gaskets. from the pictures his motor looks identical to mine..would this kit work for me? or should i order them seperately from ford.i already have this kit on order but its not to late to cancel it if it wont fit?

 

[97RangerXLT]

that blow up that is attached to the document I sent you should also have the part number for your gasket as well. so if it is the same, you are good to go.

AJ

 

[atvkid4eva]

yeah it shows the ford part numbers but i was wondering if that felpro kit i listed in the link above would work too? no ford dealers around me have the gaskets in stock so i hope the felpro ones are the same. thanks again tho for that PDF.

 

[97RangerXLT]

your link did not work for me, it 404'd

AJ