p0401 code, need ideas

[joecool85]

So my truck threw a p0401 this afternoon on my way home. Seems to drive normal, power is fine, getting 17mpg (had been getting 18-20 this summer, but it's winter now and with warmup time etc, I figured that is reasonable). Its a 2000 3.0 Flex Fuel, 4x4 5spd.

I read the p0401 is normally the DPFE not getting enough vacuum. I checked my hoses and they all look good. Would running some seafoam through the vacuum lines help? I'm not really keen on spending $50-100 on a new sensor unless I really have to.

 

[Bob Ayers]

A bad DPFE sensor will cause the same code.

 

[McCormack]

Yep, probably a bad DPFE sensor causing the code.

 

[joecool85]

So you guys think it's worth the $$ to get one?

 

[McCormack]

Without testing no one can say a hundred percent for sure that your DPFE is faulty, but faulty DPFE's are a known problem on the 3.0 Ranger, and they throw a 401 code when they go bad, so you'll have to decide if it's worth spending the $ for a new one.

FWIW, a couple of years ago my '00 3.0 threw a 401 code and I replaced the DPFE and it fixed the problem.

 

[joecool85]

Not a bad idea with the jy ones, but I found one for $68 at autozone and I have christmas money left over so if I need to get one I will buy a new one I think.

I blanked the code with my reader last night, drove it to church and back this morning (round trip 20miles) and it hasn't come back on yet. We'll see what happens.