water in my gas...not really

[i_am_cool_fred]

ok, i got a 97 ranger, with the 2.3l in it.

i changed my plugs last year (80,000 since time before), every since the check engine light has been coming off and on.

my theory is old catalytic convertor, and a slowly enlarging hole in the muffler is throwing off a sensor.

I got to autozone to get a code read out, they say it's eitehr vacuum or mass air flow sensor. i go to a mechanic he says water in the gas

water in the gas??? really??? what would make his reader say that?? what could it be?

i removed the throttle body and the intake plenum when doing the plugs so i could also fix a leaky valve cover gasket. all new gaskets were used in the tune up. any help would be great, it's annoying mroe than anything, i consistently get between 21 and 23mpg even with it on, i just want to konw what's going on, i want to see 300k in this thing...i'm over half way there now

 

[Earl43P]

Post the actual code #.

Without that, it's anyone's "guess".

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

a hole in the muffler will not affect any sensors, but a leak in front of the catalytic converter WILL

i would assume you are getting a lean code by the autozone tards saying vacuum leak or MAF. an old O2 sensor can show a lean code too

you might want to check under the hood and listen for any hissing noises, but other than that you'll might as well send it to the shop or you'll be guessing

 

[i_am_cool_fred]

when i went to the shop he said water in the gas, i said it's been off and on for nearly a year and i go to different gas stations.

he said that his mechanic says it's either a sensor (a sensor not ____ sensor) or a wiring issue and it'd basically have to go to the dealer.

13 year old truck...i'm not dumping dealer prices to get it fixed.

there is a definate hole somewhere in the exhaust, i don't see it in the muffler, just always assumed it was on top of the muffler, but i will say it seems louder in the engine compartment/towards the front than in the muffler area. this past winter i got the bright idea of starting it up to see where the fog was coming from...didn't see anything.

i'll try to get a code read on it soon and post back. again, mileage hasn't changed, still runs just as good, so no BIG deal, just want the friggin' light to stay out.

EDIT::: you suggest an old o2 sensor...as i've said before, the truck is 13 years old and the only things un original are air filter, shocks, tires, timing belt (light was on before that and stayed on after) and brakes...everything else has NOT been replaced or gone out (except essentials like oils and fluids.)

 

[modelageek]

when i went to the shop he said water in the gas, i said it's been off and on for nearly a year and i go to different gas stations.

he said that his mechanic says it's either a sensor (a sensor not ____ sensor) or a wiring issue and it'd basically have to go to the dealer.

13 year old truck...i'm not dumping dealer prices to get it fixed.

there is a definate hole somewhere in the exhaust, i don't see it in the muffler, just always assumed it was on top of the muffler, but i will say it seems louder in the engine compartment/towards the front than in the muffler area. this past winter i got the bright idea of starting it up to see where the fog was coming from...didn't see anything.

i'll try to get a code read on it soon and post back. again, mileage hasn't changed, still runs just as good, so no BIG deal, just want the friggin' light to stay out.

EDIT::: you suggest an old o2 sensor...as i've said before, the truck is 13 years old and the only things un original are air filter, shocks, tires, timing belt (light was on before that and stayed on after) and brakes...everything else has NOT been replaced or gone out (except essentials like oils and fluids.)

Doesn't sound like it should be to hard to figure out......go buy a code reader for $30.........post the codes here.........You did not have the issue until you removed the manifold and replaced the plugs( this is an important clue). What plugs did you install? did you change the wires? have you added a bunch of additives?

I see you only have 3 posts so I will not yell at you...but the #1 rule in DXing vehicles is "check for codes "and going to AZ and leaving without the actual code #'s does not qualify as checking for codes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and another tip.......the fuel filters never get changed enough on these trucks!

 

[modelageek]

did you check were the exhasust pipe meets the CAT for a leak!!!

 

[modelageek]

ok, i got a 97 ranger, with the 2.3l in it.

i changed my plugs last year (80,000 since time before), every since the check engine light has been coming off and on.

my theory is old catalytic convertor, and a slowly enlarging hole in the muffler is throwing off a sensor.

I got to autozone to get a code read out, they say it's eitehr vacuum or mass air flow sensor. i go to a mechanic he says water in the gas

water in the gas??? really??? what would make his reader say that?? what could it be?

i removed the throttle body and the intake plenum when doing the plugs so i could also fix a leaky valve cover gasket. all new gaskets were used in the tune up. any help would be great, it's annoying mroe than anything, i consistently get between 21 and 23mpg even with it on, i just want to konw what's going on, i want to see 300k in this thing...i'm over half way there now

I see you live in Arkansas,, pretty hot and dry there......maybe one of those vacuum lines got a little crack in it that got exasperated when you removed the intake.......i am betting on a P0171

 

[modelageek]

I just thought of something.........did the hole in the exhaust come about around the same time you changed the plugs. There is a pipe that runs from the EGR valve down to the exhaust manifold. I think the DFPE sensor runs off of that also. Maybe that pipe got disturbed when you removed the EGR from the intake manifiold. thus creating the exhaust leak and your issue........

 

[i_am_cool_fred]

exhaust leak was there before plug change i've thought about an egr issue before.

NGK's with new wires.

fuel filter was replaced when this issue started thiking that was the problem...it is time to replace that again though.

i'll pick up a code reader next week and post results

did you check were the exhasust pipe meets the CAT for a leak!!!

ya, didn't see or feel anything with the truck running.


edit, sorry for not posting codes, as i said in my intro, my hobby really is my 58 vw bus...not the 97 ranger with all the fancy technology lol

 

[modelageek]

exhaust leak was there before plug change i've thought about an egr issue before.

NGK's with new wires.

fuel filter was replaced when this issue started thiking that was the problem...it is time to replace that again though.

i'll pick up a code reader next week and post results



ya, didn't see or feel anything with the truck running.


edit, sorry for not posting codes, as i said in my intro, my hobby really is my 58 vw bus...not the 97 ranger with all the fancy technology lol

I would suspect one of those smll vacuum hoses around the intake manifold might have a crack in it. not a bad crack just a small one.......sometimes you can spray starter fluid or car cleaner around these hoses while the truck runs maybe even move the hoses around and see if the idle changes.....

I change my FF every 15k. I think the recommended is 30k...most of the time people hardly ever change them(bad idea)

the recommended plugs for these engines is autolite or motorcraft. I made the mistake of using Bosch once and the engine literally ate hole sin the tips of them in less than 6k miles.

 

[Bryan22]

did you ever get the code number? Goin off what the autozone guy sai. start by cleaning the maf with a 5 dollar can of maf cleaner. after it's back together start the truck and spray the vaccum lines and listen for a change in RPM. if the idle speeds up when you spray a certain hose, it's a vaccum leak. good luck.

 

[Insanejughead]

I see you live in Arkansas,, pretty hot and dry there......maybe one of those vacuum lines got a little crack in it that got exasperated when you removed the intake.......i am betting on a P0171

You're half right... Arkansas can get hot, but it's never dry. I think you misinterpreted Arkansas as Arizona.

Just an observation about what I read, because you also said "AZ" in an earlier post.

 

[88ranger89camaro]

wow an over year old post

 

[i_am_cool_fred]

ya, and the poor poor danger ranger died

see you folks on nitroforumz.com



the heater was broken, then the air conditioner went out (yes you need both in one day in ARKANSAS!!). on top of it i had 198k on the clock, it was time for a tune up, time for a rear end flushing, tranny flushing, tires, the powersteering pump was makin' some racket, i had a noisey u-joint.

yes i could of done it all myself, but how long would it of lasted, i need a daily not a project, i already have a project car....so, ranger went by by.