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Posted on May 01, 2009
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All 4 o2 sensors read bad

I have a 98 4.2 f-150, that has codes for all 4 o2 sensors, can they go bad at once, black smoke comes from the tail pipe, runs better if it has a vacuum leak, or can the map, sensor be bad?

  • 2 more comments 
  • latin11970 May 01, 2009

    ok, it is a 97 ford f-150, 4.2, it has 8 codes; p0135, p0141, p0151, p0155, p0161, p1132, p1151, p1152, it has had new plugs, wires, coil pack, egr valve and new fuel pressure regulator, dosen't stall now, but still has these codes now.

  • latin11970 May 01, 2009

    Hi, ok it is a 97 f-150, 4.2 I have 8 codes; p0135, p0141, p0151, p0155, p0161, p1132, p1151, p1152, it has new plugs, wires, coil pack, fuel press. reg, and new egr valve, won't pass emissions

  • Anonymous May 02, 2009

    Code PO171 - lean exhaust bank 1

    Code PO174 - lean exhaust bank 2

    Code PO302 - oxygen heater circuit



    What does all this mean

  • Marvin
    Marvin May 11, 2010

    I very seriously doubt this, u had better get this to the dealer and have a proper diagnosis done or u will waste $300+ on un needed parts.

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  • Posted on May 01, 2009
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Daves944 knows what he is talking about, u need to find the root cause of this problem, which is a problem any of th following can cause this, MAF, Intake leaks, engine conditions like low compression and many other things, the O2 codes are a Symptom not the problem, you may also have a wiring harness problem, check the harness connectors to the O2 sensors, look for exhaust heat related wiring damage, look for corrosion in connectors.

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  • Posted on Apr 11, 2010
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Po171 and 174 is leak in vacuum such as intake gaskets or crack if u have a plastic intake manifold.....2nd also fuel pump can cause this to codes to appear so check pressure on the pump ignition on 35... when started up or at idle 50up...if it drops below 30 its time for a replacement...

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  • Posted on May 01, 2009
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You can very easily get codes that you may interpret as bad O2 sensors but have nothing to do with them. What are the codes? A Map sensor is a possibility but the coolant sensor also has a large influence on fuel control. If you have access to a scanner you should check operational values for all the sensors. The coolant sensor should read ambient air temperature in the morning before the engine is started and then work it's way up to 195 F. The upstream O2 sensors should be reading about .9 V when they're hot and mixture is rich (black smoke), try driving them lean (.1 V) by creating a vacuum leak. If your rich running condition continues it will destroy the O2's but typically O2 sensors don't have enough authority to drive the system balls rich.

Code numbers?

  • 1 more comment 
  • Dave  C
    Dave C May 01, 2009

    Wow! I've never seen so many O2 codes in the same place at the same time. :-)

    First of all, I suspect some of these were created recently by accident or diagnosis. When you see codes (1152, 1132) for sensors that are locked rich but not switching, it usually means the sensors are good but not switching because fuel is not being controlled.
    I would have a very close look underneath the front of the intake plenum. There is a PCV hose that rots out right as it does a 90 degree bend and attaches to a nipple at the front of the intake manifold. Check this, replace the hose end if necessary, clear the codes and drive it for 15 minutes. This hose end that I'm talking about is hard to see and hard to change, you kind of have to poke your fingers through the front of the plenum. It's kind of a brail job as you can't see it very well. Sometimes you can hear them hissing with the engine running as they leak vacuum.

    Repost with fresh codes and if the hose end was bad.


  • Dave  C
    Dave C May 01, 2009

    Hey thanks for that, e-wiz, my boss usually just says I'm not as dumb as I look. :-)

  • Dave  C
    Dave C May 02, 2009

    P0171 and 174 are lean codes likely caused by the P0302 which is a misfire code. When the engine is misfiring it is always dumping oxygen into the exhaust stream so the sensors always see it and set a lean code. This happens despite the fact that the engine is probably running very rich because the computer is trying to correct what it thinks is a lean condition. You must correct the misfire, try a set of plugs and then track down the bad coil pack or ignition wire if the plugs don't correct it. I say coil pack or wire because I don't know which system you have, could be either one.

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I have a 2003 Ford Escape with a PO420 error code. When I accelerate, it sounds like air is coming from my engine. What is the problem and what should I do?

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The error is coming from the O2 sensor number 1 between the exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter. The sensor itself may not be the problem. From what your describing is maybe a leak coming somewhere near the exhaust manifold. This would set off the P0420 code. Look around the exhaust manifold down to the catalytic converter for leaks that will leave black marks from burned fuel. If this can't be easily found, you may have to take the car in and have the exhaust hooked up to a smoke machine. This will inject smoke into the tail pipe and any leaks will be found by the smoke coming out of it.
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Are there any fault codes in the ECM? No "Check Engine" light on?
Black smoke means it is running rich. You should be getting Rich O2 sensor codes. Running rich is usually caused by the Mass Airflow Sensor. (MAF) This is located in the snorkel that connects the air filter to the throttle body. Make sure that the snorkel hose is properly connected to the sensor housing as well as the throttle body housing. (See Picture)88a7041.gif
Also be sure to check the reference voltage (VREF) to the MAF, MAP and TP sensors. It should be right at 4.8 to 5.2 volts. If it is low, suspect a shorted sensor. Note that several sensors are served by the same VREF circuit. I had one GM 3.1L engine that was running like **** and smoking black that had only 2 volts at the MAF. I started unplugging sensors to see if the VREF would come up to specs and found that I had 5 volts at the MAF with the Coolant Level sensor (in the radiator tank) unplugged. Replacing the Coolant Level sensor fixed the car. Any of the sensors could cause the same problem if it is shorting the VREF circuit.
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Black exhaust smoke comes out of tail pipe, now it wont run how do I fix this and where do i start

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