Help with some codes...please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
Help with some codes...please
I recently removed my American Racing Headers & x-pipe and installed my stock manifolds and H-pipe. I'm getting ready to go FI (TT) so I installed a set of NGK TR6 plugs. I took the car out for a drive and the check engine light came on and the car was running rough. I took a look at the DIC and found...
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean Bank 1
P0300 Engine Misfire Detected
I thought it was the plugs so I put the AC Delco stock plugs back in, went for another test drive and got the same codes!
I noticed that the TR6 spark plugs on the driver's side were pretty black looking...like fouled. The passenger side TR6 plugs looked fine.
Any ideas? I didn't touch the Air Bridge or MAF. Also, I had ECS tune the car when the headers were installed a while ago so I don't know if it's a problem with the tune now with the stock exhaust?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean Bank 1
P0300 Engine Misfire Detected
I thought it was the plugs so I put the AC Delco stock plugs back in, went for another test drive and got the same codes!
I noticed that the TR6 spark plugs on the driver's side were pretty black looking...like fouled. The passenger side TR6 plugs looked fine.Any ideas? I didn't touch the Air Bridge or MAF. Also, I had ECS tune the car when the headers were installed a while ago so I don't know if it's a problem with the tune now with the stock exhaust?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,416
Likes: 1,144
From: Dyer, IN
I recently removed my American Racing Headers & x-pipe and installed my stock manifolds and H-pipe. I'm getting ready to go FI (TT) so I installed a set of NGK TR6 plugs. I took the car out for a drive and the check engine light came on and the car was running rough. I took a look at the DIC and found...
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean Bank 1
P0300 Engine Misfire Detected
I thought it was the plugs so I put the AC Delco stock plugs back in, went for another test drive and got the same codes! I noticed that the TR6 spark plugs on the driver's side were pretty black looking...like fouled. The passenger side TR6 plugs looked fine.
Any ideas? I didn't touch the Air Bridge or MAF. Also, I had ECS tune the car when the headers were installed a while ago so I don't know if it's a problem with the tune now with the stock exhaust?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
P0171 Fuel Trim System Lean Bank 1
P0300 Engine Misfire Detected
I thought it was the plugs so I put the AC Delco stock plugs back in, went for another test drive and got the same codes!
I noticed that the TR6 spark plugs on the driver's side were pretty black looking...like fouled. The passenger side TR6 plugs looked fine.Any ideas? I didn't touch the Air Bridge or MAF. Also, I had ECS tune the car when the headers were installed a while ago so I don't know if it's a problem with the tune now with the stock exhaust?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
The tune will certainly be off, that's for certain. Considering the condition of the plugs, I surprised you don't have a P0172, not a P0171. Did you reinstall all four O2 sensors, or just the front? If just the front, did you install them left to left, right to right?
Very well could of crossed the wires and since you put on the staock crap the tune is way off.Did you put the catalytic converters back on too?
Check the plug wires as well for damage at the ends, OHM them to see if one or two are damaged from the plug switch.
That happened to me and I had to replace some wires
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
The tune will certainly be off, that's for certain. Considering the condition of the plugs, I surprised you don't have a P0172, not a P0171. Did you reinstall all four O2 sensors, or just the front? If just the front, did you install them left to left, right to right?
On the H-pipe I did the same. I couldn't remember if the driver's side O2 sensor was suppose to connect up on the driver's side or not. The way they are angled on the H-pipe it looks like they should cross and then attach to the tunnel plate. So that's what I did. The driver's side O2 sensor crosses over to the passenger side and connects up on the passenger side of the engine. The passenger's side crosses over to the driver's side and connects up on the driver's side. Is that correct? Or, doesn't it matter?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
Very well could of crossed the wires and since you put on the staock crap the tune is way off.Did you put the catalytic converters back on too?
Check the plug wires as well for damage at the ends, OHM them to see if one or two are damaged from the plug switch.
That happened to me and I had to replace some wires
Thanks,Matt
Yes, the stock cats are back on with the stock h-pipe.
I'll take a closer look at the plug wires but I was pretty careful when swapping the plugs. The wires are not very old.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,416
Likes: 1,144
From: Dyer, IN
Yes, I reinstalled all four O2 sensors. I did one header at a time so I'm sure the front O2 sensors are on the correct sides...left to left and right to right.
On the H-pipe I did the same. I couldn't remember if the driver's side O2 sensor was suppose to connect up on the driver's side or not. The way they are angled on the H-pipe it looks like they should cross and then attach to the tunnel plate. So that's what I did. The driver's side O2 sensor crosses over to the passenger side and connects up on the passenger side of the engine. The passenger's side crosses over to the driver's side and connects up on the driver's side. Is that correct? Or, doesn't it matter?
On the H-pipe I did the same. I couldn't remember if the driver's side O2 sensor was suppose to connect up on the driver's side or not. The way they are angled on the H-pipe it looks like they should cross and then attach to the tunnel plate. So that's what I did. The driver's side O2 sensor crosses over to the passenger side and connects up on the passenger side of the engine. The passenger's side crosses over to the driver's side and connects up on the driver's side. Is that correct? Or, doesn't it matter?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
No, I didn't mess with the grounds above the starter. I worked the header carefully passed the wires and didn't have to remove or loosen anything.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
Very well could of crossed the wires and since you put on the staock crap the tune is way off.Did you put the catalytic converters back on too?
Check the plug wires as well for damage at the ends, OHM them to see if one or two are damaged from the plug switch.
That happened to me and I had to replace some wires
Thanks,Matt
What seems odd to me is that the driver's side plugs 4 plugs fouling...would that happen if I had a bad wire or two on that side?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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Friend had a similar problem, he missed with his exhaust took them down for some reason didn't know why, but when he installed them started the car the pass side was burning so rich our eyes were burning.Took it out for a ride was fine,only at idle.He checked the o/s on that side and found he cut the wire to the o/s changed and the richness went away.It was his after cats o/s.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
Friend had a similar problem, he missed with his exhaust took them down for some reason didn't know why, but when he installed them started the car the pass side was burning so rich our eyes were burning.Took it out for a ride was fine,only at idle.He checked the o/s on that side and found he cut the wire to the o/s changed and the richness went away.It was his after cats o/s.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
I double checked all the O2 sensor wires and they all look good...no cuts or anything. I did notice a rich smell out the back of the exhaust after running the car for about 5 mins. Maybe one of the O2 sensors are bad on the driver's side? Is there anyway to test the sensors?
Here's a quick video of the car running...
http://s706.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_0946.mp4
Here's a quick video of the car running...
http://s706.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=IMG_0946.mp4
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Do me a favor and follow all the wires to the O2 sensors and check for damage, start from back to front, leave "NO" wire unchecked or section.
Please also check the wires from each injector and the loom that they all go into, follow it and make sure there is no area or wire pinched.
With the change it sounds like somewhere there is a wire pinched not allowing the readings to go to the PCM - I wish you hand a scan tool or program like HP Tuners to run and see what is really going on in Real Time!
Let us know what comes out of the inspection.
Thanks,Matt
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Ohh and the plugs should be okay, but if the PCM is getting lean codes it is trying to add fuel to compensate.
Thanks,Matt
Thanks,Matt
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
No that really shouldn't happen with just a bad wire or two.
Do me a favor and follow all the wires to the O2 sensors and check for damage, start from back to front, leave "NO" wire unchecked or section.
Please also check the wires from each injector and the loom that they all go into, follow it and make sure there is no area or wire pinched.
With the change it sounds like somewhere there is a wire pinched not allowing the readings to go to the PCM - I wish you hand a scan tool or program like HP Tuners to run and see what is really going on in Real Time!
Let us know what comes out of the inspection.
Thanks,Matt
Do me a favor and follow all the wires to the O2 sensors and check for damage, start from back to front, leave "NO" wire unchecked or section.
Please also check the wires from each injector and the loom that they all go into, follow it and make sure there is no area or wire pinched.
With the change it sounds like somewhere there is a wire pinched not allowing the readings to go to the PCM - I wish you hand a scan tool or program like HP Tuners to run and see what is really going on in Real Time!
Let us know what comes out of the inspection.
Thanks,Matt
Next up is to check the injector wires. I starting to think that I need a new front O2 sensor for the driver's side. Unfortunately, that means I have to take the H-pipe down again to get a wrench on the sensor.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
I've been feeling under the weather the last week so I haven't had a chance to look into this problem until today. I went over all O2 sensor wires again and they look good. I spoke with a mechanic knowledgable in vettes and he believes that the front driver side O2 sensor maybe the problem. I disconnected that sensor and inspected the wires. Again, everything looks good. I sprayed some contact cleaner on the connections and put it back together. I started up the car again and once it started warming up I could smell the richness in the exhaust and the idle started to get choppy.
Next up is to check the injector wires. I starting to think that I need a new front O2 sensor for the driver's side. Unfortunately, that means I have to take the H-pipe down again to get a wrench on the sensor.
Next up is to check the injector wires. I starting to think that I need a new front O2 sensor for the driver's side. Unfortunately, that means I have to take the H-pipe down again to get a wrench on the sensor.
TIP: you can remove the sensor if you lower the front of your H-pipe on a box or something while keeping the back hangers connected but loose. It saves a lot of time an struggle putting it back up.
Ok, got everything back together and just ran the car at an idle for 15 mins. The richness in the exhaust is gone and no codes were thrown. The engine idled smoother than before. I'll take it out for a test drive tomorrow (no time today) and report back.
