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P0171 Lean Code just Popped Up

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Old Oct 17, 2010 | 05:26 PM
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Default P0171 Lean Code just Popped Up

No recent mods to the car.... 2008 with lg pro longtubes (no cats, plugged rear 02's). Intake is the killer bee ii with beehive. Car has a full dyno tune using HP tuners and has been running GREAT. Other than the CEL, you wouldn't know anything was wrong.


I'm just getting the single code, the long tubes have been installed/tuned for about 2k miles with no issues.


The only thing it could be would be one of my front o2's ****ting the bed?
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Old Oct 17, 2010 | 05:40 PM
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Did you recently get gas?

Check the gas cap first, the CEL may clear itself. Or could be bad gas which was a prevalent problem with '08's early on. Just FYI here's an '08 thread for info. Good luck.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...and-p0174.html

And another one for info:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ep-inside.html
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Old Oct 17, 2010 | 05:43 PM
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First thing I checked was the gas cap just to be sure, don't think the car is running poorly as I just recently had a chance to really get on it and couldn't hear audible knocking.

Also, it's just the single code, not both.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 02:22 AM
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Any other ideas? Is there an easy way to check O2 sensors?
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 04:55 AM
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The tune needs a tweak of the long term fuel trends at some speed other than idle. This isnt always caught especially if its a dyno tune only and no street tune verification.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 05:26 AM
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Originally Posted by SpinMonster
The tune needs a tweak of the long term fuel trends at some speed other than idle. This isnt always caught especially if its a dyno tune only and no street tune verification.
Now I know why I leave tuning to experts!
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:20 AM
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Check for vacuum leaks around the intake manifold.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by SpinMonster
The tune needs a tweak of the long term fuel trends at some speed other than idle. This isnt always caught especially if its a dyno tune only and no street tune verification.
I just can't think this is it, the car has been driven and tuned for several thousand miles, why would it just now throw a code? Also, the intake Manifold is stock untouched, so I highly doubt that's it
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by res0n0xg
I just can't think this is it, the car has been driven and tuned for several thousand miles, why would it just now throw a code? Also, the intake Manifold is stock untouched, so I highly doubt that's it
That's exactly what happens to mine. The reason it might happen now after thousands of miles is that the air is cooler and denser, requiring more fuel but you run out of adjustment and throw the code. Mine does this when the outside temps are between 45-55F. Doesn't do it any other time.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 12:54 PM
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If you can have a scan done by your tuner or someone with HP Tuners, it may help. Need to see the LTFT % Error and if it is only one bank or both.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 04:26 PM
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Originally Posted by res0n0xg
No recent mods to the car.... 2008 with lg pro longtubes (no cats, plugged rear 02's). Intake is the killer bee ii with beehive. Car has a full dyno tune using HP tuners and has been running GREAT. Other than the CEL, you wouldn't know anything was wrong.


I'm just getting the single code, the long tubes have been installed/tuned for about 2k miles with no issues.


The only thing it could be would be one of my front o2's ****ting the bed?
The Mass Air Flow Sensor could be dirty. The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. Cleaning the MAF sensor may do the trick. I would also inspect all vacuum and PCV hoses.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Mez
Check for vacuum leaks around the intake manifold.
Bingo. Double check this. If you can find someone that has an evap smoker, get them to hook it up and see where the leak it. Popping a 0171 code is usually an air leak after the MAF. Unless there is something really wrong in the tune, I would go this route first.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by seevi
The Mass Air Flow Sensor could be dirty. The use of "oiled" air filters can cause the MAF to become dirty if the filter is over-oiled. Cleaning the MAF sensor may do the trick. I would also inspect all vacuum and PCV hoses.
This will not cause a 0171 code, you will get a MAF performance error is the MAF is dirty.
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Old Oct 19, 2010 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by naschmitz
That's exactly what happens to mine. The reason it might happen now after thousands of miles is that the air is cooler and denser, requiring more fuel but you run out of adjustment and throw the code. Mine does this when the outside temps are between 45-55F. Doesn't do it any other time.
Not good. This should not be the case because the PCM can adjust for temp change and the MAF should be reading all incoming air. It sounds like you have an adder that is off for IAT temp that is coming into play during closed loop operation.
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Old Oct 20, 2010 | 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by jabbott
Bingo. Double check this. If you can find someone that has an evap smoker, get them to hook it up and see where the leak it. Popping a 0171 code is usually an air leak after the MAF. Unless there is something really wrong in the tune, I would go this route first.

Again, don't think it's the tune, I watched the HP tuners on my final tune run and it had no KR across the entire pull at all, solid AFR's, and again, I ran for 2-3k miles after being tuned with NO issues, and the car ran strong as ever.



Could it not simply be a bad O2 sensor? The intake manifold is untouched, so I wouldn't think it would blow a seal, etc. just for no reason...


Regardless, haven't had a chance to get it to the shop, I'm swamped at work, probably will call my tuner/shop this week though I guess at this point.

Last edited by res0n0xg; Oct 20, 2010 at 01:33 AM.
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Old Oct 20, 2010 | 08:13 AM
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Originally Posted by res0n0xg
Again, don't think it's the tune, I watched the HP tuners on my final tune run and it had no KR across the entire pull at all, solid AFR's, and again, I ran for 2-3k miles after being tuned with NO issues, and the car ran strong as ever.



Could it not simply be a bad O2 sensor? The intake manifold is untouched, so I wouldn't think it would blow a seal, etc. just for no reason...


Regardless, haven't had a chance to get it to the shop, I'm swamped at work, probably will call my tuner/shop this week though I guess at this point.
A simple loose hose attached to the intake manifold would cause it to throw a lean code. Check all the vacuum hoses plugged into the intake manifold. My money is still on a this as the cause.
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Old Oct 20, 2010 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by res0n0xg
Again, don't think it's the tune, I watched the HP tuners on my final tune run and it had no KR across the entire pull at all, solid AFR's, and again, I ran for 2-3k miles after being tuned with NO issues, and the car ran strong as ever.



Could it not simply be a bad O2 sensor? The intake manifold is untouched, so I wouldn't think it would blow a seal, etc. just for no reason...


Regardless, haven't had a chance to get it to the shop, I'm swamped at work, probably will call my tuner/shop this week though I guess at this point.
You can check the O2 with a scanner, but if it is bad you should get a code for it and not a lean code.

I doubt it is either, and I doubt it is a intake seal, the factory seals are really good. I think it is a hose that either is loose or cracked. I have seen a ton of them cracked and they finally get bad enough where they will suck in air. As far as the tune, the only reason I said that is because of the temp change outside you referred to. Sometimes that is easy to not look at in the tune because you are no where near it, but now the car is in a situation where the ECT or IAT is in that range.
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Old Oct 21, 2010 | 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by jabbott
This will not cause a 0171 code, you will get a MAF performance error is the MAF is dirty.

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0171
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Old Oct 24, 2010 | 08:59 PM
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I had the same issue a after my car was tuned. The lean code appeared as the temp dropped. Also my exhaust tips remained clean after washing with the initial tune so I know I was running leaner, but no codes appeared in warm weather.

After tuning adjustment by a different shop all is well.

Last edited by speedaholic; Oct 24, 2010 at 09:01 PM.
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Old Oct 25, 2010 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by seevi
You will get a code for the MAF sensor if it is faulty or bad or dirty on anything at all wrong with it. If all you have is a 0171 code you have a air leak after the MAF or a tune file is way way off. If it has not been an issue then 99.999999999% you have a air leak after the MAF. A dirty MAF will get you a MAF performance code.
Justin
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