Fuel air ratio too lean?

Tiny
SBUCHANAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 HONDA FIT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 220,000 MILES
When I start to drive my car it's like it loses all power, a check engine light starts flashing and I have to pull over, shut my car off, turn it back on and then drive down the road. Sometimes I have to try it a few times before it finally drives down the road. It gets shutters at stop signs or stop lights like the car wants to take off or like the engines trying to cut out like stalling and it doesn't when I slow down into a lower gear. I use the shifter gears on my steering wheel when it starts to shutter really bad to downshift because it seems like it's trying to shift too fast into a higher gear. I've ran the engine codes on it, and they say cylinder four misfire and replace the coil and the spark plug already it says a code for fuel air ratio sensor 2 being too lean and we changed it, but I think it was sensor one that actually got changed. I'm not sure where sensor 2 is located. But when I push on the gas it's like it's not getting enough gas or something I ran fuel injector cleaner through it and cat cleaner through it and it's still acting up I don't know what to do.
Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 9:58 AM

16 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,070 POSTS
It sounds like the engine is misfiring and the oxygen sensor is picking that up with a lean code which is normal, I would do a compression test in cylinder number 4 which is sounds like the injector is bad if the compression is good. Here is a guide to help with the test and how to change the injector out in the images below in case you need it:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Remove the fuel pump relay and run the engine until it stalls to relieve the high-pressure fuel pump. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens. Also, I would service the throttle body as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

And this guide can help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/reduced-power-limp-mode

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
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Thank you for the information I will start on it and let you know if the steps you gave me worked. Very appreciated.
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Monday, April 10th, 2023 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
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  • 8 POSTS
Sorry it's taking so long to get back to you or to work on the car for that fact. My hood flew open when I was doing 60 MPH down the highway and shattered my windshield, so I haven't had to work on car until I got the windshield fixed. But I think I may have found the problem thanks to your guys' advice. I'm hoping it is the solution though. I decided to clean the throttle body first because the fuel injection thing was way too advanced for me LOL but I will upload pictures and let you see what I'm seeing.
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Saturday, April 22nd, 2023 AT 7:33 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sorry to hear about the hood flying open, that is always scary. Yes, the throttle body is dirty so cleaning it should help. Please let me know how it goes.
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Monday, April 24th, 2023 AT 11:27 AM
Tiny
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Well, after putting it back together it still isn't driving like it's supposed to. Still cuts out and doesn't go.
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Tuesday, April 25th, 2023 AT 1:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,070 POSTS
I think we should check the fuel pressure, here is a guide to help and the fuel pressure specs as well. You can rent a fuel pressure test kit from the auto parts store for free or cheap.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Please check the images below, I have also seen the MAF sensor being bad can cause this issue as well. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, April 27th, 2023 AT 9:28 AM
Tiny
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  • 8 POSTS
Okay, I will try the today. Thank you
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Thursday, April 27th, 2023 AT 10:08 AM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Well, I broke down and took it to get looked at and tested at a shop and they said everything with coil and plug and wiring tested good, but it definitely was a fuel injector issue. They recommended seeing if a different shop could do a high-pressure injector cleaning to it before replacing it and that he didn't have the equipment to do so. But to try that first before replacing the whole injector itself. Any thoughts or suggestions?
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Thursday, April 27th, 2023 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Did you ever do the compression test on #4? How was the engine running when going down the road?
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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
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Yes, I did. Well, the shop did and said everything there checked out good. Just #4 fuel injector wasn't getting gas. Question, will an injector off a 1997 Accord work on my 2015 fit?
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Friday, May 5th, 2023 AT 5:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,070 POSTS
Not really, one is high pressure and the other is low pressure, I would purchase a new injector. Here is how to change the injector out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what you find.
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+1
Friday, May 5th, 2023 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Okay, so, I've replaced the fuel injector and at first it started beautifully wasn't misfiring drove it for a little bit and now it is starting to cut out again not as often as before, but it is. It still throws a code for a cylinder misfire saying the air fuel ratio. When it starts to cut out, I'm able to downshift and then it usually stops but I have to downshift a lot like it's not shifting gears right still and that is when I'm in regular drive mode it does the same thing and sport mode also. I don't get it.
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Friday, May 26th, 2023 AT 10:12 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,320 POSTS
Hi,

I noticed we haven't been in touch for a couple of days. Have you been able to make any progress? We are interested in knowing.

Let us know.

Take care,

Joe
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Sunday, May 28th, 2023 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
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It's starting to run better, however it still cuts out every now and then. Usually, I just give it more gas or let off the gas and it stops but doesn't go into limp mode like it was before. Seems to do it most when going up hills. Throws code for cylinder misfire in same cylinder still and P219a and P2097 now.
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Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 AT 8:55 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,320 POSTS
Hi,

Code P2097 leads me to P219a. I attached the diagnostics below. Take a look through them and let me know if you are comfortable performing them.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below. Note: When I go to the P2097, it walks me through one step and then asks if the P219a is present. If it is, that is where it indicates to go next.
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Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 AT 9:34 PM

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