System lean in bank 1 - P0171

Tiny
WARREN1814
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Just to let SCWICKEDSTANG know, someone saw the trouble I was having and bought me a new maf sensor and had it installed and they erased the error codes on my van. I think they think that is going to fix it but I have been replacing maf sensors on my van since 2018 and the error keeps coming back. The same ones P0171 and P0174. And by the way I have been driving my van and so far it hasn't been any new codes set as of yet and it still runs good so far. Also, A new maf sensor was installed not to long ago too and it didn't turn the service engine soon light back off either. It still shines so pretty and annoying too. Lol But I will let you know as soon as I can. Looks like I will have to find a shop that has a smoke machine etc.
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Thursday, August 1st, 2019 AT 7:23 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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The P0171 is because the system is too lean. it could be a fuel injector is becoming weak. I would remove all spark plugs and check the color to see if one is a little different this will be the cylinder that needs to injector. Here are two guides to help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-spark-plugs

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-fuel-injector

Please run down these guides and report back.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2019 AT 11:43 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
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Sorry to say Warren but the lean codes will not go away until that intake is replaced! The bolts that hold down the plastic intake to the lower aluminum intake have grommets on them that harden and fail over time and are non replaceable, they only come with the plastic intake. Monitor the upstream oxygen sensors HO2s11, HO2s21 and spray the intake with brake clean or carburetor cleaner where the plastic intake mates to the aluminum intake. If the volts spike up to 1 volt and stay there for several seconds, bingo vacuum leak identified. This is how I do it because it’s quick and effective.
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Friday, August 2nd, 2019 AT 10:59 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Nice work on the vacuum leak detection method, is it okay to add this info to the site vacuum leak guide?
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Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 AT 10:47 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
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Thanks Ken! Absolutely!
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Monday, August 5th, 2019 AT 12:27 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sweet!
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 9:52 AM
Tiny
WARREN1814
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Hey Ken and BMDouble thanks for the information. I will see if someone will do this for me. What both of you said to try etc But if the intake has to be replaced it will have to wait. I can't afford to have that done now. Sad to say etc Also, I got tired of waiting on people to help out with the smoke machine so I tried what SCWICKEDSTANG said and clear the codes but before I did clear the codes I put in another mass air flow sensor in there. A new one that is. Well the box to the thing said it was new anyway etc. But I notice something on the old mass air flow sensor I pulled out of there. Someone wrote the word "good" or what ever it is they wrote on the bottom of it. Like they kind of engraved it sort of. And it had a red mark of some kind like they had marked it for some reason. Like a red dot on it. Now that may not mean anything but that's the condition the old mass air flow sensor was in when took it off etc. Well anyway, the check engine light is off for the moment now. I will post the picture of the mass air flow sensor up. As soon as possible so you can see it for yourself etc.
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 11:36 PM
Tiny
WARREN1814
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Here's what it looked like the mass air flow sensor we took off ourselves. Plus it was a remanufactured one too. I had a brand new one on there before the repair shop replaced it with this one.
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Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 AT 12:12 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello again,

Usually, junk yards or pick n pull places will put red dots on parts that they recycle that are in good working order, so that's nothing to worry about. What you need to worry about on MAF's is the two fine platinum wires. You can purchase MAF cleaner at any auto part store specifically formulated for cleaning these wires. It is manufactured by CRC and dries very quickly so as not to damage these wires. The way a MAF sensor works is these two platinum wires heat up to 500 or so degrees. As the air flows past these wires as it is entering your engine, the wires cool down and more electricity is needed to be added to heat them back up to 500 degrees. The PCM is able to read this electricity and correlates it into the amount of air entering the engine. If there is corrosion, or a bug, or something on the wires, then more electricity is going to added, and the information that the PCM gets will be skewed. Anyway, please keep us informed as to your progress.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 AT 2:26 AM
Tiny
WARREN1814
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Oh, oh okay. I didn't know that. About how the junk yards operate. Thank you for the information Alex on how the mass air flow sensor works too. I have a can of CRC mass air flow cleaner. I had sprayed it on the sensor I posted up there at one time but the error code came back. I drove it today and it ran really good and the service engine soon light is still off where I cleared the codes. (I believe the Lord fixed it for me myself. People laugh at me when I say that. But I believe he did.) The funny thing is I am so used to it being on. It looks funny it being off, lol. Not that I am complaining it being off etc. Well anyway, if anything else comes up I will keep you guys posted. I just wished I had a scan tool that does live data so I could read the computer while it is running good and not producing any error codes.
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Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello,

Good for you. We love to get posts that say the vehicle is fixed. The Good Lord or not, good job,

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 AT 11:03 PM
Tiny
PLAINFRED43
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  • 1999 FORD E-SERIES VAN
  • 4.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Lean burn code PO174.
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Friday, August 9th, 2019 AT 11:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
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It may be an O2 sensor, but check fuel pressure first. you can get this code with low fuel pressure as well as a vacuum leak. so check hoses for cracks/broken etc. Auto parts rent gauge, see link.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator
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Friday, August 9th, 2019 AT 11:32 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WARREN1814
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Thanks again guys (SCWICKEDSTANG, Ken, BMDOUBLE) for all of your help!
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Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 AT 11:01 PM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
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Anytime Warren!
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 9:21 AM
Tiny
WARREN1814
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Thank you DMDOUBLE. Also, I posted something about my van door on here but I don't see what happened to it. I have that fixed now. I tried to delete the comment but it won't let me get to it.
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Friday, October 25th, 2019 AT 10:08 PM

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